Discussions: Andy Monatñez / Cultural repression in Miami This discussion is taken from the newsgroup rec.music.afro-latin. Me gustaria saber la opinion de los visitantes de este NG sobre la foto publicada de Andy Montañez abrazado con Silvio Rodriguez??? Aqui en Miami solo se habla de eso pero quiero saber que se opina fuera de la "Capital Del Exilio Cubano" (coparcds@icanect.net (ALS), 6. March 97) Ok, I'll try to translate: I'd like to know the opinion of visitors of this newsgroup about the foto published with Andy Montañez embracing Silvio Rodriguez??? Here in Miami everyone talks about it, but I want to know what people outside the 'capital of cuban exile' think. Yeah, I just read in the Miami Herald that he got bounced from the line up at Calle Ocho.... I guess La Gestapo called another selfish shot. Another great artist goes on the "persona non-grata" list. Now what, will Miami's Puerto Rican community call a boycot of the festival? Then what? And then what? When will we learn that politics and art shouldn't be mixed? [now down from my soap box] Wallice ******************************** Published Thursday, March 6, 1997, in the Miami Herald Puerto Rican singer banned from Calle Ocho Carnaval By CYNTHIA CORZO Herald Staff Writer Puerto Rican singer Andy Montañez has again been banned from the stage of Calle Ocho Carnaval Miami. Once again, it has to do with Cuba. Montañez's ouster was triggered by his warm welcome of Cuban singer Silvio Rodriguez, whom he greeted with a big hug upon Rodriguez's arrival in San Juan last week. Rodriguez is an avowed supporter of the Cuban Revolution. ``I have been barred because of Silvio Rodriguez,'' Montañez said Wednesday from San Juan. ``I think it is unconstitutional. I do not regard Silvio Rodriguez as a politician, nor am I a politician. I admire him as a singer and a poet.'' Montañez received a fax Tuesday from a promoter in Miami, Roque Martin, telling him about the decision to cancel his participation in Calle Ocho. Officials of the Little Havana Kiwanis, organizers of Carnaval Miami, refused to comment on the decision. ``I represent Puerto Rico artistically,'' Montañez said. ``I am not interested in the politics of any singer, I am interested whether that person is a singer and whether he sings well.'' Montañez is no stranger to controversy with the Kiwanis and Carnaval Miami. In 1989, he was one of three singers banned for past performances in Cuba. He sang with a Venezuelan group, called Dimension Latina (Latin Dimension). The others were Brazilian singer-author Denise de Kalafe and Spanish singer De Raymond. Several years ago, de Kalafe sued the Kiwanis for damages. Last year, following a three-week trial, a Miami jury ruled that the Kiwanis should pay her $3 million in damages. Since 1989, Montañez has performed in Carnaval Miami and other festivals without incident. While Montañez was protesting his ouster, other musicians had a similar complaint -- but for different reasons. Four local musicians gathered in front of the offices of the Kiwanis in Little Havana to protest what they called the exclusion of local artists in favor of international stars. They charged that as Carnaval Miami became more famous, its organizers have sidestepped the local performers, who gave the street festival its start, to bring more international performers. One protester, Nelson de Cardenas, said that when Carnival Miami began more than a decade ago, more than 100 local groups participated. Herald staff writer Elaine De Valle contributed to this report. Copyright © 1997 The Miami Herald (wallice13@aol.com (Wallice), 6. March 97)

Any lawyers out there want to fight for Andy? -- En Ritmo, Jazz Con Clave jazzconclave@earthlink.net Voice/Fax: (718) 861-4008 (jazzconclave@earthlink.net (Jazz Con Clave), 8. March 97)

Andy Montañez has all my support on this one. Music, art, culture, naturally open lines of communication between peoples. I mean, if in recent history, Lotte Lenya had embraced Leni Reifenstahl (a leftist German emigre and a film artist part of the Nazi propaganda machine) would we care? If Andy Montañez says that he embraces Silvio for his art, than we should accept that explanation. What is this personification within the Cuban community? Is Silvio really so identified with the regime? If so, how about the other artists admired so often in this newsgroup, Los Van Van, Chucho Valdes, etc? What about the next generation of great Cuban artists, will they all be condemned if they stay in their homeland? No flames, please, Earthlink doesn't allow anonymous posting but I had to say it. Dave (daveryan@earthlink.net (Dave), 8. March 97)

