Spanish
Buenos Aires.- The National University of Cuyo (UNCuyo), from the Argentine province of Mendoza, awarded this Friday an honorary doctorate to the Spanish singer-songwriter Joan Manuel Serrat during a ceremony in which the artist highlighted the value of democracy and warned about the need to defend freedom day by day.
"Freedom is not given, it is earned little by little, it is defended day by day and if we do not take care of it, we lose it. In situations of serious crisis, tendencies towards democratic regression and fascination with authoritarian forms return," said the musician during his speech at the event held in the Cultural Nave of Mendoza and brought together university authorities, followers and political and cultural representatives of the province.
During his speech, Serrat thanked the academic distinction and highlighted the cultural value of popular song: "With this recognition, this part of poetry that is popular song is being valued, to which I have dedicated part of my life writing and singing. Writing and singing has been my profession for 60 years."
The artist asserted his linguistic identity and his commitment to cultural diversity: "I am the son of a Catalan father and an Aragonese mother, therefore I am bilingual, and for me writing and singing in Catalan or Spanish is natural. I have always been a militant of both languages and when they have asked me which one I prefer to write in, I say 'in the one that gives me the most problems', 'in the one that they forbid me', because my enemy is intolerance." A tribute to his life and work.
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Serrat also reflected on the origin of his work and the link between art and personal experience. "My songs are my feelings but they are also born from what others tell me, they are born from having the senses at the center, listening, seeing, feeling, living," he pointed out.
The singer-songwriter also expressed that "no one can live with their back to reality" and added: "I advise you to distrust those who claim to be apolitical, they are terrifying politicians."
The university rector, Esther Sánchez, highlighted during the event that the distinction recognizes the "political and cultural merit" of the artist and his career in defense of freedom, cultural diversity and social commitment, values that - she considered - have made him an ethical and artistic reference in the Ibero-American sphere.
UNCuyo, which thus gave Serrat its highest distinction, explained in a statement that the recognition also rewards "his substantive contribution to social causes", in addition to "the deep coherence between the artist's life and work".
The activities in homage to the 82-year-old singer-songwriter began this Thursday with a tribute concert by the university's Symphony Orchestra and will continue this Saturday with a conversation open to the public.
