Che Guevara: hero or villain

[The Seeker of Good Songs]

A lot of celebrities honor him. Was he a great leader?

 

[Cassius]

Wasn't the attorney from "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" inspired by him?

 

[Worm]

A lot of celebrities honor him.

So do eleven year old kids with their t-shirts and backpack badges.

Was he a great leader?

I think the cult surrounding him is a problem but I'm not so sure there aren't things to be learned from his story. I consider him in the same class as Tony Montana-- yes, Al Pacino in "Scarface". Same basic phenomenon. Not a hero but those who occupy positions of power and privilege would do well to note and study Guevara rather than dismiss him out of hand.

 

[Sir Alec]

I just read that he executed thousands of men and young boys, because they were thought to be informants.

 

[Bluebirds]

I've been to Che Guevara's tomb. In Santa Clara.

If such a monument existed in the "West" you'd have all the souvenir shops etc etc. There was nothing.

The greatest irony of Che's life is how he has turned into a mass marketing phenomenon

 

[the judge]

I'm very ignorant in post 1929 crisis hystory (ok after WWII, I studied it 6 years ago) thanks to the funniest teacher I've ever had. I should inform. I'm ashamed of myself, I'm almost 195/10 years old.

 

[gertrude]

I hate seeing middle-class (for that's what they are) student types wearing Che shirts.

Actually I don't hate them, I f***ing hate them.

Socialism and it's history are too important to be reduced to the very depths of fashion.
I believe you should have to answer a series of probing questions about Che and also about your own life and family before you are allowed to appear in public wearing such a garment.

Tossers all.

(note to Editor, was this a bit over the top?)

 

[the judge]

Hi gertrude -no, I'll never leave you alone .
Good post.

 

[Worm]

Wasn't the attorney from "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" inspired by him?

No, he was based on Oscar Zeta Acosta, a Chicano activist from Los Angeles.

 

[Bassist-In-A-Tutu]

I think Bob Dylan sang "One man's freedom fighter is anothers terrorist". But it hard to think with "Hold on to your friends" blaring out of my PC at me while I write this....

So it may have been someone else, but you get the idea! I think he was a "Great leader" in the sence that he was popular, charismatic, clever.... But great leaders don't always do good things. You caould apply the words above to Hitler and they would fit..... I'm not comparing the two btw, just making a point. I have a Che Tshirt, but I feel I have taken the time to learn a bit about the bloke, so I can - I also wear a Chairman Moa Tshirt sometime, and get asked about it a lot...

Ho hum - I wouldn't honor or worship him, but I respect him for what he tried to do, and how he lead his people.

 

[Bluebirds]

The Bolivian Diaries is recommended by me.