Spanish language Q&A Forum

Hola Shui,

I enjoyed this lesson but it wasn't very straight forward. I searched on the meaning of "cumbia" and it was given as "dance music not unlike a salsa, but originating from Colombia." Who doesn't like salsa!

I find it a bit of a contradiction to see powerful social issues addressed - not just environmental but also injustice and the consequences of violence [as portrayed in the video] - to a dance rhythm. What's more, it reads like a love song but I kind of get that as a metaphor, and in fairness Carlos sings the song with a fair degree of passion, which goes well with the issues portrayed. 

That said it doesn't feel quite right to get up and dance something like the salsa to lyrics which are a mix of love and real tragedy - lost loved ones, widowed mother and child, armed militias etc.

Is this part of the Latin American mentality? Celebrate despite your miseries? Don't let them grind you down? 

Thanks for a challenging lesson. Saludos. John 

I find it interesting [and useful] that in the constructions described here, the *Present* Subjunctive is allowed - whereas we can never put a Present Subjunctive immediately after a "Si ...  " > (It usually has to be an *Imperfect* Subjunctive; or perhaps a Pluperfect one?) ... Perhaps we can say that the events in this lesson are more likely to happen than those in a "Si + Imperf. Subj." clause?