Oh Henry: Baseball and America

Each day we are constantly inundated by the media coverage of our country’s failings.  From political scandals such as the espinoage leak through Snowden to the economic turmoil of the federal deficit and defunct economy to the social issues of gay and women’s rights, we are often left with the malaise taste in our mouth of our country.  I’m reminded of a scene from the HBO drama, The Newsroom, where an individual asks the following question of what makes America the greatest:

[sz-youtube url=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16K6m3Ua2nw” /]

It’s not a bad scene, if not a bit overdramatic, but it does emphasize the fact the greatness of the country with its heart and spirit.  The will of Americans to want to be the greatest and strive to make it so really is what America is all about.

Now what the heck does this have to do with Baseball?  I woke up this morning to the following tweet:

https://twitter.com/henryorioles/status/352559959017418752

Henry Urrutia, a member now of the Norfolk Tides, is a Cuban Defector trying to get to the United States.  This individual tried to defect in 2010 and failed.  He then proceeded to try again, but this time defected towards the Dominican Republic in order to get away from Cuba.  When you have to go to the Dominican Republic, than you know things are not all right with your home country.  As everyone knows, you get on a raft and pray you survive, here is an interview of the experience:

[sz-youtube url=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTuG-vnL1W0″ /]

Urrutia defected because he wanted to be great.  He wanted to be part of America through baseball in order to give his family a new opportunity.  When you think about these stories of defection and fighting to get into this country, you realize to a certain regard that America is great because it is filled with people that want to be great.  Here’s hoping that Urrutia can get to the Majors this year and make the Orioles great.