"Mans law does not change a mans heart, but mans heart can change the law." With those words - and others - music legend Carlos Santana returned to his usual peace/beauty/love/spiritual territory on Monday, when he posted his "thought of the day" on his typically-impersonal Facebook page. Over the weekend, he made an uncharacteristic stretch into political controversy over the weekend when he castigated Georgia and Arizona for what he perceives as shameful anti-illegal immigration laws.
Santana strung together several thoughts for his thought(s) of the day, all of which appeared to be reaction to the pushback he was witnessing to his earlier comments. The full posting is after the jump.
Somewhat humorously, many of the derisive comments launched at the eternally-spiritual and soft-spoken guitarist focused on his ingratitude at making his comments when receiving an award and/or were of the "shut up and sing" variety.
Having seen Santana in concert more than once, I can aver that Santana rarely sings - other than making his guitar sing - and that he rarely says much between songs (other than saying things like "thank you" and "God bless"). Shut up and sing did not even apply this weekend, when he did not sing, and when people did not even buy tickets to hear him sing.
And, in fact, he repeatedly expressed gratitude for being honored with the CIVIL RIGHTS BEACON award, and named off many of his civil rights heroes who he believes are far more important than he is. But, would it have not been more of a shame if he - or MLB - did refrain from mentioning what he feels is an important CURRENT civil rights issue? At a civil rights awards ceremony?
P.S. I made a quick attempt to determine whether Carlos Santana is quoting anyone else regarding man's heart being able to change man's law. It is a creative variation on religious statements about God's law vs. man's law. I did not turn up anything, and am tentatively concluding that the words are Santana's own. If anyone knows otherwise, please let us know.
Showing posts with label Carlos Santana. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Carlos Santana. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Monday, May 16, 2011
WATCH: Carlos Santana To "The People of Arizona": "You Should Be Ashamed of Yourselves"
The soft-spoken music legend Carlos Santana carried a big stick yesterday when he was honored by Major League Baseball with a "Beacon of Change" award before the MLB's annual Civil Rights Game in Atlanta.
On Friday, Georgia's governor had signed into law a bill that contains some similarities to Arizona's well-known SB 1070, dealing with enforcement of illegal immigration. Santana took the microphone and said, "The people of Arizona, and the people of Atlanta, Georgia, you should be ashamed of yourselves."
After the on-field ceremony, he elaborated: "This law is not correct. It's a cruel law, actually. This is about fear. Stop shucking and jiving. People are afraid we're going to steal your job. No we aren't. You're not going to change sheets and clean toilets."
Added Santana: "This is the United States. This is the land of the free. If people want the immigration laws to keep passing, then everybody should get out and leave the American Indians here."
He did not try to link Arizona's law - which is mainly on hold pending a decision by the U.S. Supreme Court on whether to accept an upcoming writ of certiorari from Arizona - with the upcoming MLB All-Star game in Phoenix.
We will have more to add to this post shortly, but here is a report of his on-field statements (with photos), as well as a link to a soft-spoken video of Santana speaking on the subject shortly before the game.
MLB video interviewing Santana before ceremony: http://atmlb.com/mrL7nU
UPDATE: Major League Baseball is doing its best to play down Santana's remarks during and after yesterday's game. They have not released (or permitted the release of) the video of Santana's comments before Sunday's game or the "impromptu news conference" afterwards. The interview of Santana from before or after Saturday night's ceremony is mixed so low as to be extremely difficult to hear his (more benign, broad) comments. MLB's website article about the Sunday ceremonies ignores Santana's comments. For his part, Santana makes no mention of his comments on his website, although he does have an announcement that he was going to receiving/accepting the award.
Here is a link to the Saturday night ceremony, at which Santana accepts the award (from Harry Belafonte). He speaks at about the 5:40 mark, about how "deeply honored" he is to receive the award.
Carlos Santana was born in Mexico, and grew up in the San Francisco area (California), before reaching great heights in the music world.
He is scheduled to play concerts in both Phoenix and Tucson in September 2011.
Santana at the ceremony (at about 10:37): "And I want to say that it's a shame that those in charge (in Georgia) would pass a law - an immigration law - just like Arizona. The sound that comes to my heart - and my fingers - is the sound that we are all in it together. We don't leave anybody out. This is why it's called universal tone."
Afterwards: "It allows me to give voice to the invisible ones."
We welcome your comments about this post. Or, if you have something unrelated on your mind, please e-mail to info-at-arizonaspolitics-dot-com. Thanks.
On Friday, Georgia's governor had signed into law a bill that contains some similarities to Arizona's well-known SB 1070, dealing with enforcement of illegal immigration. Santana took the microphone and said, "The people of Arizona, and the people of Atlanta, Georgia, you should be ashamed of yourselves."
After the on-field ceremony, he elaborated: "This law is not correct. It's a cruel law, actually. This is about fear. Stop shucking and jiving. People are afraid we're going to steal your job. No we aren't. You're not going to change sheets and clean toilets."
Added Santana: "This is the United States. This is the land of the free. If people want the immigration laws to keep passing, then everybody should get out and leave the American Indians here."
He did not try to link Arizona's law - which is mainly on hold pending a decision by the U.S. Supreme Court on whether to accept an upcoming writ of certiorari from Arizona - with the upcoming MLB All-Star game in Phoenix.
We will have more to add to this post shortly, but here is a report of his on-field statements (with photos), as well as a link to a soft-spoken video of Santana speaking on the subject shortly before the game.
MLB video interviewing Santana before ceremony: http://atmlb.com/mrL7nU
UPDATE: Major League Baseball is doing its best to play down Santana's remarks during and after yesterday's game. They have not released (or permitted the release of) the video of Santana's comments before Sunday's game or the "impromptu news conference" afterwards. The interview of Santana from before or after Saturday night's ceremony is mixed so low as to be extremely difficult to hear his (more benign, broad) comments. MLB's website article about the Sunday ceremonies ignores Santana's comments. For his part, Santana makes no mention of his comments on his website, although he does have an announcement that he was going to receiving/accepting the award.
Here is a link to the Saturday night ceremony, at which Santana accepts the award (from Harry Belafonte). He speaks at about the 5:40 mark, about how "deeply honored" he is to receive the award.
Carlos Santana was born in Mexico, and grew up in the San Francisco area (California), before reaching great heights in the music world.
He is scheduled to play concerts in both Phoenix and Tucson in September 2011.
Santana at the ceremony (at about 10:37): "And I want to say that it's a shame that those in charge (in Georgia) would pass a law - an immigration law - just like Arizona. The sound that comes to my heart - and my fingers - is the sound that we are all in it together. We don't leave anybody out. This is why it's called universal tone."
Afterwards: "It allows me to give voice to the invisible ones."
We welcome your comments about this post. Or, if you have something unrelated on your mind, please e-mail to info-at-arizonaspolitics-dot-com. Thanks.
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