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Open letter to Carlos Santana by Paquito D'Rivera

Latin Beat Magazine,  May, 2005  

March 25-2005

Hello, Santana:

I found out, through our friend Raúl Artiles, that you'll be performing in Miami soon; I find this rather ill-advised, since not too long ago you committed the faux-pas of appearing at the "Oscar Awards" ceremony brandishing, with pride, an enormous crucifix over a tee-shirt with that archaic and stereotyped image of "The Butcher of the Cabaña," the moniker given to the lamentable character known as Ché Guevara by those Cubans who had to suffer his tortures and humiliations in that nefarious prison.

One of these Cubans was my cousin Bebo, imprisoned there just for being a Christian. He recounts to me on occasion, always with infinite bitterness, how he could hear, from his cell, in the early hours of dawn, the executions without prior trials or process of law, of the many who died shouting, "Long Live Christ The King!"

The guerrilla guy with the beret with the star is something more than that ridiculous film about a motorcycle, my illustrious colleague, and to juxtapose Christ with Ché Guevara is like entering a synagogue with a swastika hanging from your neck; it's also a harsh blow in the face of the Cuban youth from the 60's who had to go into hiding to listen to YOUR albums that the Revolution and the troglodite Argentinean and his cohorts dubbed as "imperialist music" (i.e. Rock & Roll).

I can't find all the words to express my indignation over your irresponsible attitude, but believe me, that in spite of it all, as an artist I always wish you luck. And you're going to need it, Carlos. Especially in Miami.

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Sincerely, Paquito D'Rivera, New York

COPYRIGHT 2005 Latin Beat Magazine
COPYRIGHT 2005 Gale Group


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