Ya anteriormente han demandado a los Kiwanis por esta misma razón y creo que este lo va a repetir. Me parece que esto de los Kiwanis esta pasando de la raya. ¿cual es el empeño de mezclar la gimnasia y la magnesia? Los artistas son artistas, se conocen y se respetan por su arte. Este idioma no reconoce ni barreras sociales, economicas ni politicas. Creo que deben imponer una mordaza a los kiwanis y quiza asi sabran lo que se siente no poder trabajar solo por que se me asocia con algun movimiento en particular. En la democracia la libertad de la que gozan los kiwanis aplica a todos los ciudadanos que vivimos en ella. Por ello entiendo que resulta contradictorio que este grupo no respete la libertad de expresión y de pensamiento de aquellos que no creen como ellos. Tan dictador es uno (Fidel) como el otro (los kiwanis) solo que desde dos trincheras distintas. Saludos. jro (oquendo@prtc.net, 9. March 97)

Well said JRO! -- Musically, George Rivera goje@earthlink.net (George Rivera <goje@earthlink.net>, 10. March 97)

Me parece estupendo que la gente se salude y se de un abrazo sincero. Si se excluye a A. Montañez de la "Calle ocho", tal como tengo entendido, por dar un abrazo a Silvio Rodriguez, perdonadme pero ni el festival de la calle ocho ni ochenta son dignos del gran Andy Montañez al que desde España brindo mi reconocimiento más sincero. No mezclemos el tocino con la velocidad. Paco (Francisco Casa Gázquez <pacocasa@ctv.es>, 5. March 97)

Andy Montañez with Silvio Rodriguez? That's great! It doesn't bother me a bit. Changuito with Giovanni. Issac Delgado with Isidro Infante. Juan Formell with Descarga Boricua! Ismael Miranda with Orquesta Aragon.Oscar DLeon with Barbarito Diez in Cuba,even! Celia recording a Candido Fabre song! Sonora Poncena doing Adalberto Alvarez tunes for years!Check out the cd "De Aqui Pa'lla" (Emigba 001) Puerto Rico's finest doing contemporary Cuban tunes and "De Alla Pa'ca" (Emigba 002) Cubans doing their take on Puerto Rican compositions.This is the spirit that should be encouraged. Peace (soysalsero@aol.com (SoySalsero), 15. March 97)

I can agree with most of this. I also would add that Willy Chirino has not let his staunch public opposition to Castro get in his way of looking to contemporary Cuban composers for hits. For example: by Benito de la Fuente: "Oxigeno" (recorded by Chirino) By Candido Fabre: "Guyabitas Del Pinar" (recorded by Chirino) "Mirala Como Se Menea" (recorded by Oscar D'Leon) "La Gua Gua" (recorded by Celia Cruz) I think there are more similar examples of stuff I've worked on, but I forget right now. Many great creative people from here have been quietly collaborating with some of the great talent from Cuba, with some fantastic results. I impatiently await the day that I can do so openly without worrying about any negative consequences. On the other hand, I also empathize with those who cannot forget their suffering, and are vehemently defending their own cause. I realize tolerance is a difficult concept for people who consider themselves victims, but I can't agree with some of the tactics. Steve Roitstein Riot Music, Miami riot@bridge.net (riot@bridge.net (Steve Roitstein), 15. March 97)

These are the same people that have kept Ruben Blades off radio. A while back they also threatened Puerto Rican artists that were slated to receive awards from Cuba for their work. That situation got to the point that the Puerto Rican community threatened to boycott all of the "Miami Cuban's" (Estefan's, Chirino, etc.)performances. Now Andy Montanez is filing (or has already filed) a three million dollar lawsuit against them. They already lost one making Andy's case a "piece of cake". What should happen is that the entertainment community should "just say no" to Maimi. I know, the people should not suffer for the actions of these jerks; but, maybe those that are just standing by and keeping quiet will rise to the occasion and shout "NO MAS!" YA BASTA! Music and art is just that, music and art. The Cuban government (read Fidel) is not surviving because Los Van Van, Irakere, and Issac Delgado perform their music. Maybe, just maybe Fidel has done more for the people than others have in the past. Like I have stated in the past, if thirty years of stupidity (read blockade) has not gotten rid of Fidel, what makes these fools think another thirty will? Maybe if we started a dialogue with them, instead of ignoring them, progress could be made. Quien sabe? All I know is that the suffering of their own families is by their own hands. Que sanganeria! To quote a line from a song by Tommy Olivencia "Y dice ese maricon, que en Cuba no falta na". This is so because of those same individuals that persist in these stupid tactics, not Fidel. Que mierda!!! -- Musically, George Rivera goje@earthlink.net (George Rivera <goje@earthlink.net>, 15. March 97)

