Comments for HAPPY AT 90 MILES

Comment on Juanes, the difficult terrain of neutrality. by IPH

IPH — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 23:16:23 +0000

I think the controversy surrounding this concert has been overblown, in the end it’s just a musical event. What I react to is the idea that something that claims to be neutral can bring about change, which seemed to be the vague idea with “Peace Without Borders”. I think it’s experienced as something more transcendent by the artists and than people outside Cuba than what is felt by the Cuban people.

BTW, You’re right about the European tourism in Cuba and the West’s business with China, those are true moral dilemmas.

Comment on Juanes, the difficult terrain of neutrality. by Nia

Nia — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 22:41:17 +0000

This is causing quite a stir in Spain, where Juanes is very popular. What I think is that we hold artists to impossibly high ethical standards sometimes; I remember the times of the Spanish participation in the Irak war, when some people even suggested that artists should boycott institutions governed by the Popular Party. That would have meant refusing or giving back grants and salaries for people who depended on Conservative-controlled town councils, for example.

Nobody is holding a debate on whether the tourism industry in Cuba is ethical, or on everyone’s businesses in China. But when it’s art, ah. Reminds me of that quote from The Importance of being Earnest, “f the lower orders don’t set us a good example, what on earth is the use of them?”

Comment on THE STORY by daniel

daniel — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 00:27:58 +0000

Peter,
que trabajo tan bueno!!

Comment on Cover by MKV

MKV — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 02:24:13 +0000

Very nice, I like it a lot.

Comment on Cover by david

david — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 01:13:57 +0000

nice.

Comment on El Dictador by IPH

IPH — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 17:16:54 +0000

You’re right, selfishness features prominently in revolutions and dictatorships, because they both negate dialogue and pluralism, making second-class citizens of the people on the “wrong side”.

What people find after a while is that it gets harder and harder to stay within the tenuous borders of “right side” and the complaints department has blood-stained walls.

Comment on El Dictador by Nia

Nia — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 17:01:39 +0000

Interesting, I’ll look it up.

I’d add that one of the strongest attractions of a dictatorship to common people, together with a desire for order, is the idea that “we” will be part of the top of totalitarian society. Behind popular support of dictators there’s always selfishness.

Comment on Graphic novels mention on Foreign Policy Blogs: Cuba by Roberto Lebrón

Roberto Lebrón — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 13:43:26 +0000

Congratulations. It’s good to see your efforts are being celebrated from the start. Keep up the great work!