State Department fines against Ben Treuhaft, piano technician

[McNeilTom@aol.com]

Dear President Clinton:

Your policies, both foreign and domestic, generally impress me as wise,
insightful and forward looking.  However, there is one area where US policy
makes no sense to me: our isolationist stance on Cuba, particularly as it
pertains to individual US citizens.

The e-mail I'm forwarding here concerns just such a situation with a
colleague, Ben Treuhaft who recently visited Cuba on a cultural mission to
provide used pianos, parts, service, and related technical training.
 Apparently the State Department is levying a fine against him in connection
with token compensation he received during this mission.  A number of piano
technicians around North America sent materials and supplies to him in
support of this effort.  I doubt whether any earnings he received came close
to covering his expenses in the project.

Perhaps this issue is insignificant in terms of larger policy issues
concerning Cuba.  But I would urge you to ask the Secretary of State to
investigate this matter to see whether an exception might be in order in the
case of Mr. Treuhaft.  Further, if this case is at all typical of
difficulties encountered by US citizens traveling to Cuba on cultural
missions, I would urge you to ask the Secretary of State for recommendations
as to the modifications needed in our Cuba policy to alleviate such problems
in the future.

Thank you for your attention to this issue.

Sincerely yours,

Thomas McNeil, Registered Piano Technician
-           Vermont Piano Restorations           -
---------------------
Forwarded message:
From: scott.e.johnson@24stex.com
Sender:     pianotech@byu.edu
Reply-to:   pianotech@byu.edu
To:   pianotech@byu.edu (Multiple recipients of list)
Date: 96-05-02 10:50:30 EDT


Dear List,
This is a post I sent to president@whitehouse.gov

News reports today ,May,2 1996, inform me that the state dept. is fining my
colleague Benjamin Treuhaft (Piano Technician Tuner) for receiving some token
wages during his cultural mission to Cuba.
I object strongly to this action by the U.S. government and consider any such
action a total waste of time and resources.
I and many of my colleagues support Ben's work on behalf of piano music
in Cuba. We sent parts and supplies to him so he could help Cuba restore the
pianos she has. It is my opinion that the U.S. government has no reason to...

A. Tell another country what type of government they should have.
B. Tell U.S. citizens where they can and can't go or what they can or can't
        do there.
C. Waste taxpayers money harassing U.S. citizens like Ben Treuhaft.

You must have something more constructive to do with your time and my money.
A reply to me concerning this subject would be appreciated.

Thank you for considering my point of view.

Scott Johnson Registered Piano Technician
scott.e.johnson@24stex.com


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