I have always respected Andy Montañez.It's almost a badge of honor to be banned from the Calle 8 Festival. Are they now going to recall all those old Calle Ocho cd collections that have Andy or anyone who has every worked with him? The "approved " Calle Ocho artists: many of them have appeared together at other venues with "banned" or proscribed artists such as ones who have not renounced their homelands. What a dilemma facing the kiwinis when the fingers start pointing. How sad. How dishonest. I remember a couple of years ago when Veronica Castro took her show to Cuba--that episode was never shown. They just pretended it never happened. Most people in Tucson never even knew there was a controversy. And now we finally have Juan Formell and los Van Van touring the United States.Telemundo and Univision covered their presence here as news but where was the special concert a la Julio or Emmanuel ?It's hard not to get cynical. (So I won't bring up the Grammy awards.) It's time to end more than one kind of Embargo or Blockade.This is my opinion. (soysalsero@aol.com (SoySalsero), 15. March 97)

Steve Roitstein wrote: > Many great creative people from here have been quietly collaborating with > some of the great talent from Cuba, with some fantastic results. I > impatiently await the day that I can do so openly without worrying about > any negative consequences. The last sentence above says a lot. It's just the kind of statement I'd expect to hear from someone living under a dictatorship. (Edwin Rodriguez <edwinr@sirius.com>, 16. March 97)

Are we not in the United States? What happened to freedom of speech/expression and all that Jazz? Opps!4 I forgot we are in Miami and we don't alway agree with the "American Way" here. Yes, I write this as the daughter of a Puertoro married to a Cubana, also being married to a balsero. Boy am I going to be in trouble when I get home! All that respond as I know there will be responses, please be gentle it is my first time. -- Katherine Gonzalez d043894c@dc.seflin.org (d043894c@dc.seflin.org (Katherine Gonzalez), 17. March 96)

About this whole Andy Montan~ez incident and whether people should support artists out of Cuba; I don't think art should be mixed with politics. However, in Cuba everything is part of the government and therefore THEY make it part of politics. I think we are seeing the issue blindly here because we live in a free country and we can easily say that politics should not affect art. I don't know if everyone knows the atrocities that Castro has committed against his people, taking away some of their basic rights as humans, but if I were a refugee from Cuba I'd be bitter too. Why should we support any groups out of Cuba? By doing so we are inevitably telling Castro that he is doing something right. Groups like los Van Van are okay musically but if it weren't for Communism dictating which groups to finance, music in Cuba today would be so much more rich and diverse. Silvio Rodriguez is a lot more adamant about his support for Communism in his music; los Van Van to a much lesser degree. While I don't like Rodriguez much, I think los Van Van is a decent group. But there is no doubt in my mind that there would be better groups in Cuba if everyone were free to make music and free to buy whatever records they pleased. Perhaps it was wrong for Calle Ocho organizers to kick Montan~ez off just for greeting Silvio Rodriguez, but he should have known better. He should have realized that the reaction would be strong. I'll give an example: It is like a battered women's group activist giving longtime friend, OJ Simpson, a hug and expecting the rest of her organization to brush it off as "Oh they're just good friends; she doesn't support what he did." Whether it is your intent or not, it simply looks like you are backstabbing Cuban-Americans. No, communism is not surviving in Cuba simply due to its musicians, but supporting them simply projects the wrong message. And Cuban-Americans can't afford to have others project the message to Castro that he has done something good. They just might be hoping to return to a democratic Cuba one day. Pachanga (Patrick A Gonzalez <patrickg+@andrew.cmu.edu>, 19. March 97)

