In what country is Baltimore's Camden Yards? Is it in America, home of free speech, or in Cuba, where gag laws ban any expression other than the party line?

That's the question raised by the next exhibition game between the Baltimore Orioles and a national team from Cuba. At the first game in Havana last month, Cuban authorities handpicked a crowd that was sure not to protest. Now for game two -- set for Monday night in Baltimore -- Major League Baseball and city authorities are trying to squelch protests almost as much.

Turns out that the Orioles limited public sales to two tickets per buyer -- to lessen the risk of organized protest. Banners, flags, musical instruments or megaphones have been banned from the stadium. Police plan to triple their regular manpower. And Major League Baseball asked the Federal Aviation Authority to block flights over the stadium -- for fear that Jose Basulto of Brothers to the Rescue might try to drop leaflets.

You would think that the expected protesters were marauding Mongolian hordes.

You would also expect these tactics in Cuba, whose regime is famous for its repression and abuse of human rights. Not here, in the United States, where constitutionally protected free speech is as sacred as baseball. What's next, no hot dogs?

Yes, public authorities must protect public safety. Setting aside an area for demonstrations outside the park, for example, is wise. But banning overflights and signs inside the park are an outrageous attempt to stifle expression, plain and simple. The game should go forward as most baseball games do: a glorious cacaphony of posters, whistles, costumes, and fans rooting for the home or visiting team.

This, of course, is no ordinary game. It's about politics as much as about pitching. A contingent of U.S. immigration officials will be on hand -- a good idea considering that two players now pitching in the Majors, Rolando Arrojo and Osvaldo Fernandez, defected in each of the last two U.S. visits by a Cuban national team.

Indeed, what could be a better example of U.S. values than peaceful protest? Retired Baltimore-area surgeon Luis Queral, de facto exile-protest organizer, publicly has promised to keep the peace. Likely to show up, too, will be those protesting against the U.S. trade embargo of Cuba. We would hope they behave, too.

South Floridians well know that Cuban issues stir deep emotions, which at times can spill over into unfortunate actions. While the frustration with four decades of dictatorship may be understandable, and shared by many, inappropriate actions are not. Ugly name calling, scuffles, spitting, bomb threats and other unseemly behavior are the work of a few. The game's organizers must not let fear of these few cancel the appropriate peaceful protests of the many.