Reflecting on Politics and Artistry

• Author José Ovejero reflects on the intersection of political realities, musical performance, and historical literature.

The Situation in Cuba

• The author attended a protest in Bilbao against the U.S. embargo on Cuba, citing the severe humanitarian impact on the population.
• While acknowledging the failures of the Cuban bureaucracy, the author argues that the U.S. energy blockade is responsible for critical infrastructure deterioration, such as hospital equipment shortages.
• A comparison of surgical waiting lists between Spain and Cuba suggests that, proportionally, the Spanish healthcare system leaves a greater number of people vulnerable than the Cuban model.

Music and Critical Analysis

• During a Silvio Rodríguez concert in Bilbao, the artist performed "La belleza" by Luis Eduardo Aute.
• The song serves as a scathing critique of self-serving revolutionaries who exploit slogans for power and personal gain.
• The author expressed confusion when parts of the audience cheered at the song's revolutionary slogans, viewing the audience's reaction as a misunderstanding of the composer's intended irony.

Historical Reflections

• The author revisited Ernst Toller’s Una juventud en Alemania (A Youth in Germany), a memoir documenting the horrors of WWI and the subsequent failed worker revolutions.
• The text highlights the pervasive nature of violence in society and notably recognizes the pivotal, militant role women played in revolutionary struggles, such as the uprising in Bavaria.