CUBAN NATIONAL ANTHEM PLAYING AT GRADUATION CEREMONIES IN VENEZUELA DEMONSTRATES THAT CUBAZUELA IS ALIVE AND WELL IN MADURO'S CONCEPT OF VENEZUELA

Often, at major events such as football games and graduation exercises, before the program starts, the crowd sings the national anthem. Someone, pass me the peanuts and Cracker Jacks. This is commonplace throughout the world. Today, in the state of Zulia in Venezuela, there were graduation ceremonies for the award of medical degrees to 675 new community doctors. 

Nicolás Maduro, Acting President, was in attendance, and the ceremonies preempted TV programming throughout Venezuela. It's not too surprising that to kick things off, the national anthem was played. However, the particular anthem that was chosen, was not “Gloria al Bravo Pueblo,” the national anthem of Venezuela, but “La Bayamesa,” the national anthem of Cuba. Hanging overhead was a banner depicting Fidel Castro and Chávez. Here is a video link: 

http://www.noticierodigital.com/2013/03/video-himno-cubano-en-cadena-durante-acto-de-graduacion-de-medicos-integrales-comunitarios/

What was most amazing is the fact that the Venezuelan graduates knew the words and sang the song passionately. Maduro called on the new graduates to practice preventative health care and not the type of corrupt medicine that capitalism had brought, which “made our children sick.”

It’s no wonder that Venezuelans have taken to calling their country Cubazuela. Can you imagine if the University of Michigan School of Medicine played “Oh Canada” at commencement exercises, under a banner showing Stephen Harper, the prime minister of our northern neighbor?