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Geez... the only 'bigger' picture of the murderer is in the Plaza de Revolucion.

I couldn't have said it better myself !!

Yes, there are bigger fish to fry. Yes, the entertainment industry, as a rule, is amoral, venal and definitely money-driven. Still, when people who've been (and have benefited from being) widely regarded as representatives of the Cuban-American community do something so seemingly senseless and wrongheaded, it's hard to let it go. Trouble is, the more I analyze it, the worse it looks.

On the face of it, since this "90 Millas" album is supposed to honor Cuba, making Santana part of it is not only indefensible but downright idiotic. There are nastier possible interpretations, but let's stick with the idiocy angle. Nope, won't work. Emilio Estefan didn't get to where he is by being an idiot. OK. Let's say he didn't know about the Santana-Che connection beforehand (highly unlikely though that appears). Let's say he innocently made a monumental PR blunder. What to do? Realize his mistake, work out something privately with Santana, and remove him from the roster as gracefully and as quickly as possible, before the fire gets really blazing? Uh, no.

Instead, get publicly and angrily all hot and bothered, and accept as valid the pitiful (to put it kindly) "explanation" from the Santana camp. You know, like, well, even horrible evil monsters who wind up doing terrible damage may have been not quite so openly monstrous when they were very young. Uh, yeah. Sure thing. Why can't those damn Cuban "extremists" understand such obvious logic? I mean, what the hell is their problem? Well, you know how "those people" are. Just ask Bill Clinton.

So, what is really going on here? Clueless arrogance? Suicidal insensitivity to one's presumably main target audience? Deliberate controversy to generate major publicity, since the MSM are likely to bite on it with relish? A gamble to somehow have one's cake and eat it, too, with brownie points from the so-called liberal establishment thrown in for good measure?

No, not a pretty picture at all.

He couldn't have worn a tee-shirt with a picture of Emiliano Zapata? Or even Pancho Villa?

Hadn't noticed till now that the beret thing he's wearing looks just like the one Guevara has on in the picture. Figures.

Let me predict here and now that the Estefans will follow the PR disaster of the press release with something even more hideous and unexpected. I whould not be surprise to find Emilio at a press conference wearing a "Che" tee-shirt to show that even hardline anti-fidelistas as himself can still admire the "human qualities" of "Che," and ask: "If I, an anti-Castro Cuban, can wear a "Che" tee-shirt, why can't Santana?" while Gloria chimes-in: "Viva freedom of speech!" If you think this scenario unlikely, how likely did you think 48 hours ago that Gloria and Emilio would issue such a press release?

Brrrrilliant little piece.

Nails Santana's non-talent success right on the wall.

Asombra,

I think the reason behind him wearing that awful thing on his head was to resemble guevara.

This guy might as well be wearing a sign saying "Yes, I'm a tacky, vulgar clown, and this chick is only with me because I'm a celebrity, otherwise she wouldn't stop to spit on me."

I just remember this:

“A person can not be communist, smart and honest at the same time”….

Now I know that The E$tefans are smart. Now What about the other two? I leave that to some one to decide.

An article about Gloria mention her as a “Crossover artist”… Those it meant that she crossed over the DARK SIDE? And since had forgotten her roots.

As to Santana (Satan). Garbage does not deserve my attention. He can return to his shit hole wearing whatever he wants to wear.

Santana, tan viejo y tan comemierda.

Again, guys, as both henry and I mentioned on the radio show last night, youwantto criticize the estefans music, go right ahead, but please dont be calling them commies of stating that theyve crossed ove rto the evil side or some such nonsense. It's simply not the case and it makes you, and the rest of us, look pretty darned ridiculous.

The question is certainly not whether the Estefans might be "commies," which of course they aren't. If nothing else, they're Capitalists with a capital C. The pertinent question is whether they're prepared to allow business or career issues to prevail over fundamental common sense, not to say sensitivity and respect for their own people. This affair, whatever they may say about it, does not show them in the best possible light.

Val, you are right. The Estefans are not commies, nor commie-sympathisers, nor do they appear to have crossed over to the Dark side.

At the same time, the "che" issue carries so much emotionality because of his direct hand-in, control, and influence in the murder and torture of thousands of Cubans from the very first step he took into Cuba, that for many of us there is no 'gray' area, only ABSOLUTE black and white.

Che did not have any 'gray areas', through all of his speeches and actions he gave it to you BLACK AND WHITE, more so than the CASTROS.

I find it unconscionable that ANYONE who values freedom, much less anyone of Cuban-exile heritage, would not only publicly associate themselves with a known Che-sympathiser, but actually partner with like-person on a project designed to promote our Cuban heritage.

Val,

I don't think they're commies...but nothing here can be more ridiculous than looking at this picture and reading the Estefan's press release.

Their defense of this whole thing is what's ridiculous!

