​Dallas Police Shooting, Elian Gonzalez and Media Bias

In 1999 as the Clinton administration was coming to an end a young boy was rescued of the coast of Florida and brought to Miami. That young boy (Elian Gonzalez) was a survivor of a group of Cubans who were fleeing the oppression of the Communist/Socialist government on the island. Among the dead was his mother, who had not had a drink of water, to save it for the boy. In the days that followed the boy was cared for by family members in Miami. Soon after that, the communist government in an unprecedented move started a media campaign, hired top U.S. attorneys and a “supposed custody battle” to have the boy returned to the island. The “official” representative was the boy’s father who was shown on government run media requesting that his son be returned. Those of us in the Cuban community in Miami smelled a rat and spoke up as loud as we could. We knew this was not the boy’s father but rather the communist government who had decided the boy must return.

As an exiled community of Cubans, familiar with Communism/Socialism, we looked for sympathetic persons in the press and in the government to protect the boy from being returned to the Communists. There were not many who were sympathetic to the plight of the boy and the sacrifice of his mother for the boy’s freedom. The Media in the U.S. had already decided the boy must be returned to his father on the island, communists and all. Soon after that, the Clinton administration in an overwhelming show of force, raided the family’s home in Miami took the boy and sent him to the Communists on the island.

In the aftermath of that event there were a few outbursts in Miami of citizens taking to the streets and showing their frustration for what had just occurred. As I searched the various cable channels for news of the situation I saw an image that totally incensed me and has stayed with me. The media narrative was very simple, however inaccurate, “the crazy Cubans in Miami were going to burn the city down”.

One of the images was of a “great fire” in the street and the backdrop of the Miami skyline burning. In the image there was a pile of rubbish in the middle of the street on fire, you could see the protesters chanting and the skyline behind them. The image was certainly very impressive and the message was now clear to the rest of the nation. These Cubans in Miami were unreasonable, crazy, not respecting American law and they were starting to burn a great city. This image and narrative was transmitted by non-other than CNN. This time however they were doing it in Miami my backyard, and there was something fishy about the whole thing. I grew up in this city and know it well. The image and the story didn’t fit, so I started looking and also called around. The whole city was calm and there were no great demonstrations, disturbances or fires. So what the hell is going on. I kept changing channels and ran into what was for me a new channel at the time. They happened to have an image of the same location as CNN. Their image however was taken from a distance with a wide angle and then it became obvious. The “great fire” was indeed a pile of rubbish in the middle of one street with a handful of “idiots” trying to create a riot. There was no riot, the city was the not burning, the Cubans had not gone crazy and burned Miami down. So what happened? The reality did not match the narrative, so CNN had taken their news-feed camera put it on the ground near the pile of burning rubbish and angled it upward towards the fire and the backdrop of the city. To look at their news-feed, you would have no choice but to think, Miami as we knew was coming to an end.

It was this event that has forever tarnished the image of the media for me (I do not trust them anymore). They are the first members of this society protected by The Constitution of the United Sates in the first amendment. The founding fathers believed in a free press so much that they gave “The Press” a place of honor in that hallowed document. They have failed us miserably; because for many of them the agenda has become more important than the facts. I have told you this story of the press so that you know where I am coming from and also to make you aware of just how long we have been dealing with this lack of respect for The Constitution and the rights it renders upon this special group called “The Press”.

Fast forward to the present day and this most recent event of the continued violence in our country and the most recent execution of several police officers in Dallas; brought this whole issue of media bias back to me. I simply visited two news sites and just the Home Page drove the point home again for me. Once again CNN led the way with a distortion and “omission” that is not insignificant. I clipped the images of the two websites and placed them below, if they don’t drive the point home that we are all being played for fools then I don’t know what does.
​

CNN - Tells us he is just a regular guy.
​No Criminal Record.

FOX - Tells us he hates white people.
​Shows the raised fist.

​In the second image of the alleged shooter we see a raised fist in a manner reminiscent of the radical groups of yesteryear (black panthers, etc.), however CNN chose to crop the picture and tell us all that he had no arrest record.  In other words, “this is just a regular guy who had access to guns” and this could have all been prevented if we didn’t have the second amendment. How about just reporting the news event with all its content, the good the bad and the ugly. What we have here is a deliberate (long standing) campaign by that special group protected by the first amendment to take away the rights of that other group protected by the second amendment. In this fight the first group has the upper hand and they are not playing fair,
​“The Constitution be damned”.
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Keep your eyes and ears open, read and listen to different news sources and most of all think for yourselves, our very freedom is at stake. Finally, and most important of all pray for all these families who have lost loved ones and pray for the country.

Ernesto Fernandez – A Cuban Flute

On the 26th of march of 2016 Ernesto Fernandez completed the last requirement for his doctoral degree from the University of Miami – Frost School of Music. It was a privilege to be there, at one of the best presentations of Cuban Music I have seen in recent times. I have followed the development of this young man since his arrival in our community from Cuba (after several years in the Dominican Republic). His talent is natural and he has cultivated it by immersing himself in the music and the tradition.

His concert/recital was dedicated to the “Charanga Sound”; where the flute is the main protagonist. It was filled with the tradition of the Danzon, Danzonete, Cha-cha-cha and other Cuban genres where the flute might not be typically expected, but where he very tastefully added it. If you like Cuban music, the flute and the Charanga; this is a young man to watch. There is a great tradition established by those who have played the “Cuban Flute”, Richard Egues, Jose Fajardo, Eddy Zervigon and the list is long! With Ernesto Fernandez the future of the Cuban Flute and the Charanga sound, is in very good hands.

“Que flauta y que sabor”!

​PS: I managed to record the last two songs of his presentation with a smartphone (video quality is nominal); but the music can be appreciated. Listen and enjoy.
  
As Ernesto would say, #Palante

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.