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[Mike Weaver]

>I understood that the "passionate and joyful" music you speak of is a
>revival of pre-Revolutionary Cuban popular music, played by aging
>musicians who spent many of the Castro years shining shoes.  And that
>the young of Cuba tend to roll their eyes when they hear this stuff
>anymore. Have I swallowed someone's propaganda?
Yes.
The musician in question was on the telly a few months back.
"I have a good pension" he said "which covers my needs, but I also have 
vices. I was shining shoes to pay for my vices"
Remember shining shoes in Cuba is just another occupation, like mending 
bike tyres or refilling lighters, not a demeaning profession, most city 
Cubans like to dress sharp.


>And throughout the ages "passionate and joyful" musics have been
>produced by powerless people to make their lives a bit less depressing
>and sad.  I would bet passionate and joyful music predates speech.
>Pass the jug and fire up that old fiddle!
True but I've been seen and worked with ordinary Cubans - they aren't 
powerless by any means