[FA Worldmusic] (Mis)adventures in musical diplomacy

[Mark Gorney]

I don't know if anyone's been following this story but probably a first in
whirled music, US ambassador to Paraguay James Cason (formerly head of the
US interests section in Havana), cut an album of Guarani folk songs:
http://www.miamiherald.com/457/story/582020.html

 

Audio interview: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7484512.stm

 

but apparently he didn't quite get it right:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080627/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/paraguay_us_singing_am
bassador

 

Moral of the story: especially given the terrible history of the US in Latin
America, if you're going to genuinely respect the culture of a place, take
the time to make sure you're doing it properly, otherwise you're just
perpetuating the same culture of ignorance, and some would say imperialism.
Or maybe US Gov't. personnel just don't make good singers?

 

When Cason was in Cuba, he never did any son.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mark Gorney

Worldisc

415.826.2638

mark at worldisc.net