Voice of the Waterlily- Our Stories

Well, I'm back and with a new cohost/contributor! today we're talking all about what we can learn from Che Guevara's legendary 1964 speech to the United Nations. Sources: CR's Video Vaults. “Che Guevara Interview. Ireland 1964.” YouTube, 4 Nov. 2021, www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDRrt5NTNgU. Accessed 7 Dec. 2024. DawnNews English. “Miller Smirks at Journalist Asking about UN Vote Condemning US Embargo on Cuba | Dawn News English.” YouTube, 29 Oct. 2024, www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIjQodZesvM. Accessed 7 Dec. 2024. Guevara, Che. “At the United Nations.” Marxists.org, 11 Dec. 1964, www.marxists.org/archive/guevara/1964/12/11.htm. The i Paper. “Kamala Harris: I Will Ensure America Has the Strongest, Most Lethal Fighting Force in the World.” YouTube, 23 Aug. 2024, www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1kh--W4l_w. Accessed 7 Dec. 2024. The White House. “Vice President Harris Has Made It Clear: As Israel Defends Itself, It Matters How.” YouTube, 19 Dec. 2023, www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWgxNYzVCh0. Accessed 7 Dec. 2024. ALL RIGHTS AND CREDIT GO DIRECTLY TO RIGHTFUL OWNERS. NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT INTENDED.

Welcome to part 2 of my series on revolutionary songs. Stay tuned to the end for a controversial take on a Latin music superstar’s political stance on dictator Augusto Pinochet. I often talk about Chilean revolutionary song here on the podcast. Its close to my heart, not because of any personal connection to that beautiful country whatsoever, but because their history, music and culture is deep in my heart and I have deep admiration for the struggles, successes and achievements. I often talk about nueva cancion and its suppression under Pinochet as well, but what happened in Chile was not unique. The US history of interventionism is long and continues to grow longer even in this present moment. The history of fascism attempting to destroy art and culture is also long. These dictatorships understand that music and art holds an immense power of communication. Many of these dictatorships began actually suppressing their own cultures and traditional music and art. In Chile, we have perhaps the most severe case of artistic suppression, the murder of Víctor Jara as well as his records and many others being banned, Pablo Neruda’s books were burned and it was illegal to sing revolutionary songs. In Spain Franco officially banned Catalan and other languages from school and public spaces.Revolutionary artists suffered exile simply for singing about the reality of their people, yet they became part of the strong international community that not only brought attention to the atrocities being committed, but also played a role in ending those dictatorships with their tireless work and denouncements of their atrocities. Today we will be celebrating what many would call “protest music”, however I, like Víctor Jara, prefer the term “revolutionary song”, from around the world. All of these artists faced various consequences for their activism and We need this inspiration right now, we actually need more revolutionary song after all, no hay revolucion sin canciones, so at this time let us take inspiration from these courageous and talented artists. SONGS:Violeta Parra — Rin de AngelitoÁngel Parra — Me Gustan los Estudiantes Inti Illimani — Canción del Poder Popular (live in East Germany 1974)Patricio Manns — Elegia para una muchacha roja (live)Osvaldo Rodriguez Musso — cancion de muerte y esperanza por Víctor Jara Horacio Guarani — Recital a La Libertad Facundo Cabral — Pobrecito Mi PatronPiero — para el pueblo lo que es del pueblo Alfredo Zitarrosa — Desde Exilio Los Olimareños — Adios Mi Barrio Chico Buarque — CaliceLuis Llach — L’estaca Pete Seeger — Turn, Turn (live) Roy Brown (with Pablo Milanés) — El Negrito Bonito Vicente Feliú — Una Canción Necesaria Grupo Manguaré — Guantanamera Celina y Reutilio — Que Viva Fidel Gabino Palomares — Espejos De Mi Alma Venceremos — Quilapayún

This is part of a series of short stories I have written recently. I felt it was prescient to share it now as it deals with themes of humanity, the environment, joy, grief and hope. I hope you enjoy reading it! This is a completely fictional story that takes inspiration from many real life events. Read it HERE Song: Gracias a la vida — Mercedes Sosa

When you hear this it will be September 28th and I’m thinking about Víctor Jara. He would have been 92 today. You may think I make more drama over this singer than is warranted, but for me and many many others around the world Víctor Jara is the symbol and embodiment of so much more. He’s much more than a singer and much more than a symbol of human rights violations. He is more than the way he died.  Víctor Jara is the embodiment of what it means to be a revolutionary singer, a man of peace whose power of communication was greater than any bullet, which is why 51 years after his murder we remember his voice, he hear his voice above the bullets and it continues to guide us and inspire us. My purpose today is to celebrate Víctor Jara, to give thanks that he lived, and uplift his work once again. As we move forward, I can only hope that we can all do justice to Víctor’s memory not only by remembering him and all of the victims of the dictatorship, but also by using our voices to speak up for peace, justice and freedom, against imperialism, colonialism and brutality wherever we see it, because if Víctor was alive today, that’s exactly what he would be doing, I have absolutely no doubt. Songs:Jai Jai El Lazo La FondaDeja la vida volar Desprendimiento del angelitoEl Derecho de Vivir en Paz con el poncho embravecido A cochabamba me voy La BalaEl AradoCuando Voy al Trabajo Vientos del PuebloManifiestoALL RIGHTS AND CREDIT GO DIRECTLY TO RIGHTFUL OWNERS.NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT INTENDED.

Orlando Letelier’s only crime was being part of and defending the legitimate government of Chile, that of Salvador Allende, his actions earning him a year long detention and severe torture. This didn’t break him or stop him, Orlando moved to the united states and became the most vocal and prominent chilean exile fighting against Pinochet’s rule, further incurring the wrath of the US backed dictator. The story that follows is one of the most overlooked acts of foreign terrorism in US history, terrorism that is tied to US interventionism in South  America.Special 48th anniversary commemorative episode. Songs:Al centro de la injusticia - Isabel Parra Manifiesto - Nano Stern Con el Alma Llena de Banderas - QuilapayúnEl Derecho de Vivir en Paz - Banda Conmocion, Roberto Marquez Vientos del Pueblo - Víctor Jara Audio clip sources:DemocracyNow!Chile: Promise of freedomALL RIGHTS AND CREDIT GO DIRECTLY TO RIGHTFUL OWNERS.NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT INTENDED.