Carlos Santana speaks out against Bush

A couple of stories on Carlos Santana, dated 3 years apart: Of note, is his pacifism. My favourite Santana albums, most of which are difficult to get now, are from the days when his spiritual quest was represented on record. I highly recommend "Welcome".

Also significant in his earlier story is his rejection of the concepts of patriotism and nationality.
(John Lennon said it too: "Imagine there's no countries".)
Carlos said:"This whole planet, everyone, should have free electricity, water and education."
(See my earlier post on Bolivia insisting water is a right for everyone, not just important for health.)

Another story on the internet pays tribute to Santana's earnings from the American leg of their 2003 "Shaman" tour being donated to fighting the African AIDS pandemic.

I finish my Santana post with an interview quoting his desire that: "I want men to be real men and move aside and cheer for your wife, sister, mother, daughter".

Posted on Tue, Mar. 21, 2006
Carlos Santana speaks out against Bush
Associated Press

LIMA, Peru - Carlos Santana quoted his old friend Jimi Hendrix in an anti-war message here Monday and said his philosophy is the antithesis of President George W. Bush's.

"I have wisdom. I feel love. I live in the present and I try to present a dimension that brings harmony and healing," the 58-year-old rock icon said. "My concept is the opposite of George W. Bush."

Santana, speaking to Peruvian journalists ahead of a Tuesday concert, said young people's opposition to the war in Iraq is reaching the dimensions of the anti-Vietnam war sentiment in the 1970s.

"There is more value in placing a flower in a rifle barrel than making war," he said. "As Jimi Hendrix used to say, musical notes have more importance than bullets."

In 1971, Santana was prevented from performing in Peru by the military dictatorship, which deemed his music an "alienating" force. Santana returned to perform in 1995.


http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0311/S00035.htm
Wednesday, 5 November 2003, 11:04 am
Article: Richard S. Ehrlich
Carlos Santana Calls On Bush To Change Is Evil Ways

by Richard S. Ehrlich

BANGKOK, Thailand -- After denouncing the U.S.-led war in Iraq, rock legend Carlos Santana told more than 10,000 cheering fans at a sensational concert on Monday (Nov. 3) that President George W. Bush must change his "evil ways".

"He is supposed to be America's president, but he's not my president, I didn't vote for him," Mr. Santana said at a news conference on Sunday (Nov. 2) shortly after arriving in the Thai capital during his brief "Shaman Tour 2003" in Asia.

When asked for his opinion about the U.S.-led war in Iraq, Mr. Santana replied: "The only thing I know is all wars are wrong.

"There is no such thing as 'holy war' because this is a contradiction. I believe that if we declare war against anything, it should be war against poverty and ignorance," the moustached musician said.

"This whole planet, everyone, should have free electricity, water and education."

During his packed, boisterous concert in an indoor stadium on Monday night, Mr. Santana suddenly quieted his searing electric guitar and told enthralled listeners, "We represent a different side of the United States.

"We do not feel oneness with Bush at all. We say, God bless humanity first."

The more than 10,000 Thai and foreign fans erupted in wild applause and later cheered their endorsement again when Mr. Santana introduced one of his most famous songs by saying, "To Bush...you've got to change your evil ways".

The fiery guitarist then unleashed a blistering version of the song titled, "Evil Ways."

Mr. Santana's visit comes in the aftermath of President Bush's Oct. 18-21 trip to Bangkok where he influenced an Asia-Pacific economic forum to worry about terrorism's impact on the region's financial profits.

Thailand, a majority Buddhist country, dispatched more than 420 troops to Iraq in September.
Alarmed at the spiraling bloodshed, however, Thai opposition politicians and others have already suggested the government consider bringing them home.

Unlike the female country singers The Dixie Chicks -- who blasted President Bush while on an overseas tour but later expressed regret because some fans complained -- Mr. Santana has consistently been anti-war, dating back to his vocal opposition of the U.S.-Vietnam War during the late 1960s and early 1970s.

"As always, our message is 'God bless humanity,' we never say, 'God bless America'," Mr. Santana explained while describing his show in a Bangkok Post interview published on Oct. 24.

"So my band is different from some American performers like Bruce Springsteen and The Beach Boys who wrap themselves in America's flag. I don't want to have a flag.

"I'd rather be like water, clear for all people, than being a nation. I understand that some people need the dimension of patriotism, but that doesn't do anything for me," he told the paper.
"We're not here to push any American agenda, because we don't even see eye-to-eye with America ourselves anyway."
Reminded that President Bush recently visited Bangkok for the economic summit, Mr. Santana, 56, responded: "His agenda is different from ours. His agenda is basically about benefits of rich, greedy, ignorant people."

He added, "To me, George W. Bush doesn't have any power anyway. He's just someone who reads a cue that somebody writes for him -- somebody who's even richer than him.

"Our agenda is different. He sells fear. We push joy."

**-ENDS-**

About Women:

During most of their 32-year marriage, Deborah held down the fort while Carlos chased his muse. Now, they both agreed it was her turn. Carlos would rededicate himself to the family and give Deborah the support she needed to follow her dream.

Earlier this year, Deborah saw her dream become a reality with the publication of her first book, a memoir, called "Space Between the Stars."

The book garnered excellent reviews and at packed book signings across the country, for a change Carlos got to bask in his wife's glow and nothing made him happier.

Carlos Santana: Deborah is my spiritual partner. I want men to be real men and move aside and cheer for your wife, sister, mother, daughter. For her to be like Deborah, a free spirit that can also blossom in her own light, not in my shadow.