Juanes' political statement

I'll start by stating that I don't like Juanes' songs, his voice or his music in general. Nevertheless I admire him on the grounds that he is making strong political statements at least among the Spanish speaking people, by leveraging his huge popularity as a singer.

First, it was a concert on the border between Venezuela and Colombia. Another simulaneous concert was organized by someone else, possibly following Juanes' lead on the border between Colombia and Ecuador, in times when relations between the three countries were in crisis. Neighbor countries can't just close the borders in a flash due to a disagreement between those who govern these or any other countries. Large businesses probably get affected but their international contacts may provide them alternatives in other destinations in trying to compensate for the suspension of commercial and diplomatic relations, as it has been now frequent beween this so called "brother nations". It is small businesses that have flowrished on the borders for almost two centuries of neighborhood that really get hit. It is families and friends that get separated by an imaginary line I haven't ever seen: the border. And all this from an executive order of one person and a few consultants or advisors.

The most recent of Juanes' statements was the concert at the Plaza de la Revolución in Habana, Cuba. This was a very strong political statement, and in this sense but only in this sense I agree with those protesters in the USA and probably in some sectors of Latin America. It was indeed a strong political statement. What I strongly disagree with those protestors is in the message Juanes and his friends were conveying.

The fact that it was at the Plaza de la Revolución doesn't make it pro communist, regardless of any monuments or murals there may be in that plaza. Juanes, a wealthy man who has made his money with marketing and sales in the capitalist world, would not have the moral authority to preach for communism. His message wouldn't just have gone through. Besides, I don't think Raúl or Fidel Castro or any of their high ranking aides were VIP guests.

This concert was not a money-making deal, in fact, for him and the other artists who participated, the concert may have a negative effect on their record sales. As far as I heard, Juanes, Miguel Bosé and Olga Tañón put a lot of money in the planning, organization, transportation and assembly of all the infrastructure, and a great deal of their leadership in the montage of the show. If they wanted to do business, with the same title "Peace without borders" they would have gather huge paying crowds, somewhere else, for example in Miami.

The issue was to bring this message, "Peace without borders", to a crowd where many could have not attended this kind of show because they could not afford it, in Miami, or any other place, not even in Havana if they had to pay what these artists charge for these events. I wonder how many of the protesters' relatives and old-time friends were in that crowd... Have you already forgotten about them?

Just because I don't agree with a regime does not entitle me to discriminate against those who forcefully or voluntarily live in a country like Cuba. Besides, how many popular artists would go and give concerts in Habana for a profit? - or for a just cause, for that matter; I heard many singers chicken out of Juanes' concert -

I congratulate all of the artists who were there in the concert. It was a humongous crowd: 1.25 million in Plaza de la Revolución, and many more millions through the tv. Even CNN - not just CNN en español; CNN in English... for the Americans! - spoke about the concert.

It has been a great achievement. I commend all of you for your convictions in this matter and, most of all I admire all of you for your courage.