To get a sense of the breadth of how far behind we are (and how 'low' things are) in combating this 'che' myth and universal propaganda, here's an example to the extent of how out-of-touch this myth has reached...

http://youtube.com/watch?v=SSRVtlTwFs8

I would offer that we need to create our own by taking same with our own tragic lyrics, superimposed with all the images and scenes of criminality and murder that he bestowed on the Cuban people.

Who is up to this task to place it on youtube?

What bothers me the most is who they are, what they know, and how they went about fixing it. How ridiculous are the Estsfans going to look when they sit back and say, "Coño la cagamo"? And then come out with the a press release that should have been the first and only release issued by the Estefans. The one we all want to read. I doubt that they will issue another press release containing what we all want to hear.

It's all about market share. The Estefans are not stupid. Their decision to add Santana was thought out and executed. They were probably anticipating all this controversy and will use it to their advantage as mentioned above.

Eloy,

If that is so, then I will have to think that they were never on our side after all.

I ask myself...would Jose Marti ever have done something like this? Of course Not!

I believe Marti to be the epitome of integrity...maybe Emilio and Gloria need to read some Marti for inspiration.

The Estefans are not Communists. They are dupes of the dupe of a Communist. That is, there are 3 degrees of separation between the Estefans and a real Communist ("Che").

What they are, undoubtedly, is disconnected from their community, and I don't mean because of their mega-wealth or circle of friends, but because they do not even have the minimal Cuban consciousness to realize that wearing a "Che" tee-shirt is not something that can be dismissed with some New Age crap about good co-existing with evil.

They are for sure anti-castro, but one thing is being anti-castro and another anticommunist (dime con quien andas y te dire quien eres).

Now than more and more true communist are trying to disassociate themselves from the old Stalin school in order to survive in a multiparty democratic system is difficult to differentiate them from the useful idiots (liberal democrats) like Steven Spielberg, Danny Glover, Jimmy Buffett and others like them.

As to they being capitalist with capital C… Look at China.

Vic,

Do you have any idea how absolutely ridiculous your implication that the estefans are communists actually sounds?

Gimme a break for crying out loud.

Vic:

That is a good obervation and worth pondering: "One thing is being anti-castro and another anti-communist."

The next person that makes a stupid comment calling the Estefans commies or socialists or fidelistas is going to be perceived as a ñangara his or herself, infiltrated here just to divide the masses and will be forever banned on this blog.

Fucking enough already.

Manuel
te sacastes la loteria. Buhbye

Caballeros,

me tienen los huevos inchados. Im going to say this one last time: criticize their music all you like, criticize their celebraity all you like, but do not call, insinuate, imply or make snarky remarks about the Estefans being communists or socialists or fidelistas or anything of the kind. IF YOU WANT TO MAKE A COMPLETE IDIOT OF YOURSELF YOU CAN MAKE THOSE IDIOTIC STATEMENTS ALL YOU WANT AND IF YOU WANT TO CONTINUE TO SHIT ON YOUR OWN, GO SOME PLACE ELSE.

I WILL NOT ACCEPT THAT HERE ANY LONGER. PUNTO.

manuel,

i am lifting your ban as I see your comment came out prior to my last warning. I apologize for jumping the gun like that but I have had it with the same old pilitas that this fucking community of ours have been doing for fifty years which has done nothing but make us look like complete fools and has served the bearded motherfucker and his fucking henchmen perfectly

ENOUGH ALREADY.

I think the concept of: Any publicity is good publicity was applied here. How else can you create a world of free advertising? Examples: Monica Lewinsky, Ana Nichole, and Paris Hilton.

I'm not so shocked at who's on the album as I am about the Estafans' surprise at the CA community's reaction. What did they think?

Until everyone finally knows what is the real story, there will be highly passionate arguments regarding same. However, once it is clear there maybe a lot more, who knows?

I don't think the Estefans are commies or anything of the kind. However, if the 90 Millas albums is a tribute to Cuba, AND, it is expected that CUBANS (among others) will be a large audience for the album, AND they are putting such effort behind the album for the purpose of the enjoyment of (though not limited to) Cubans, why would they even entertain the idea of using Santana, a man who basically spat in the face of the exile community by not only wearing that stupid shirt but then DISPLAYED it, and then was not remorseful about having worn it? This is what I do not understand. I highly doubt that Gloria really needs Santana's presence on this particular album. Any other album would be fine, but a Cuba-themed album? This is a slap in the face. I'm offended and I'm not Cuban!

Claudia

Val and Henry, has anyone ask this question yet...

Can willie Colon and Santana be taken off the proyect at this stage?,,, How much will this cost the Stefans , artistically or politically? What price will they be willing to pay to come ahead as always: AS WINNERS..pleasing all parties concerned , the MSM, the cuban community and their fellow artists

Let me pull out my old saw again.............. Here is a portion of the letter I mailed to Emilio:

I remember of another Cuban singer who unfortunately passed away a few years ago without seeing her homeland one last time. You said in the past that this singer from Cuba was your inspiration, mentor and idol.

Her name is Celia Cruz. In the late 1970, or early 1980s, Celia Cruz was scheduled to sing in an open stadium collaboration in San Juan, Puerto Rico, with a diverse group of Hispanic super star musicians that resembled the Fania All-Stars (but not under that name).

