www.ambiente.us AUGUST | AGOSTO 2009
Peace, Freedom & the Arts | Juanes in Cuba
By Herb Sosa
For over 5 decades now, the issue and ideology of cultural exchanges with
communist Cuba have been debated, discussed, battled and hummed, with no
clear answer as to what is right, what is correct. Like many other issues of
ideology, freedom & democracy, the answer lies with who is asking, and who is
listening.
For this first-generation Cuban-American, the answer IS quite clear.
Let me first digress and address what some might not understand, criticize or
condemn…my self-imposed banner of Cuban-American. I am PROUD to have
been born in the best country in the world, and all the benefits, freedoms, right
to vote & responsibilities that come with it. I am equally PROUD of my heritage –
mi herencia -the sacrifices my parents & grandparents made in leaving
everything behind to flee communism and oppression in search of freedom &
opportunity, and the ability they granted me to grow up and be able to share
my thoughts with you...openly, freely and without repercussions, censorship or
worse.
Peace, Freedom & the Arts | Juanes in Cuba
By Herb Sosa
For over 5 decades now, the issue and ideology of cultural exchanges with
communist Cuba have been debated, discussed, battled and hummed, with no
clear answer as to what is right, what is correct. Like many other issues of
ideology, freedom & democracy, the answer lies with who is asking, and who is
listening.
For this first-generation Cuban-American, the answer IS quite clear.
Let me first digress and address what some might not understand, criticize or
condemn…my self-imposed banner of Cuban-American. I am PROUD to have
been born in the best country in the world, and all the benefits, freedoms, right
to vote & responsibilities that come with it. I am equally PROUD of my heritage –
mi herencia -the sacrifices my parents & grandparents made in leaving
everything behind to flee communism and oppression in search of freedom &
opportunity, and the ability they granted me to grow up and be able to share
my thoughts with you...openly, freely and without repercussions, censorship or
worse.
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music and shares the stage and hugs with government appointed pro-
communist performers, he will look out at a mass of people hungry for all. Hungry
for music, hungry for food, but most importantly, hungry for FREEDOM…all this, as
Juanes looks straight at a mural across the plaza of the oppressor responsible for
thousands of Cuban, Mexican & Bolivian lives – the human butcher known as Che
Guevara.
Concert for Peace, or Concert for FREEDOM
Performing on one of many Middle East borders would certainly be a Concert for
Peace. Performing for his countrymen and singing against the FARC in Colombia
would be a Concert for Peace. Peace is what one seeks when there is a war
going on.
Cuba, by all practical definitions, has Peace. What Cuba most desperately
needs of FREEDOM, so a Concert for FREEDOM is what Juanes should and needs to
do in Havana for the world to see & hear. He needs to not allow the Cuban
dictators to oppress what he says or what he sings – which they will. He needs to
choose freely who can join him on stage, like Willy Chirino, Gloria Estefan, Albita
Rodriguez, Olga Guillot, Amaury Gutierrez, or one of thousands of other Cuban-
born international artists that, because of their disagreement with the regime,
are not allowed to perform in Cuba, and would need a pre-approved Visa to
enter their native country. A visa that none of them would ever be granted. He
needs to raise his voice before a people who have been divided, demoralized
and stripped of all freedoms - A people that over 50 years knows only of
conforming, fearing and losing all hope for the future.
Cuba and Cubans do need Juanes voice, but not just to sing to the dictators
controlled and orchestrated media circus, but to raise his voice for FREEDOM for
ALL Cubans, on and off the island.
As for me, how lucky am I to have & live in complete Freedom AND Peace every
day. Thanks mom, dad & the U.S.A!
Copyright 2009| HerbSosa & Ambiente. Do not reproduce without prior authorization.
communist performers, he will look out at a mass of people hungry for all. Hungry
for music, hungry for food, but most importantly, hungry for FREEDOM…all this, as
Juanes looks straight at a mural across the plaza of the oppressor responsible for
thousands of Cuban, Mexican & Bolivian lives – the human butcher known as Che
Guevara.
