Dear Roots,
A couple hours ago, the “Paz Sin Fronteras” Concert began in Havana. We encourage you to watch and share any thoughts you may have on our blog (www.raicesblog.blogspot.com).
There have are many thoughts about today's concert, reflective of the diversity of our community. During this time, Raices de Esperanza has maintained a message of optimism towards the opportunity of speaking directly to our brothers and sisters to spread a message of peace, hope and love. We dream of a bright future for our brothers and sisters in Cuba. If changes are to come, then they must know that this dream is alive and possible; and believe it with all certainty. If change is to come we need to do our part to shake them from their apathy and hoplesness by speaking to them in a way they might listen. For these reasons, we have maintained that music can speak to their hearts and minds to awaken them to take ownership of their lives.
We look forward to hearing from you!
Blog your thoughts right here!
8 comments:
A NOTE FROM THE RDE TEAM:
Dear Roots,
A couple hours ago, the “Paz Sin Fronteras” Concert began in Havana. We encourage you to watch and share any thoughts you may have on our blog (www.raicesblog.blogspot.com).
There have are many thoughts about today's concert, reflective of the diversity of our community. During this time, Raices de Esperanza has maintained a message of optimism towards the opportunity of speaking directly to our brothers and sisters to spread a message of peace, hope and love. We dream of a bright future for our brothers and sisters in Cuba. If changes are to come, then they must know that this dream is alive and possible; and believe it with all certainty. If change is to come we need to do our part to shake them from their apathy and hoplesness by speaking to them in a way they might listen. For these reasons, we have maintained that music can speak to their hearts and minds to awaken them to take ownership of their lives.
At the same time, we have present in our minds the plight of those whose voices have been muted on the Island. Most recently, Yoani Sanchez's sites have been blocked and she has lost all form of communication as she is being monitored by the authorities. El Nuevo Herald also reported that some youth in Havana have been threatened with imprisonment if they attendthe concert (http://www.elnuevoherald.com/noticias/sur-de-la-florida/story/547184.html). Some exile organizations are reporting still other detentions, as well.
Take this opportunity to discuss your opinions with your friends and family. Update your Facebook and Twitter statuses throughout the day and start a discussion on our blog (www.raicesblog.blogspot.com).
We look forward to hearing from you!
¡Qué sentimiento tan maravilloso, saber que estamos todos unidos por este concierto ahora mismo! No matter the ideologies or political opinions, this brings us one step closer, it's something else to build on. Que no se nos olvide que esto es algo que le traerá esperanza, un rayito de luz quizás a esos jóvenes que viven asfixiados por las condiciones en que viven. Esto les deja saber que al mundo les importa ellos, que no están sólos, y que tal vez no hay que darse por vencidos todavía, por inútil que vean sus chances.
This summarizes how I feel about the concert. Couldn't make the post here because there is a limit in regard to the number of characters.
http://comentariosynotas.blogspot.com/2009/08/concierto-de-juanes-quiza-una-buena.html
I just want to say that I had chills listening to the concert.
Despite my skepticism toward the well known political views of some of the participating artists, the message promoted directly by Juanes was heartwarming.
"It's time to change!..El odio por amor."
His invitation to face our fears and his "sueno[s] por la libertad" should be answered with action.
I hope this concert renews in youth, Cuban or not, both on and off the island, a desire to stand up and change the way things are.
Thank you to everyone who made this concert possible. Thank you Raices for being an outlet for our thoughts, feelings, and desires to act.
May people get past their political views and treat each other as dignified human beings.
Peace and love,
My personal view (I want to make sure I separate myself from RDE here) is that the message Juanes communicates in his songs does nothing.
The Cuban people don't need an analogy to the FARC's kidnap victims to know they don't have freedom.
They don't need to hear this "odio por amor" stuff. How much of the Cuba problem stems from hatred? If he wants to find the people who need to stop hating, he should do a private concert for all those security agents at the show. Along with the cops that beat up dissidents and the officials who made the decision to jail that guy in Placetas for protesting when he wasn't allowed to go to the Juanes concert.
I, for one, am entirely unimpressed. All I can hope for is that something more substantive comes of this either in what remains of te show or in its wake.
Otherwise, this is nothing but a propaganda tool for the regime that reinforces the idea that they can have foreigners over and have it look like a free country whre people congregate and (GASP) use the word "freedom" while the regime cuts people's phone lines and brutally punishes dissent.
I hope I'm wrong on all counts.
Well, I am impressed. I wasn't even going to watch, but my 81-year-old mother urged me to. If she has hope and interest, why shouldn't I? I left Cuba when I was 9 and am now 38 and not much has changed in way of politics since then. And not much has changed in the way our exiled community treats the Cuban issue. The hardline, no dialogue, noe exchange of ideas hasn't has much success. I don't know whether this concert will have positive repercusions, but to see the masses of Cubans enjoying good music and listening to Olga Tanon say, "It's time for a change," can't be a bad thing.
I agree with Gladis. Sin motivación, no hay CAMBIO.
Yo no creo que Juanes tenga el poder de cambiar la situacion en Cuba. Hubo partes del concierto (cuando cantaron los Van Vans) cuando pense que lo iban a usar, que quizas habia sido una mala idea. Pero el hecho de que haya mencionado a cantantes como los aldeanos y silvito el libre dice mucho. Al final del dia, al menos mas de un millon de cubanos se reunieron a pasar un buen rato, a oir un mensaje que jamas se habia dicho en la plaza. Hoy, yo decido mirar las cosas positivas del concierto y esperar que algo bueno haya salido de esto!!!
Lo ideal seria un concierto en una Cuba libre, pero del lobo un pelo, el cambio no se da de la noche a la manana, estamos tratando algo nuevo, algo que no se ha hecho en los ultimos 50 anos, demosle un tiempito!!
Estoy de acuerdo con Gladis, sin motivacion (e inspiracion) no hay cambio!
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