Culture. Is. Power.
THIS POST HAS BEEN UPDATED:
Video (no audio) begins at approx. 31:32 with the seating of the distinguished guests including Cuba’s President Raul Castro, and Cuba’s prima ballerina Alicia Alonso. U.S. President Barack Obama’s v/o introduction in English begins at approx. 41:19 (with audio).
Transcript of full speech on TIME magazine website.
July 20, 2015 at approximately 10:30a ET.
Flags are big this summer. I just had to be there for this! Aren’t we all “symboltons”?
Yesterday, U.S. President Barack Obama announced that the Cold War embargo between the United States and Cuba is coming to an end. Normalization of U.S.-Cuba relations will enter a brand new era. Truth be told, hints of the thaw, were apparent in 2008 even in Little Havana. And oppositiono about the announcement will begin to sound like the crotchety old guy yelling “get off my lawn!”
The bulk of the GOP comments suggested that, for now at least, the conservative base remains firmly committed to keeping relations with Cuba in the deep-freeze where they have been for half a century. That position, however, is increasingly at odds with the view of the electorate at large.
Even the Pope has given his blessing after making a divine intervention. Others played parts too both secular and sacred leading up to this moment.
Questions still remain re prisoner exchanges. For one American (Alan Gross), Cuba welcomes back three nationals arrested for spying in the U.S. Two more Cubans remain in custody. Will there be another prisoner exchange? Or an exchange of prisoners for U.S. political fugitives. The next chapter is yet to be written.
Something tells me the last 2 years of the Obama Presidency will not have a lame-duck finish. Fasten your seatbelts….
Eventually, the embargo walls between the U.S. and Cuba will come tumbling down. Iowa farmers are pushing it. Folks with family on the island are now back on the island since the Obama administration lifted the Bush administration’s restrictions on travel for Cuban Americans.
Artists, journalists, religious institutions, students and academics still have a shot at getting their mojito on with a Treasury Department license. But no cigar and rum smuggling please.
Maybe hotter than the 95 + degree heat.
I’m sure in anticipation of the end of the embargo, Wynton Marsalis was checking Havana out for the next jazz superstar who will be young, passionate about the music, and bring a unique groove to the sound. Hey, they even had a Facebook sign up sheet for the Jazz at Lincoln Center event in Havana! I can say I was there before Wynton (jazz and all).
Arts and commerce often bring down walls without firing a single shot.
There is a bill in Congress (H.R. 874), the Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act. Learn more about it.
If you are a U.S. citizen, and don’t met the criteria to travel to Cuba, you can get a little taste of what that world will be like here at home — DC’s got something going on:
Ariel Fernandez Diaz has an Afro-Cuban groove happening tomorrow night – Thursday, October 14:
A monthly party with all the AfroCuban vibes & beyond.
A project from Asho Productions.
This Thursday October 14th, 2010.
9PM-2AM
New Location!!! NO COVER!
Sutra Lounge in Adams Morgan.
2406 18th Street NW,
Washington DC 20009
www.sutraloungeadamsmorgan.com
Music by resident DJ Asho playing ALL night the best of salsa, timba, guanguaco, cuban reggaeton, rumba y yoruba.
Saturday, October 30, 8 PM
Warner Theater
Tickets available here.
Multiple Grammy Award-winning pianist Chucho Valdes, “the dean of Latin jazz,” has made an illustrious career performing with countless jazz masters, including Herbie Hancock, Dizzy Gillespie, Wynton Marsalis, and Chick Corea. “Valdes demonstrates a dizzying exuberance at the piano…like [he] can barely contain his enthusiasm” (All About Jazz). “Compared to everyone from Oscar Peterson and McCoy Tyner to Duke Ellington and Count Basie, Valdes is spoken of in reverent terms throughout the community of jazz musicians” (Los Angeles Times). Sample his new album in this rehearsal video.