Patrick A Gonzalez wrote: > > I don't know if everyone knows the atrocities that Castro has committed > against his people Such as raising the level of education? > Why should we support any groups out of Cuba? By doing so we are > inevitably telling Castro that he is doing something right. Is Castro a percussionist? > Groups like > los Van Van are okay musically but if it weren't for Communism dictating > which groups to finance, music in Cuba today would be so much more rich > and diverse. > > Silvio Rodriguez is a lot more adamant about his support for Communism > in his music; los Van Van to a much lesser degree. While I don't like > Rodriguez much, I think los Van Van is a decent group. But there is no > doubt in my mind that there would be better groups in Cuba if everyone > were free to make music and free to buy whatever records they pleased. > > Perhaps it was wrong for Calle Ocho organizers to kick Montan~ez off > just for greeting Silvio Rodriguez, but he should have known better. Perhaps??? He should have known better??? The fools already lost once in court for the same thing. The courts already paved the way for a payday for Andy. > He > should have realized that the reaction would be strong. I'll give an > example: It is like a battered women's group activist giving longtime > friend, OJ Simpson, a hug and expecting the rest of her organization to > brush it off as "Oh they're just good friends; she doesn't support what > he did." OJ was found not guilty in a court of law. Let's say that YOU were falsely accused of a crime that people believed you committed because of what they read and heard. Would you enjoy being the outcast? Live and let live! > Whether it is your intent or not, it simply looks like you are > backstabbing Cuban-Americans. What the hell are these fools doing to Andy??? It's a lot more than back-stabbing! > No, communism is not surviving in Cuba > simply due to its musicians, but supporting them simply projects the > wrong message. And Cuban-Americans can't afford to have others project > the message to Castro that he has done something good. They just might > be hoping to return to a democratic Cuba one day. What Cuban-Americans have got to do is realize that Castro is there to stay! The people of Cuba don't look at Castro as the enemy. Their perceived enemy is the same fools that are denying Andy his right to make a living. They know that it is those same fools that deny them food, medicine, and everything else. These fools only desire to return so that they can line their pockets with gold. Give them ten years there and nothing would have changed for those in Cuba now. In reality are these fools any better than Castro? I think not. -- Musically, George Rivera goje@earthlink.net (George Rivera <goje@earthlink.net>, 19. March 97)

In article <332FF363.6008@earthlink.net>, goje@earthlink.net wrote: > > I don't know if everyone knows the atrocities that Castro has committed > > against his people > > Such as raising the level of education? Are we really going to get into this? I mean, how many murders and decades in prison without trial are a good tradeoff for education? How many people here want to trade their lives or the lives of their loved ones so that our education system can be improved? >The people of Cuba don't look at Castro as the enemy. George, you've got to realize "the people" in any country don't think as a unit. Many, many people in Cuba hate Castro, and think of him as the man that ruined their country. Others in Cuba love and respect him as a hero. Let's realize that this is not a clear cut or black and white situation. Steve Roitstein Riot Music, Miami riot@bridge.net (riot@bridge.net (Steve Roitstein), 20. March 97)

Steve Roitstein wrote: > In article <332FF363.6008@earthlink.net>, goje@earthlink.net wrote: > > > > I don't know if everyone knows the atrocities that Castro has committed > > > against his people > > > > Such as raising the level of education? > > Are we really going to get into this? I mean, how many murders and decades > in prison without trial are a good tradeoff for education? > > How many people here want to trade their lives or the lives of their loved > ones so that our education system can be improved? > > >The people of Cuba don't look at Castro as the enemy. > > George, you've got to realize "the people" in any country don't think as a > unit. Many, many people in Cuba hate Castro, and think of him as the man > that ruined their country. Others in Cuba love and respect him as a hero. > > Let's realize that this is not a clear cut or black and white situation. > > Steve Roitstein > Riot Music, Miami > riot@bridge.net I realize that there is bad and good; but these people that go around censoring and banning would have you believe that there is no good. It is not fair to those musicians from the USA, Puerto Rico included, to be messed with because they may embrace a Cuban musician, writer, or actor, or whatever. You yourself admit to not doing certain things so as not to be "punished". These fools are now in the USA where everyone has the right to express whatever it is that they wish, so they should act accordingly! The day when Castro is gone will come soon enough, but there are no gaurantees that things will go back to where they once were. Those Cubans that opted to leave may not even be embraced by those that stayed and weathered the storm, which will lead to a whole new other controversy! So in the spirit of "free speech" let us all express our opinions and exchange views without the bull... -- Musically, George Rivera goje@earthlink.net (George Rivera <goje@earthlink.net>, 20. March 97)

