Don’t Mix Politics and Music

I have heard many times over the years this statement, “don’t mix politics and music”. Those that make the statement are usually speaking on behalf of a musical group that comes from, or is linked with a Socialist Country or other dictatorial regime. On the surface the request seems innocent enough and certainly well meaning. The problem I have with that statement is that my experience and observations don’t reconcile with the statement and the reality I see. On august 29th, 2015 there will be a performance in Miami by a musical group from Cuba “Los Van Van”. This will not be their first visit, they have been here several times before. This visit however will have two very unique things that are difficult for me to swallow. They will be rendering tribute to the founder of the group (Juan Formell) and the concert will take place on my father’s birthday. So you ask yourself where are you going with this.

In 1969 the Castro government decided that they were going to produce 10 million tons of sugar. This was a herculean task and it would require the whole island to participate. Many ‘volunteers’ were enlisted to achieve this endeavor, but what the world does not often talk about is that there was a group of Cubans who participated but for them it was a matter of life and death. By the end of the 1960’s thousands of Cubans had already left Cuba or were on official government lists requesting exit visas. The order was given to setup Labor Camps all across the island to force these people who wanted to leave to go out in the fields as a form of punishment for ‘abandoning the Revolution’. The Labor Camps were guarded by men in green fatigues with weapons and the authority to shoot anyone who did not comply. My father spent a year in one of these camps as a sacrifice to get his family out of the island.

While all of this was going on, a young musician named (Juan Formell) founded a musical group and named it “Los Van Van”. The official government slogan for the 10 million tons of sugar was ‘Los Diez Millones Van’. In other words Mr Formell named his group, sang about and paid homage to my father’s imprisonment. Now that very same group comes to Miami on my father’s birthday to pay homage in this city to the man who celebrated my father’s imprisonment. Yet when I tell someone I will not attend the concert they tell me “Don’t Mix Politics and Music”.

You tell me am I mixing politics and music or am I respecting and honoring my father’s sacrifice for my freedom; and the sacrifice of thousands of Cuban men who spent time in these ‘labor camps’ for the sake of their families.

I’ll spend next Saturday with my father and we’ll listen to the old songs.

Happy Birthday ‘Viejo’ and thank you for my freedom!

August 15th, 2015 – 20,680 Days

We are approaching a date that is a curious one for those of us who follow Cuban history. On August 15, 2015 will be exactly 20,680 days since the communists have ruled Cuba (Jan 1, 1959 to Aug 15, 2015). The Constitutional Republic of Cuba lasted exactly 20,680 days (May 20, 1902 to Jan 1, 1959). We all know the history and what could have been.

The greatest tribute we could give our parents, grand-parents and great grand-parents is not forget what great things they did with their 20,680 days of freedom. We know what the Socialists did with theirs.

Stand with Freedom!
                                                            May 20th, 1902                  to           January 1st, 1959
20,680 Days
                                                            January 1st, 1959              to           August 15th, 2015

Jose Rodríguez, alias “Pepe Caliente”

A few days ago I received a picture through social media of a man about to be executed by firing squad, in the early days of the Castro Communist Revolution of 1959. The picture was so shocking to me I shared it with my friends and family and put a short comment on it. Within a few hours I received comment(s) regarding this man, who he was and information that made the picture that much more shocking to me. It turns out I already knew of him, but not the whole story. I started asking questions within the family and doing some research.

Jose Rodriguez (Pepe Caliente) was from my native province of Matanzas. He was a soldier in the pre-Castro government and was known for his sense of duty and his temper, this earned him the nickname “Pepe Caliente”. He was not the sort of man who put up with anyone’s nonsense. For years I heard the mention of Pepe Caliente and his temper, but I had not heard the whole story and his significance in Cuban History. Jose Rodriguez was one of the first men to be executed in front of a firing squad by the new government of Cuba in 1959.

His indictment, trial, sentence and execution happened all at once (less than 1 minute) as was the method of the day. “Due Process” and the concept of “innocent until proven guilty” were not present and are still not present on the island of Cuba.

In the picture(s) that were taken, Jose Rodriguez is shown kneeling before a Catholic Priest receiving absolution and later is shown at the wall. These pictures were smuggled out of Cuba by an American newsman (UPI staff photographer Andrew Lopez) who was present. There were several newsmen present that day, however once the Rebel Commander realized the significance of such photographs he ordered all film be taken away from the newsmen. As the soldiers proceeded to remove the film, Mr. Lopez managed to evade the soldiers and get these pictures out. His series of pictures were awarded a Pulitzer circa 1960.

During my research I located a letter published in Spain (in various newspapers) in 1962. The letter is from the priest in the picture (Rev. Domingo Lorenzo). In the letter Father Lorenzo gives an account of that day, how he came to be at the prison at that particular moment. He was later expelled from Cuba by the Communists because of his assistance, both physical and spiritual, to the men who were being executed and the families who were left behind. The Castro government took power on January 1st, 1959 and Father Lorenzo was expelled on April 5th, 1959. During that short three month period Father Lorenzo saw 58 of his friends’ executed. (this comes from his letter)

His account of the execution of Jose Rodriguez (Pepe Caliente) seems particularly personal to him. In it he mentions he knew Jose Rodriguez and also knew his family. Jose Rodriguez came from a humble family in a small town of the province Matanzas, Cuba. A family who produced men of faith, courage and work ethic. One of those men was my uncle Efrain who passed away earlier this year. Jose Rodriguez was his uncle and he cheerfully mentioned “Pepe Caliente” many times, but he never spoke to me about the execution or the picture. I just confirmed with family members he saw the picture for the first time in 1980 (the 20th anniversary of the Pulitzer) while casually browsing through a Sunday newspaper. I can’t imagine the pain he felt to see his beloved uncle on his knees minutes before his execution.

