Odio Por Amor

A true artist; a true concert. All these critics need to stop breaking it down and picking apart the pieces. It was what it was, a concert meant to share a little love. All the older Cuban exiles are looking at Juanes as if he is a naïve, young artist. They are making bogus assumptions that he might be a communist; implying he doesn’t understand that more than half of the Cuban population was not allowed to attend because of the overbearing government control; that he contrived this big publicity stunt and it was all in vain because tomorrow Cuba will go back to the same poor condition. To all those critics I just have one thing to say, at least he did SOMETHING. He took action, unlike many of our governments/politicians who say so much but do so little. Their old ways are filled with contracts that build nothing but tension. He acted on something that we as humans all have in common, MUSIC. Music only attracts positive vibrations and the first step to change is a positive attitude. A positive attitude equals love and love begins inside a single individual. Individuals in love bring about UNITY. And finally, unity leads to CHANGE. He’s an artist; he knew exactly what he was doing. Maybe he’s not so naïve after all?

Everyone has to accept that change does not come easily. It is full of risks and sacrifices. I’m sure he knew all that was at stake by going into that neglected island; the controversy that it would bring by all those against it. I admire him for doing it anyways! Regardless of how hard it was going to be it needed to be done. The Cuban people need HOPE. They need to see, hear and feel the power of love through live music. The songs he sang were inspirational and I’m sure touched the hearts of countless Cubans, especially the Cuban youth. The future of Cuba lies within the palm of their hands. On a personal note, I’ve been very fortunate to have attended many concerts in my lifetime. I know the impact a live show can have on a person. I can only imagine how his words of amor, paz and libertad affected the crowd. We will never know the feelings that ran through their bodies that day, but I hope a feeling of inspiration and a want to fix the sad situation in their home land came over them. Even more so, I wish they felt the love the world was feeding them. It was reassurance to the Cubans that they are not alone in this struggle. A stage covered with people from all over the world, bringing their voices together to sing a song of faith for Cuba. That is a miracle for the Cuban community.

Cuba is an exotic paradise, unfortunately for the past decades it has been disguised as hell for the majority of its citizens. Corruption and HATE fill every void. Love will be the change it needs to flourish. That is, if we allow it to. And it will not come over night; it may not even come until a few years from you. But we cannot give up, nor lose patience. Even if the risks are many to take and the casualties are too disturbing to count; things cannot remain in this miserable present condition! It all begins with a small step. Tiny glimpses of hope that can come from anywhere even the most subtle lyric in a Juanes song, “y olvidamos que el amor es mas fuerte que el dolor.” It is not difficult to give back, words are powerful and do not cost a cent.

We, as the youth, will soon be this world’s leaders. We must learn how to lend a hand to our fellow nations and not be so quick to pass judgment. We live in Miami, Cuba part two. There is no doubt that the majority of our Cuban families hold a strong grudge against the Cuban government. What we need to do is transfer all the energy we put into the grudge from hate to love; from ignoring the issue to facing it! We mustn’t settle for the idea that “it isn’t my problem.” We are all one. One world; one love. In the words of Juanes, “It’s time to change!”.

-Jus B