Some things are unforgivable
Olga Tañon from the Herald's gushy puff piece on the criticism she received for her participation in the recent concert in Havana: "With all the respect in the world for Cuban exiles that have suffered tremendously, I think it's time to change." "We have to learn to forgive. I take off my hat to people who, with so many limitations, have learned to live, to survive and, with all that, still want to dance and sing. That's why it's worth the trouble to do something so these people will get to know the world on the other side.''
Does she believe that if Cuban exiles find forgiveness, then magically, those happy singing, dancing natives imprisoned on the island will get to know the world on the outside and find freedom? I'm trying to find some logic in her statement, and it escapes me. Whom are the exiles supposed to forgive? fidel? And how is that going to open up Cuba? I'm sure the old brute and his henchmen are just waiting for that forgiveness for enlightenment and then walla! They will free Dr. Biscet and all the political prisoners, distribute plentiful food supplies and declare Cuba a democracy that guarantees human rights for all. Or does she believe that what Cubans need are more performances by visiting entertainers such as herself telling them how wonderful they are what with their singing and dancing and joy in spite of adversity, because if that's it, no thank you, they've had fifty years of condescending tokens of solidarity from the narcisstic elite. Imagine the headline; Miami exiles forgive fidel, U.S. and Cuba sign free trade agreement! What's that sound we hear, ka-ching ka-ching?
Oh, and note the Juanes quote included in the article to add extra heartfelt legitimacy: "Olga embodies the faith and music of the wind.'' What the hell does that mean?
Is there a stupid on Cuba pill or something? I don't remember reading about Jews needing to forgive Hitler, Blacks needing to forgive slave masters, or here's a good one, how about Gitmo detainees forgiving Bush in order to end world wide terrorism, that would be awesome! Please spare us these self-congratulatory fools, and the editors that publish thier drivel.
Corre la bola | 
The problem with people like Olga is that they equate family to family relationships between Cuba and the diaspora to dealings between governments and the regime. There has NEVER been a problem between families on both sides of the Straits of Florida. Is there further proof than the millions in annual remittances flowing to people in Cuba? And folks like Olga portray US as the bad ones. The problem has always been with the oppressive regime. To think that extending a rose to the regime will magically make the Cuban people better off is just plain naive, despite whatever good intentions the lady has (and I believe her intentions are good, just wildly misguided).
In order to find logic you must sometimes think like them " As long as we are not wiling to forgive there will no redemption cause hate is divise. We must forgive and we must all join hands and sing the praises of Castro, Chavez, Chairman Mao, once we forgive these great philosophers and see the world as one then redemption will come.
The problem with conservatives is that they don't look at the long term picture, the worls is a highly populated place and we need people like Chairman Mao, Iran's Big Al with his designs to depopulate areas in the ME, and even Chavez has some ideas of his own.
We need people like them to come along every so often to help the world population achieve a sustainable balance.
I don't know whether to take rayloves54 comment as a serious response or that (he--she) is being sarcastic.
There are some people who say NOTHING when they speak.
I am hearing nothing there.
R-54-----can you clarify?
Thanks.
Great post Ziva!
She states: "... I take off my hat to people who, with so many limitations, have learned to live, to survive and, with all that, still want to dance and sing."
This remark could clearly apply to African slaves too ... the difference is that this type of "slavery" was abolished ... but in the warped reality of these useful idiots, Cubans are admirably "happy", in spite of their "material poverty" ... instead of reasoning and advocating the elimination of the cause or source of their "limitations", they are blinded by their apparent resilience in the face of oppression! No connection whatsoever between "limitations" as a direct result of lack of freedoms!
As I had commented before, this is similar to someone feeling sorry for an innocent person who's in jail. Instead of trying to help the person rightfully gain freedom, they feel sorry and sing to them in prison, so they can edure their time behind bars ...!
That's why "Olga embodies the faith and music of the wind." Just like the wind is the flow of air, Olga's comments are full of air and her faith is ephemeral. She lacks substance and her impact can be measured by a "Weather VAIN"!
I wish you well
Melek
"Man once surrendering his reason, has no remaining guard against absurdities the most monstrous, and like a ship without rudder, is the sport of every wind." ~ Thomas Jefferson
"Olga embodies the faith and music of the wind." That must be as in "Oh, oh...smells like somebody broke wind."
I'd say more, but this pitiful bitch is simply beneath contempt. She's already gotten FAR more publicity out of this concert business than she even remotely deserved. Let her worry about the refinery explosion in Puerto Rico and STFU about anything to do with Cuba. Basta.
ok, so I didn't exactly hate on the concert - doesn't mean I'm thrilled about it. It certainly doesn't mean that I need someone who doesn't know...or even worse doesn't care, about what our families went through. Would she forgive if someone jailed her husband? Would she forgive if she could never go back to PR and see her family. She's a worthless bitch.