Patrick A Gonzalez <patrickg+@andrew.cmu.edu> writes: Snip > Groups like > los Van Van are okay musically but if it weren't for Communism dictating > which groups to finance, music in Cuba today would be so much more rich > and diverse. Snip > Pachanga Yes you might have more diversity but you certainly wouldn't have the respect and support for the traditional music and culture that you have in Cuba today. Something that usually gets lost when your talking on your cell phone while rushing to McDonalds in your Lexus so you can get home in time to watch your favorite program on your big screen TV. ******************************************* Bright Moments, Robert E Beatty Jr. Roberthelpus@worldnet.att.net ******************************************* (Robert E Beatty Jr. <Roberthelpus@worldnet.att.net>, 20. March 97)

So in order to raise the "level of education" Castro has: 1. Eliminated the existence of a free press 2. Disallowed for the better part of his 37 year dictatorship the right of people to worship at the church of their choice 3. Prohibit citizens from traveling and migrating freely 4. Seriously punihed people who express dissenting opinions And the list could go on and on. I think in this NG sometimes we lose our sense of priorities. There is much to be gained by the free interchange of ideas. There is no doubt in my mind that the more contact we have with folks from the island and vice-versa, the better the chance for a positive change, much more so than with the charade we call an "embargo" However, I have noticed that in the course of discussions in these threads, somehow the issue of the freedom of Cuban artists to perform or be heard over here in the US gains precedence over the freedom and well-being of the Cuban people. Folks, there is no doubt that the demagogues and reactionary elements in a society can do great harm. Nevertheless, implying that "Miami Cubans" or "cubans" all agree with the these misguided actions is offensive. And perhaps, just perhaps, a lot people have better things to do (like working, raising a family, etc.) then to take an active voice in condemming situations like the Andy Montanez fiasco. Likewise, you must excuse those of us who feel offended by the implication in these postings that 1)Fidel is pretty much an OK fella, and 2) Statements like "The suffering of their own families is by their own hands". First of all, I assume that most of the folks that are furthering the idea that Castro is not so bad all have valid US passports (Or Canadian, or whatever). I think it's safe to assume none of these folks are the proud bearers of a cuban passport. Maybe somebody would be willing to trade theirs with my cousin's wife and two kids, who have been unable to leave Cuba and join their husband and father thanks to Castro's utopian system. And the last time I checked, most cuban exiles were not yet hooked up with the hotline to the clowns in D.C. that direct our foreign policy. Last time I checked my e-mail, I did not have any urgent messages from Jessee Helms asking for my input on the latest round of discussions regarding US policy towards Cuba. And I have a strong feeling that Mr. Helms' ( and others) interest in the embargo does not stem entirely from his deep love for the cuban people (in or out of the island). So to say that the suffering induced by the embargo is caused in any way, shape or form by the exile community, as opposed to the inadequacy of the Beltway politicians is naive at best. Also, the notion that all cubans who left the island because of Castro were silver-spooned, well-to-do, high class socialites is a myth that is continously perpetuated. For certain there were wealthy families and individuals. Cuba, however, boasted a solid, working, middle class. People like my grandfather, a "guajiro" whom through hard work and much sweat build a small business into a thriving enterprise. No silver spoons. No handouts. No exploitation of the masses. Just your standard entrepeneur. And then one day everything he worked for, many years of perseverance and dedication, is appropriated by the state. For the "good" of the people. Not a Bacardi plant were talking about here. The small business of a hard working individual. Taken away without any remuneration. And for what ? So everyone can be equal ?!?!? Equality is not achieved by railroading the rights and lives of others. I have a feeling very few of us who read this NG regularly would be willing to surrender all our personal properties tomorrow so that all homeless people could get public housing. FORCEFULLY surrender. No choice, no voting, etc. I am trying to include in this (too long...sorry) posting some personal flavor because I have sensed in the last few postings a very mechanical attitude towards this issue. As a Cuban-American, I am dissapointed with the decision of the Kiwanis of excluding Andy. Just like when other organizations in Miami blacklisted Ruben Blades, Oscar D'Leon and others. At the same time, we HAVE to detach ourselves from this "Free Speech/Liberty for All" self-rightousness and look at the bigger picture for the exile community in Miami and elsewhere. MANY of these people (and their loved ones in the island) have suffered and are suffering (read Against All Hope by Armando Valladares if you need to check out the details). Individuals, be them artists, politicians, whomever, who make the FREE choice to associate themselves with this oppresive regime CANNOT expect that the exile community would not exercise their FREE choice to reject them as artists, politicians, etc. And yes, individuals like Silvio Rodriguez have made a career of identifying himself closely with Castro. READ HIS LYRICS. They are not open for interpretation. His ideals are very clearly expressed. He didn't cross the line between art and politics; he erased it. Regardless on our point of view in this issue (the Castro regime), one thing is clear: We need to develop tolerance on ALL sides of this issue; the exile community as well as those of us who have the good fortune to sit in front of our computers and listen to Van Van CD's while, unlike my cousin, not worry every night if we are ever going to see our spouses and children again. Sincerely, Frank Fernandez ffernan@mindspring.com (ffernan@mindspring.com (Frank Fernandez), 21. March 97)

