Rubén Blades. Photo by Jaris Savoglou on Flickr, under Creative Commons licence (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) Hugo Chávez had a good relationship with various Latin American artists, especially with those identifying as progressives, but it would seem that Nicolás Maduro has some reservations in this respect, and even more so in light of the current protests. Rubén Blades, the popular Panamanian singer-songwriter, has voiced his support of Hugo Chávez [es] on more than one occasion; however, a recent post which he published on his website has given rise to controversy. Here is a part of the text entitled simply “Venezuela” [es]: El país está tristemente polarizado y por eso hoy Venezuela duele. La aparente ausencia de una solución se debe a la falta de un liderazgo que establezca un propósito de lucha que unifique al país, en lugar de dividirlo. Si estás a favor de la oposición, eres un burgués parásito, agente de la CIA, vendido al Imperio. Si favoreces al gobierno eres un comunista, maleante, vendido a Cuba y a los Castro. Ninguna de estas definiciones habla de Venezuela y de su necesidad. Solo pintan el odio y la expectativa personalista de quien esgrime el argumento, impidiendo la posibilidad de un diálogo inteligente y patriótico. Sadly the country is polarised and that's why today Venezuela is hurting. The apparent absence of any solution owes to the lack of a leadership which would establish a common target for struggle to unite the country instead of dividing it. If you support the opposition, you're a parasitical capitalist, a CIA agent, a sell-out to the Empire. If you're in favour of the government, you're a communist, a miscreant, a sell-out to Cuba and the Castros. Neither of these labels speaks to Venezuela and its needs. They only show the hatred and self-oriented expectations of the person making this argument, hindering the possibility of an intelligent and patriotic dialogue. Then he goes on to address Venezuelan students: Ojalá que logren sentar las bases para la discusión del país que puede ser, y no el que hoy pretenden forzar dos bandos en conflicto de intereses. Que no les obliguen a escoger entre alternativas como el cáncer o el ataque al corazón. Que los estudiantes del país, desde El Guajiro hasta Cumaná, planteen su agenda de vida y se la presenten a los dos grupos que hoy se debaten en pugna por el Poder. Díganles cuál es el país que quieren, y aclaren que no aceptarán como únicas alternativas, las propuestas por los dos bandos en disputa. Let's hope that you manage to establish the foundations for discussion of the country that can be, and not that which two gangs embroiled in a conflict of interests wish to impose upon you today. Let's hope that they don't force you to choose between options like cancer or a heart attack. Let the country's students, from El Guajiro to Cumaná, propose their schedule for life and present it to the two groups who are debating each other today in a struggle for Power. Tell them which is the country that you want, and make it clear that you won't accept the proposals made by two rival sides as the only alternatives. As was to be expected, the Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro's response came quickly, in the form of a television broadcast: Here are some sections of the president's response: Hoy escribió un artículo influido en lo que ve en Univisión, TeleMundo y CNN, él cree el cuento de esas televisoras. Ruben yo te invito a que vengas a Venezuela, en privado si quieres, para que converses con nuestro pueblo […] pero no creas que se va a dar ese proceso que tú recomiendas aquí y que estos grupos fascistas que salen y que presentan Univisión, TeleMundo y CNN como unos corderitos, son la alternativa para nuestro país […] A esta revolución tu más bien deberías incorporarte, porque esta revolución se hizo con tu canto, de rebeldía contra el imperio, contra el tiburón que anda por ahí por las costas del Caribe venezolano […] En esta oportunidad te salió mal la letra Today he has written an article influenced by what he's seen on Univisión, TeleMundo and CNN, he believes the story told by these broadcasters. Ruben, I invite you to come to Venezuela, in private if you wish, so that you can speak to our people […] but don't think that the actions which you recommend here are going to take place and that these fascist groups who come out and who are portrayed by Univisión, TeleMundo and CNN as innocent lambs are the only alternative for our country […] Instead, you should join this revolution, because this revolution was brought about by your songs, of rebellion against the empire, against the shark which is out there nudging the coasts of the Venezuelan Caribbean […] On this occasion your words weren't so accurate. But the matter did not end there.