Concert for Peace, or Concert for FREEDOM
Performing on one of many Middle East borders would certainly be a Concert for
Peace. Performing for his countrymen and singing against the FARC in Colombia
would be a Concert for Peace. Peace is what one seeks when there is a war
going on.
Cuba, by all practical definitions, has Peace. What Cuba most desperately
needs of FREEDOM, so a Concert for FREEDOM is what Juanes should and needs to
do in Havana for the world to see & hear. He needs to not allow the Cuban
dictators to oppress what he says or what he sings – which they will. He needs to
choose freely who can join him on stage, like Willy Chirino, Gloria Estefan, Albita
Rodriguez, Olga Guillot, Amaury Gutierrez, or one of thousands of other Cuban-
born international artists that, because of their disagreement with the regime,
are not allowed to perform in Cuba, and would need a pre-approved Visa to
enter their native country. A visa that none of them would ever be granted. He
needs to raise his voice before a people who have been divided, demoralized
and stripped of all freedoms - A people that over 50 years knows only of
conforming, fearing and losing all hope for the future.
Cuba and Cubans do need Juanes voice, but not just to sing to the dictators
controlled and orchestrated media circus, but to raise his voice for FREEDOM for
ALL Cubans, on and off the island.
As for me, how lucky am I to have & live in complete Freedom AND Peace every
day. Thanks mom, dad & the U.S.A!
Copyright 2009| HerbSosa & Ambiente. Do not reproduce without prior authorization.
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Back to Juanes…
Juan Esteban Aristizábal Vásquez,
better known as Juanes, was born
August 9, 1972 in Medellín,
Antioquia, and is a Colombian rock
musician. He has sold more than
ten million albums and won 17
Latin Grammy awards, more than
any other artist. Juanes is also
known for his humanitarian work,
especially with aid for Colombian
victims of anti-personnel mines.
Juanes recently announced his
intentions to put on a concert in
Havana, Cuba on September 20th,
at the invitation of the communist governments dictators. This concert has been
named the Concert for Peace by Juanes & the Cuban government.
Peace, Freedom & the Arts
I love the music of Juanes and would want nothing more than for his songs of
hope, inspiration, love and freedom to be played in and shared with ALL Cubans
on the island. This is a wish I share with many of my friends, family and
acquaintances. Music & the Arts are FREE and to be shared, used as a vehicle to
learn, exchange ideas and open frontiers. I believe any performer from Cuba, or
anywhere else for that matter can & should come to Miami and also share their
talents with the world. Where the problem lies is when the artists and their
performances are tainted with politics, ideology and ignorance of what a people
are going thru. This, I believe, is the core problem with Juanes performing
for the Castros in Havana’s Plaza of the Revolution in the shadow of a
beaten and disillusioned Jose Marti. As Juanes plays from a pre-approved
list of his own
Juan Esteban Aristizábal Vásquez,
better known as Juanes, was born
August 9, 1972 in Medellín,
Antioquia, and is a Colombian rock
musician. He has sold more than
ten million albums and won 17
Latin Grammy awards, more than
any other artist. Juanes is also
known for his humanitarian work,
especially with aid for Colombian
victims of anti-personnel mines.
Juanes recently announced his
intentions to put on a concert in
Havana, Cuba on September 20th,
at the invitation of the communist governments dictators. This concert has been
named the Concert for Peace by Juanes & the Cuban government.
Peace, Freedom & the Arts
I love the music of Juanes and would want nothing more than for his songs of
hope, inspiration, love and freedom to be played in and shared with ALL Cubans
on the island. This is a wish I share with many of my friends, family and
acquaintances. Music & the Arts are FREE and to be shared, used as a vehicle to
learn, exchange ideas and open frontiers. I believe any performer from Cuba, or
anywhere else for that matter can & should come to Miami and also share their
talents with the world. Where the problem lies is when the artists and their
performances are tainted with politics, ideology and ignorance of what a people
are going thru. This, I believe, is the core problem with Juanes performing
for the Castros in Havana’s Plaza of the Revolution in the shadow of a
beaten and disillusioned Jose Marti. As Juanes plays from a pre-approved
list of his own