Every once in a while, thankfully not too often, I see some young kid sporting a Che Guevara t-shirt, or carrying some other merchandise emblazoned with Che’s face. It takes every ounce of self-control I possess to stop myself from ripping it away from them and burning it. If they knew the things for which that “man” actually stood or the things he did, I wonder if they’d be so eager to be associated with him. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the infamous “freedom fighter,” shall we?
Everyone knows the picture to which I refer – a high-contrast monochrome graphic of his face, taken from a picture snapped by newspaper photographer, Alberto Korda, at a memorial service. Originally considered an unremarkable snapshot to everyone but Korda, it can be seen on just about anything from t-shirts, hats, posters, tattoos, and even bikinis. The delicious irony of it – one of the most universally merchandised images in the world – is his face is contributing to the very culture Che so despised: Capitalism.
The movie “The Motorcycle Diaries” glorifies Che. Many celebrities are seen wearing his image – not really all that shocking when a good number of Hollyweird stars openly embrace communists and communism. I can only assume that making a living by pretending to be someone else tends to isolate you from communism's absolutely abject record of utter failure. I do have to wonder how many of them would so openly show support for him if they actually did some research into the life of Che. They would find things like this passage, from his famous "Motorcycle Diaries," where he quotes himself as saying, "My nostrils dilate while savoring the acrid odor of gunpowder and blood." At the same time, he wrote a letter to his father describing his newfound hobby, "I'd like to confess, Papa, at that moment I discovered that I really like killing."
The name “Che Guevara” either incites love or hate. To some, the name is synonymous with freedom fighting. To others, the name means butchery. What most people don’t know is that Che’s real name was not quite so romantic; he was born Ernesto Lynch. That’s right – Che Guevara was actually plain old Mr. Lynch. Oops – did I tell a secret people didn't want known? Mr. Lynch's family is half Irish. Of course, Lynch wouldn't have “inspired” the “revolutionaries” in quite the same way, would it?
As a child, Che's nickname was “Chancho” - pig - because of his bathing habits, or lack thereof, and the fact that he proudly wore a “weekly shirt” – a shirt he changed once a week. All through his life people commented on his body odor, though obviously not to his face once he had the power to execute people on a whim.
Che lovers have deluded themselves into believing he was someone who suffered with his people, that he was too idyllic to be concerned with matters such as money and material possessions. They’re apparently unaware that Che’s lifestyle choices don’t quite match up with their delusions. Just a week after entering Havana, Che appropriated a mansion with seven bathrooms, a sauna, a massage salon, a huge swimming pool, and five TV sets, and stood on grounds that included its own yacht harbor - the true owner had to flee Cuba to escape a firing squad. Doesn’t really sound like a “man of the people,” does it?
Many people believe Che was an educated man; one who understood the value of education and arts. Our newspapers and biographies on the so-called "lover of literature" still contain these themes. Luckily for them, these writers are operating in America. Under Che's leadership in Cuba they likely would've been put out of business or even murdered, as his first judicious act was to preside over a book burning of 3,000 stolen books and sign the death warrants for many Cuban authors.
The same Argentinean man who imperialistically tried to impose his political views on the Cuban people is often lauded as someone who "finally stood up to imperialistic America." In 1964, Che got a hero's welcome in New York City as he spoke to the United Nations and bellowed, "Executions? Certainly, we execute! And we will continue executing as long as it is necessary!" As he was rushed from one socialite party to the next that night, New Yorkers gushed over him. There was even speculation he was involved in a plot to blow up the Statue of Liberty, the Liberty Bell, and the Washington Monument. Gee, I just can't imagine New Yorkers embracing what Che stood for, can you? Oh wait – they just elected an admitted, unabashed, and open socialist as their mayor. Never mind.
Fidel Castro recognized a ruthlessness in Guevara, and placed him in charge of La Cabana prison in Cuba, where he was judge, jury and executioner. Although exact numbers are impossible to find given their haphazard application, it is estimated that Che sentenced over 500 people to execution at La Cabana prison without proper trials.
Perhaps students and celebrities would be a little less likely to support Guevara had they been present for one particularly grisly execution.
Several men who survived La Cabana prison recall a night when a 14-year-old boy was shoved into their holding cell. When asked what he did, he gasped that he had tried to defend his father from the firing squad, but was unsuccessful. Moments later, guards dragged the boy out of the cell, and Che Guevara himself ordered the boy to kneel down. The jailed men screamed "Assassins!" and watched out of their cell window as Guevara took out his pistol, put the barrel to the back of the boy's neck, and fired.
There is
another delicious irony – the same “rebellious” people who
admire a vicious mass murderer enough to pay good money buying
merchandise emblazoned with Che's image are those most likely to have
been targeted by their “hero.” Che Guevara considered those who
listened to loud rock and roll music, wore his hair long, or spoke
out against him an enemy. One of Che's stated goals was to “make
individualism disappear from the nation!” Che also considered it
“criminal to think of individuals!” Maybe these Che admirers
would think twice about brandishing a picture of the man who
persecuted homosexuals, free-thinkers, and anyone else who didn't
believe what the Castro regime wanted them to believe if they did a
little research into the man who employed constant surveillance,
control, and violence to oppress individualism of the kind that the
admirers express.
Sounds
like someone I would want to
greatly admire and emulate. How about you?~ Hunter
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