Tuesday, October 2, 2018

Remembering Victor Jara

Forty-five years ago the Chilean musician and activist Victor Jara was executed by Chilean solders on the orders of Augusto Pinochet, the dictator who led a US-backed military coup that overthrew the government of Salvador Allende (September 11, 1973). Many Americans are unaware of Jara and the legacy of his music.  We are all either too preoccupied with our work, studies, relationships, sports and indifference to know about what happened to him.

In many ways Jara was the Bob Dylan of Chile and his music powerfully transcends the barrier of the years to inspire us now in these dark days of political self-indulgence and reality television shows.

I recently rediscovered Jara's music and was really touched by it. Even if you do not know Spanish, it is worth listening to.


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