Juanes To Perform In Cuba

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Juanes - A dios le pido

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sourced by Jordan Yerman

In the month and date of August 1994, there was a spontaneous revolt against the Castro regime in  Cuba. This occurred during the "special period" and as a response to the sinking of a tugboat called "13 de Marzo" which was carrying people away from Castro's Cuba.

 
The revolt which was called "El Maleconazo" was swiftly repressed by the brutal force of Castro's Government with the indifference of the Western Imperialist Powers [including USA] who could care less what was occurring and certain members of the Cuban Exile Community who scoffed at the revolt.
 
The year changed but the month of August remains the same. The Colombian Singer Juanes who is famous for such songs such as "La Camisa Negra" [The Black Shirt] and a concert to promote peace between Colombia and Venezuela [done at the border between the two countries] will perform in Cuba.
 
Juanes will be performing at a concert for peace with groups such as Los Van Van and soloists such as Silvio Rodriguez. The underwriter has decided to comment with mixed feelings about the concert. It is hoped that people who read this article will read it entirely before jumping to conclusions.
 
The underwriter is of the belief that Juanes lives in a free society and has the right to perform concerts in any place of the world. It should be remembered that the New York Philharmonic once perfumed a concert in North Korea without incident. It is also hoped that the people respect his right to perform in Cuba since politics and music should be separated.
 
Juanes should also understand that while he has fans in Cuba, he also has fans in Miami Florida who may or may not agree with his decision to perform in Cuba. Juanes should also ask himself the question about A Concert for Peace in an island that does not have conflicts except for the one that exists between Castro's Government and his people.
 
Juanes should also ask himself the question about a concert for peace when his country has suffered damage in the hands of guerilla groups turned illegal drug dealers courtesy of Castro's Government and the consumers from the Western Countries including the elite that govern it.
 
What about the fans of Juanes who cannot go to his concert because of lack of tickets or lack of connections for these tickets? It should be remembered that there are times that such concerts can be exclusive.
 
What about his fan base in Miami Florida since there is a Cuban Community that has suffered under the rule of Castro? The majority of the Cuban Community even those born in America have family in Cuba and have paid the heavy price because of the Castro Government and their masters in the West including USA.
 
The underwriter will not discuss those who support the decision of Juanes to perform in Cuba. What will be discussed is the reaction of those who oppose the concert. In the past, people who have performed in Cuba have suffered not having their music performed in Spanish Language Stations in the USA although this has not changed.
 
The cases of repudiation against the artists were done by people who say they will not visit Cuba not even for family but the turn around and do it. After a thorough review of what has transpired, there has to be a conclusion.
 
Conclusion
 
I think Juanes should go and perform in Cuba after taking into account what has transpired in Cuba during the last 50 years. He should perform and enjoy himself in Cuba and enjoy the company of Los Van Van and Silvio Rodriguez [who never separated politics from music in his songs]. If Juanes gains or loses fans, that is his problem since music and politics should be separated.
 
The people who oppose the visit of Juanes have rights without having to use acts of repudiation that will damage their cause. The people who oppose Juanes Concert in Cuba can just simply stop buying his records and going to his concerts. If enough people were to do this, Juanes could probably feel the economic pinch.