Thursday, September 20, 2007

Miami Herald Letter to the Editor Sep 20, 2007

Letters to the Editor (As edited and published)
Stars continue to shine
Re the Sept. 18 letter Too much Estefan: With legendary performers like Gloria Estefan, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Ella Fitzgerald, even Little Richard, it is not their last few songs that make them popular and revered. It is their ability to capture the essence of a personal style or period of our life and preserve it, verbalize it and even shape it that makes them stars.

Even as a gringo who came here from St. Louis in 1969, in Estefan's work, I see and feel the longing, dreams and spirit of a fine people who lost so much. And her message reverberates among many displaced peoples.

Estefan was not on the front page because of her last song. She was there because of what she has come to represent. The letter writer's view must be a product of a throwaway society with little history or grace.


Here is the whole letter:

Ms. Rose Mendoza, Miami, wrote: "She had her day".

Poor Ms. Mendoza, have you so little grace? With legendary performers
like Gloria Estefan, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Ella Fitzgerald, even
Little Richard, it is not their last few songs that make them popular
and revered. It is their ability to capture the essence of a personal
style or period of our life or history and preserve it, verbalize it and
even shape it that makes them stars. Even as a gringo who came
here from St. Louis in 1969, in Gloria's work, I can see and
feel the longing, dreams and spirit of a fine people who lost so
peoples.

Gloria was not on the front page because of her last song. She was there
because of what she has come to represent. If you cannot see this, pity.
This must be product of a throw away, disposable society with little history,
or grace.