Counter Revolutionary Act By the Stones @ Havana

In early January 1959, Castro's victorious rebel army drives through Santa Clara towards Havana, Cuba receiving warm greetings by the jubilant Cubans. In the predawn darkness of January 3rd, Che's entourage arrived at the La Cabana garrison in Havana while Castro marched into the heart of Havana.

Fast forward 57 years later in March 2016, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood and Charlie Watts of the Rolling Stones unleashed two hours of thundering rock and roll concert right in the heart of Havana. Hundreds of thousands of Cubans and foreigners euphorically celebrated the Stones on its first ever concert in Cuba. It was reported a 62 year old Joaquin Ortiz remarked " After today I can die, this is like my last wish, seeing the Rolling Stones."

Che would be at the age of 98 if he were still alive when the Stones thumped and rocked Havana ... short of about 3 months to 98 actually. I just wonder what his reaction would be - will it be like Joaquin Ortiz and the rest of the spectators at the concert? I doubt it ....

I could imagine Che and Aleida, his companion would frown with disappointment from their comandante's house, built against the stone buttresses overlooking Havana. Che for sure will scorn at this despicable counter revolutionary act of the Stones ....

Perhaps to counter the loud and shrieking music of the Stones, Che would mock the Stones and read a poem penned by his dearest friend, El Patojo who died while fighting a revolutionary war in Guatemala in March 1962, the final verses of which are as follows:

                               Take this, it is only my heart
                               Hold it in your hand
                               And when the dawn arrives,
                               Open your hand
                               And let the sun warm it ......

the poem is surely better than the Stones, definitely ....

Interestingly, before Che was executed he was asked by Felix Rodriguez the CIA operative whether Che had any messages for his family, he said: "tell Fidel that he will soon see a triumphant revolution in America" True to his revolutionary spirit, he said to Teran his executioner " I know you have come to kill me. Shoot, coward, you are only going to kill a man."

There you are two different sets of crowds in a two different time zones with a gap period of 57 years ... which one is worthwhile or rather more meaningful ..... you be the judge.

Good night & till we meet again ....