One of the singers in the group had gone to Cuba and came back brain washed touting the praises of communism. This singer was named "Andy Montanez" of El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico! This musical group was and is the jewel of PR and continues to be a popular band.

Celia came out on TV and print media stating: “Yo no canto con comunistas!”

(I don’t sing with communists), and she refused to participate. She broke a contract that cost her a lot of money. The public in PR were split because they loved their Gran Combo, but were not happy with the communist ways of Cuba.

Andy Montanez railed against her for being extremist and closed minded in the media. The Island leftists went to town trashing her and she did not play a gig in PR for a long time.

The Gran Combo fans, at the big concert held at Roberto Clemente Stadium, held a rally against Celia denouncing her as anti-Puerto Rican. Many papers trashed her image in written articles, but she stayed true to her convictions of “Viva Cuba Libre!”

I FEEL THAT THESE VALUES HELD BY CELIA CRUZ HAVE BEEN LOST AND SOME PRESSURE (by us or others involved) SHOULD BE MADE TO PURSUADE CARLOS SANTANA TO APOLOGIZE OR RECANT HIS OFFENSIVE STATEMENTS AND ACTIONS AGAINST THE C-A COMMUNITY LIVING IN EXILE WORLD WIDE.

I also agree with Val que los Estefens are not Fidelistas or communists and to say so is offensive to them; remember que Gloria caught a lot of grief during the violation of Elian's human rights fiasco.

Both Emilio and Gloria are very smart. When Gloria “crossed over” with her music to the Anglo side, she had to shed her Cubaness in order to be “approved.” She did/does not want to give the “perception” to her Anglo fans that she is like ALL the other Cuban-Americans in exile. She likes to project herself (in their eyes) as a moderate anti-castro Cuban-American, not anywhere near as militant as the rest of us. To be a militant anti-castro would be a very bad career move for the Estefans. Emilio also has his business to take into consideration. He writes songs for many of these LIBERALS (with big bold letters) who are for the most part pro-castro. Then, there is ALSO his recording business. When you put in a balance (approximately) two million Cuban exiles vs. the rest of the word, whose sensitivity do you think they will take into consideration? Cuban-Americans? Fat chance!

She took a picture with Nelson Mandela in South Africa because it was a GOOD CAREER MOVE. Nothing else! She knows how much Cuban-Americans despise Mandela. Remember his visit to Miami in the 1980s when the Cuban mayors did not give him a key to the city, nor even honor him? Well, she wanted to make sure HER FANS understood she was not LIKE US.

I am sure they could have made better choices in the past but the present situation is one that can be mended.

As to her music, people project their beliefs and ideas onto an artist's music and interpret their own idea what the message is. Me think that when 90 miles comes out many in the leftists community in the Americas will project their idea of what Cuba is walking away thinking/feeling something other than you & I would.

This is a free country but what would make me happy if the album comes out leaving everyone know the music came with hardships for our parents and selves.

There is an old saying that music has no flag, but would there to be a window into the sufferings of those to whom the music belongs. Does this make any sense?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

Val,
AMEN, hermano!!!!!

Even if the Estefans made a mistake, or if they didn't, they are still our own people, they are proven anti-castristas, anti-communists, and they have my support.

I will reserve my personal decision on the Estefans based on how they deal with this fiasco which they are wholly responsible for. I already feel that it was nothing less than a stupid move on their part. I don't believe that they are too stupid to know that santana y the other guy are a no-no especially on a Cuba tribute album. I don't personally see them as communists or socialists, but either out of touch with their people or simply opportunists. They made an ignorant move that they may pay for with us CA's and probably strike it rich with a crossover with the Anglo market ala Dixie Chicks. I hope that they "see the light".

Don't you think we are our inflating the importance of our community outside of Miami? I don't really think that Joe Six Pack in Missouri cares too much, or unfortunately is aware enough to know the difference between a moderate CA and a militant one.

So the idea that Gloria wants to project a moderate image is off base. Unfortunately, most people in the country don't care about what is happening in Cuba or about our plight in exile.

There is a war going on, but all people seem to want to focus on is Britney's haircut and Anna Nicole Smith's death.

My feelings on this is that the Estefan's underestimated the reaction from within our community. And now they are in crisis mode and don't know what their next step is.

And honestly I am more insulted by Colon's presence on this album. What he did to Celia and to Estefan's themselves is a travesity.

And what about Andy and Paquito?

It's a tough, I agree with Henry, who I think it was, that I am more pissed at the Estefan's for putting our community in this situation.

Hey Angel Rodriguez:

What did Willie Colon do to celia Cruz?????

In retrospect I should have tried to find another source to verify this, but this is a link that another person linked from here.

But this is from Freedom4Cuba and here is the link which talks about what Willie did to Celia.

If anyone out there to confirm this story, it would be greatly appreciated it...

http://mariaargeliavizcaino.com/e-celiacruz.html

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