Regarding, “‘Humiliating and traumatizing’: Czech musician set to perform in Cincinnati sent home,” (July 7): Reading this article by April Helms of the Akron Beacon Journal published on Cincinnati.com, I thought: USA Today/Gannett and this musician are making a big deal of the situation to score a political point.
What happened to Czech clarinetist Jaroslav Skuta is not unusual. Twenty years ago (pre-Trump era), my daughter and son-in-law, members of the international touring ensemble “Duo46,” were denied entry to England and held in custody for several hours. As novice world travelers, they realized they didn’t have the proper visa. They didn’t inform the news media about what happened; they simply returned home and learned a lesson.
Since then, musicians’ unions, professional music organizations, and music magazines have made musicians aware that, when traveling overseas, they need to check visa requirements. Mr. Skuta, as an experienced traveler, should have had the proper visa.
The media, including USA Today/Gannett, should stop with its political bias.
Bob Schneider, Hyde Park
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Czech clarinetist’s entry denial to the US was routine, not repression | Letter
Reporting by Letters to the editor / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
