Paz Sin Fronteras: A Victory For The Cuban People!

I am sure the critics will say whatever they want of this concert after it is over, there are those who never agreed with the making of this concert in the first place, and will never agree because of the Cuban regimen. However, if you saw the concert online just like I did, you would noticed the happiness and rejoice music brought to the souls of the Cuban people. That is the goal and I believed all those who made Paz Sin Fronteras possible: mission accomplished!

Juanes, Olga Tañon, Miguel Bose, Cucu Diamantes, and all those other courageous artists that showed up to play at La Havana, deserve praise and gratitude. Because they did not let fear intimidate them and despite all , they showed and deliver for the Cuban people.

But most important, I believe in Juanes' lyrics conveyed in his popular song, "It's time to change- El Odio por Amor" is a truism that must be recognized all over the world. No matter social class, race, language, ethnic origin, or anything. It is time for all of us to make this world a better place. Just like Gandhi said, "Be the change you want to see in the world."

That change is being made today by the young generation of Cubans and all those around the world. A realization that it is up to us to change the world to something better that we all aspire to live in. According to concert sources, more than a million people showed up to la Plaza de la Revolucion in La Havana to witness these artists. And more than that, they made history for themselves and to demand a better future for themselves from those in power on the island.

This was not Juanes' victory for pulling this out in the face of all controversy, nor the artists that showed up and broadcasted their music to the Cubans and the world, this was a victory for the Cuban people for being present and showing the world that they too can make history. This was the Cuban people's victory!

Que viva Cuba libre!!!

Concert-For-Peace in Cuba: What's The Big Deal?

Pic from the Miami Herald

I read in the Miami Herald this weekend that the American government is OK (Not officially endorsing) Juanes throwing a Concert-For-Peace in Cuba. It seems Juanes’ goal is to gather enough support from other Latin artists to play in La Habana at the Plaza de la Revolución come September. The same thing was done last year in the first concert which took place in the border of Venezuela and Colombia amid diplomatic turbulence between the two countries. Although that concert was a huge success despite the political turbulence, this Habana concert is drawing a lot of criticism; particularly from the Cuban American exiled community in Miami, where many view it as a theatrical political stage which may favor the regimen Castrista.

As you may well know from watching or reading history, La Plaza de la Revolución is served as the scenario for many famous Castro’s anti-American speeches, and where the immense image of Ernesto “Che” Guevara stands tall. “Aquí no hay manipulación, aquí se trata de abrir puertas, de crear puentes a traves de la música. Juanes defended the idea on his Twitter account against critics.

So far Juanes has announced that Olga Tañon y Miguel Bose have confirmed to play in la Habana, and he hopes there will be many more to follow. In my opinion, I would imagine many in the U.S. Latino community would support Juanes’ effort to bring peace to the world through music, especially in Latin America. Do you think singing Odio por Amor in La Plaza de la Revolución is politics? We believe: Sí se Puede!