On Wed, 19 Mar 1997 09:08:35 -0500, George Rivera <goje@earthlink.net> wrote: >Patrick A Gonzalez wrote: >> >> About this whole Andy Montan~ez incident and whether people should >> support artists out of Cuba; I don't think art should be mixed with >> politics. However, in Cuba everything is part of the government and >> therefore THEY make it part of politics. I think we are seeing the issue >> blindly here because we live in a free country and we can easily say >> that politics should not affect art. >> >> I don't know if everyone knows the atrocities that Castro has committed >> against his people > >Such as raising the level of education? Such as putting people in jail for attempting to leave the country. Such as denying entry to the universities to a brilliant students for not having the right "political conditions". Such as persecuting Cuban writer/poet Heberto Padilla. Such as turning "brigadas de repudio" on journalists. Such as condemming a man to death and executing him less than 30 days after the verdict (General Ochoa). Such as. . . never mind. E-mail: leobueno@bridge.net Web Page: http://www.bridge.net/~leobueno/index.html Snail-mail: P.O. Box 440545, Miami, FL 33144-0545 (USA) Test De Cubanidad: http://www.bridge.net/~leobueno/cubanidad.html (leobueno@bridge.net (Leo Bueno), 24. March 97)

On Thu, 20 Mar 1997 10:49:00 -0500, George Rivera <goje@earthlink.net> wrote: >I realize that there is bad and good; but these people that go around >censoring and banning would have you believe that there is no good. It >is not fair to those musicians from the USA, Puerto Rico included, to be >messed with because they may embrace a Cuban musician, writer, or actor, >or whatever. You yourself admit to not doing certain things so as not >to be "punished". These fools are now in the USA where everyone has the >right to express whatever it is that they wish, so they should act >accordingly! See, those fools, having the right to express whatever they wish, express their desire not to allow Andy Monta~nez to sing in their bash. See, they act accordingly. E-mail: leobueno@bridge.net Web Page: http://www.bridge.net/~leobueno/index.html Snail-mail: P.O. Box 440545, Miami, FL 33144-0545 (USA) Test De Cubanidad: http://www.bridge.net/~leobueno/cubanidad.html (leobueno@bridge.net (Leo Bueno), 24. March 97)

On Mon, 24 Mar 1997 23:20:30 GMT, leobueno@bridge.net (Leo Bueno) wrote: >Such as turning "brigadas de repudio" on journalists. > I meant to say, Brigadas de Respuesta Rapida. Below is a quote from a Miami Herald Article, about a dissident women's group in Cuba, which explains the concept. Carcassis says she has narrowly escaped being beaten by Rapid Response Brigades, unofficial citizens' groups recruited by authorities to squelch protest through physical threats and force. ``That way, if you get beaten or killed, the government technically keeps its hands clean and says they are not abusing human rights,'' Carcassis said, adding that she has occasionally had to dodge cars trying to run her down. E-mail: leobueno@bridge.net Web Page: http://www.bridge.net/~leobueno/index.html Snail-mail: P.O. Box 440545, Miami, FL 33144-0545 (USA) Test De Cubanidad: http://www.bridge.net/~leobueno/cubanidad.html (leobueno@bridge.net (Leo Bueno), 24. March 97)

Can you say propaganda? With the vehicle congestion in el malecon, and all of Cuba, I can see this woman really dodging traffic. Only I don't see a bicycle doing so much damage to her, which her free medical coverage would cover anyway. ;-) -- Musically, George Rivera goje@earthlink.net (George Rivera <goje@earthlink.net>, 26. March 97) Still not enough? Ok, I'll try to provide more. For example a short follow up, with a (very short) post of Willie Colón! Or a thread about a Miami radio station who began to play cuban music and was threatened not to do so. Stay tuned and let me know if you want more!

Copyright (only layout) Klaus Reiter (klaus@salsaholic.de). Last updated: 28. March 97.