Ricky Martin: Why I Gave Bush The Finger!!

[Dracos]

Ricky Martin, who was a headliner at the 2001 inauguration ball for President George W. Bush, has a message for the American commander in chief about war.

At a recent concert, the 35-year-old singer stuck up his middle finger when he sang the president's name in his song "Asignatura Pendiente," which includes the words, "a photo with Bush." The gesture last Friday prompted cheers from thousands of fans in the San Juan stadium.

On Thursday, the Puerto Rican heartthrob repeated his criticism of the Iraq war and explained his changed position on Bush.

"My convictions of peace and life go beyond any government and political agenda and as long as I have a voice onstage and offstage, I will always condemn war and those who promulgate it," Martin said about his action in an e-mail statement sent to The Associated Press via a spokesman.

Martin, like other artists, has been highly critical of the war in Iraq.

Best known to international audiences for his smash hit "Livin' la Vida Loca," Martin is a huge star in Puerto Rico, where symbols of national identity such as the Puerto Rican flag and anthem are widely adored, and residents have complicated feelings about Washington.

The United States seized Puerto Rico in 1898 at the end of the Spanish-American War.

Puerto Rico's 4 million people are U.S. citizens and can be drafted into the military but cannot vote for president and have no voting representation in Congress. They also do not pay federal taxes.

http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory?id=2880681&CMP=OTC-RSSFeeds0312

[HockeyMom]

1. They have been trying to secede for decades

well, from what I can remember as a child growing up in NYC.

[Colobo]

8. No, we have not

The pro-independence movement in Puerto Rico represents less than 4% of the voting population in the island, and those Americans of Puerto Rican descent that support independence actually know very little about what happens in the island or how native Puerto Ricans feel about those issues.

About Ricky Martin: blah. The guy is trying to be cool again.

[Jack Rabbit]

2. Ricky Martin just went up a few points in my book

Good job.

[AX10]

3. At least Music Row can't blackball him (wrong genre).

:kick:

[muntrv]

4. Welcome to DU, Ricky. We give shrub the finger 24/7/365.

:evilgrin:

[David Zephyr]

5. Ricky, you shook your little ass for Bush and now you want to "make nice"?

Ricky Martin. God, I thought I'd never have to endure hearing his name again. Jeeez.

[tridim]

7. Well, now that it's "cool" to bash Bush, he's right on board.

Where were you 6 years ago Ricky?

[Colobo]

9. He was dancing Livin' La Vida Loca

With the commander in chief, and I read somewhere he also supported Bush's re-election in '04. Ricky favors statehood, and sadly many statehood supporters have ties with the Republican Party (as I once did).

I honestly think Ricky is looking for press.

[MnFats]

6. Puerto Ricans can be drafted?

this is news to me...

[Colobo]

11. I think they mean

That Puerto Ricans, as native US citizens, can join the American military and fight for the US, even though we are second class citizens without representation in Congress and the right to vote for the person that truly rules us, the President of the US.

Of course, Puerto Ricans in the island do not pay federal taxes, so that's why.

Puerto Rico= 51st State. :)

[calico1]

15. If you think they can't be drafted you are mistaken.

All of my cousins were drafted.

I lived in PR for 12 years when my parents decided to move back. About the pro statehood party I can tell you it is very pro Republican and corrupt as hell (at least when I lived there).

[Colobo]

17. Drafted?

Look man, I have been in Florida for 6 years. I was born, raised, and finished high school down there. There is no such thing as draft in Puerto Rico. Military service is voluntary. If you join the Armed Forces, then you will probably get called. If you don't, you won't.

In fact, the Army was trying to get my friends and I to join back in my senior year (2001). The only one that went to Iraq was the one that joined them.

So no: there is no such thing nowdays as a draft in Puerto Rico. There used to be one, just like the one over here. Thousands of Puerto Ricans were drafted for WWI, WWII, Korea and Vietnam.

[calico1]

18. Of course I meant draft when there is a draft here

If people are drafted here, they are drafted in PR. I understood your post to mean Puerto Ricans have always volunteered and never subject to the draft.

[Colobo]

19. Gotcha now, Boricua

:)

[calico1]

21. Sorry if I sounded defensive...

I know a lot of people who think things like Puerto Ricans have never served, that Vieques was a totally unoccupied island so what was the big deal and a lot of other stupid things.

:toast:

[Colobo]

22. I know

America owes a lot to Puerto Rican blood... too bad so many people don't even know...

[calico1]

14. We have been serving in every war since

the beginning of the 20th century. My uncle died in WWII. I had two uncles serve in Korea and 4 cousins in Vietnam, one was exposed to agent orange.

[mitchum]

10. His music still sucks

[FrenchieCat]

12. He saw what dissent did for the Dixie Chicks.....

and he realized that there's not much market for a Gay Bush supporting singing star in the real world.

He is still Hot though..... :)

[Cha]

13. Man, this freakin' makes my Day!

Anytime I see someone who sullied their aura with bush before and has since come to realize.. ":wtf: was I thinking", has my props! :silly:

Viva Ricky Martin! :toast:

[calimary]

25. See? Souls CAN be saved!

Good to see him join the Good Guys, now that the wool has been pulled away from his eyes. Good morning, Ricky! Delighted to see you've awakened!

:headbang:

[Cha]

26. "Souls Can Be SAved!"

:headbang: :P

[Joey Liberal]

16. He'll win a Grammy now! Good for him! n/t

[BootinUp]

20. I'm a Ricky Martin fan now

as long as I don't have to listen to his pop music hits. :grin:

[calico1]

23. He was a cute kid when he was part of

Menudo. That's about it.

[Hand]

24. Grumble, grumble...

First it's Martha Stewart, now it's Ricky Martin. Gad, Chimpy has made me a fan of some unlikely candidates... just PLEASE don't let it spread to Yakov Smirnoff! :scared:

[cui bono]

27. I guess he sees that Bush is living/creating the vida loca.

But probably not the vida loca he sings about.