In Father Lorenzo’s letter he mentions how Jose Rodriguez came to be before him in the courtyard of the prison. He fell to his knees asking him for his blessing, mentioning “you are the only friend” I have here and proclaiming his Catholic Faith. He later refused to wear a handkerchief around his eyes offered to him by Father Lorenzo. I don’t know what “his crimes” were and what would bring a new government to execute a man who had the rank of corporal (certainly not an important figure in any army). Perhaps it was his lack of fear; for in all dictatorships and socialists regimes fear is an essential component of control. Jose Rodriguez was used to instill fear in the population and above all control.

“Pepe Caliente” died with his eyes open facing evil and proclaiming his faith in Our Lord. Men like that cannot be allowed to survive in a totalitarian system regardless of their rank.

The Success of the Cuban Communist Revolution

Today (January 1st, 2015) is the 56th Anniversary of the revolution. When the communists took over, the Cuban Republic was 56 years in progress (May 20, 1902 – January 1st, 1959). To be precise, as of today Cuba has had only 226 more days of Republic than it has had of Dictatorship, so it is an excellent time to make a comparison and to reflect.

Those of us who do not support and/or have suffered the consequences of that ill-fated day need no explanation. It has simply been a total disaster. On every front you can make a comparison Cuba has failed. I will list a few for the benefit of the readers who might not be familiar with this reality.

Hope

• 1959 - The Cuban people had just gotten rid of a president who had taken steps to derail the country’s progress and were hopeful to get back on track.

• 2015 - Today it is the hope of every Cuban to get out of the island.
  

Emmigration

• 1959 - Up to 1959 it was not customary for Cubans to leave their country, in fact Cubans freely traveled abroad and regularly returned.

• 2015 - Today there are nearly 2 million Cubans and their children living outside of Cuba.
  

Exodus

• 1959 - Up to 1959 the only time Cubans left in mass was during the Spanish rule of the 1800’s and those numbers are significantly smaller than post 1959.

• 2015 - During the 56 years of Communists Rule there have been several mass migrations, in some cases on boats, rafts and anything that floats.
  

Government & Elections

• 1959 - During the period of the Republic, Cuba had several elections and presidents, these governments were weak and many times corrupt hence the opportunity for the Castro brothers.

• In 56 years there has only been 1 leader and no elections.
  

Human Rights

• 1959 - One life lost to an act of political vengeance or anything of the sort is one life too many. There were some lives lost in this period.

• 2015 - The past 56 years has been a blood bath: firing squads, long prison sentences, and death on the high seas, suicide, high incidence of drug and alcohol abuse and other unspeakable acts of abuse.
  

Economics

• 1959 - During the period of the Republic there was economic progress even amongst the corruption within government. This is a fact as listed by international agencies that keep track of country specific statistics.
  

• 2015 - Today the Castro government has fully absorbed the Economy. Cuba has several companies and industries, but they all have the same parent company and only on share holder.
  

Those who support the Socialist (Communist) government of Cuba are always very quick to point out that they receive free medical care in Cuba. A fact that is very dubious for many reasons, but I say to you, let's not even argue that point, let's give it to them. Let's say Cuba has a good medical care system, better yet, let's say it is the best one in the world. Would you be willing to have your freedoms limited or taken away so you could get the "best health care in the world", I think not.

To quote a great American "As for me, give me Liberty or give me death"

Luciano E. Orta

PS. Socialism's only success is to have Capitalism pay for it's generosity.

“Hay Cuba tus Hijos Lloran…!”   -   (Cuba Your People Cry).

With one stroke of the pen President Barack Obama has ended the stalemate; The United States has had with Cuba for 5 decades. Many will comment that it is time for a change, that the embargo did not work and that we must work at affecting/effecting change on the ground through our engagement with the Cuban people and government. Regardless of how you feel about the embargo and this opening towards Cuba the facts are not what they seem sometimes. The embargo has not worked (i.e. the Castro’s are still there) because there was never a true embargo. Goods have come to Cuba from everywhere for years; however we had the moral high ground for refusing to do business with Cuba.

This change has nothing to do with either one of the Castro brothers, because of their age and limited time. It does have a lot to do with the future of the island and of the people, because we have just given away the one trump card we could have used to really shake that tree. The vast majority of Cuban assets are already in the hands of various state owned entities controlled by the next generation of heirs.

Not commonly known by people in the U.S. is that although neither Castro brother has died; “the last will and testament” has already been read and the inheritance has been distributed. The country’s wealth and power is already in the hands of the sons of the Castro’s and the sons of several of the generals and ministers. There is nothing left for anyone else, and with this political recognition by the United States we can now say “They Won”.

The struggle of so many was in vein, Cuba has just been sentenced to another 50 years of modern style dictatorship. The island will now have the type of government that has total control on major economic matters and disperses trivial or symbolic rights and benefits to the people; something once known as an Oligarchy. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oligarchy. The military presence will gradually fade away from public view and the bearded men with the green fatigues will all get a state funeral. The others will get a good shave and put on a suit, many of them already have. The marketing of Cuba will change, but the reality for most people will not change, and when it does change it will not be because of what was done today.

PS.
A very personal note, I gave up on the idea that I could ever go back and live in the country of my birth. Many factors come into play on that reality; however I have always hoped that my birthplace would become a place of free men and women, a place where democracy and the rule of law are respected. To have The President of my adopted country sign the future of the island away just like that hurts; it really hurts. If Cuba will truly ever be free it will not happen in my lifetime. I will share the same fate of my parents and grand-parents ; not seeing the island again.