I am elated that someone has chosen make a general Che post.
Che is certainly my hero as well. (although I beleive he would be opposed to anyone idolizing him.) I have been to Cuba and seen how he (not Fidel) is really the symbol of the revolution. I think he is one of the greatest tragic figures of our time.
I guess I'll contribute by listing some interesting things about Che.
1. He is Argentinian. Not Cuban. Born to an upper middle class family. Yet he devoted his life to liberating oppressed people everywhere. All this in an era of intense nationalism.
2. He was never interested in politics as a youth in Argentina and studied medicine.
3. He had chronic Asthma.
4. He never held office for a prolonged period of time and was ALWAYS looking for new battle to fight. First Cuba then the Congo and tragically Bolivia.
5. Despite never being trained as an economist theere is now a development model named after him. (he despised money so much that he signed Cuba's currenct with Che his nickname).
6. He has written an excellent military stratgey book, "Guerilla Warfare" that you all should check out.
Well that's all for now. Please lets keep this conversation going.
2. "RE: "el commandante"" In response to Reply # 1
I regret that I haven't read more about Che. I just did a short biography of him for a Spanish class a few years back. Have any of you read "CHE" and do you recommend it? Also I saw a new book is out on his year in the Congo, which looks interesting because not much is known about his experiences there. Anyone read that one?
MJ
We keep it type raw, and know exactly what we fight for / when the nightfall come, we in the right war / Cats who spill blood for a cause, not just because / Defy the authority and follow God's law / Revolutionary entrepeneurs... - Talib
"A Revolutionary Life" (the best biography on him)
"Bolvia Diary" (his diary leading up to his CIA assasination)
"Guerilla Warfare"
Oh, and I don't remember the title but they just put out a n amazing book of pictures on Che. (Including rare shots like him reading on Ernest Hemmingway's boat, playing golf and disguised as a "capitalist" on his way to th Congo).
4. "Che Guevara was really into bingo and Lawrence Welk." In response to Reply # 0
Revolution, to him, was Prince's best band. Che was such a social butterfly that enjoyed line dancing and croquette.
Thanks for reading. I love you.
"What are you but my reflection, who am I to judge or strike you down?" - MJK
In Rotation: LTJ Bukem - Journey Inwards Fiona Apple - Tidal Bob Marley - Kaya Jay Dee - Welcome To Detroit Led Zeppelin - Houses Of The Holy Sade - Lovers Rock
This cat is my idol, because of him I'm going on a road trip this summer "Che style" meaning on the broke tip. A great book about him has to be CHE GUEVARA: A REVOLUTIONARY LIFE by Jon Lee Anderson. I'm only about half way because of school, but it is one of the most inspirational books I've ever read. I plan to go to Cuba through a school program and study spanish for a month. I'm just really fascinated by Che, an honorable, courageous human being who stood for his beliefs. Big ups whoever started the post.
"took a picture of the truth & tried to develop it, had proof, it was only recognized by the intelligent"-COMMON
check out the coffee-table sized big book of che's life in pictures. real good stuff, should be in the new release section of your local book store chain.
also, anybody else think it's only natural for benicio del tero to portray che in a bio-pic? the similarities in appearance are somewhat alarming.
I'm glad i'm not the only one who sees the physical similarities between Che and Benicio. I was also in Cuba, this past summer, and his face was everywhere, on posters and postcards, t-shirts and in framed pictures. Seeing people with such overwhelming support of him was extraodinary, coming from a country that would rather you to know about him at all. I just kept thinking that he would not have wanted his likeness for sale on every corner and at the airport.
10. "got any good book suggestions?" In response to Reply # 0
I've always been interested in learning more about him
L. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "my mama said/it ain't what a lady wears/it's what she knows"~~India Arie
KizzMyBlakAzz: you've made yourself a shell KizzMyBlakAzz: i know you're soft and gooey on the inside LHoney17: I know I am....never said I wasn't LHoney17: but that doesn't mean I get stepped on or that I'm not strong KizzMyBlakAzz: Gooey LHoney17: lol KizzMyBlakAzz: Caramel KizzMyBlakAzz: Center LHoney17: lol....well that's a nice way to think of it KizzMyBlakAzz: with like a hard choclate shell LHoney17: think I'll put that in a personal ad KizzMyBlakAzz: You're a Rollo LHoney17: lmao KizzMyBlakAzz: lmao
When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants and murderers and for a time they seem invincible but in the end, they always fall -- think of it, ALWAYS. ~~Mahatma Gandhi
12. "well right now...." In response to Reply # 10
I have Guerilla Warfare and Che Guevara: A Revolutionary Life. I've been told they're both very good books. But I gotta finish my current title before I can deal with those. I'm excited to start them though.
Here is a paradox. Every family everywhere is made up of "I"s. Which in some cases spells the family's fate. ________________________________________________________________________________
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "my mama said/a lady ain't what she wears/but what she knows"~~India Arie
KizzMyBlakAzz: you've made yourself a shell KizzMyBlakAzz: i know you're soft and gooey on the inside LHoney17: I know I am....never said I wasn't LHoney17: but that doesn't mean I get stepped on or that I'm not strong KizzMyBlakAzz: Gooey LHoney17: lol KizzMyBlakAzz: Caramel KizzMyBlakAzz: Center LHoney17: lol....well that's a nice way to think of it KizzMyBlakAzz: with like a hard choclate shell LHoney17: think I'll put that in a personal ad KizzMyBlakAzz: You're a Rollo LHoney17: lmao KizzMyBlakAzz: lmao
"Ignorance: The Verbal Airborne Disease" (c) my friend Ty
"Quentin's on his way/Quinton's on his way/Quentin's on his way/with another J/and it's ok!!/(we're gonna get high!!)" ~~Pharcyde
WOW, I think its so beautiful that so many people know about Che and his revolutionary life. I'm so inspired by all of you people and your intelligence. Its kinda sad that there aren't many people like Che now and our country is lead by a dumb-ass momma's boy. We need revolution. We need to be the revolutionaries. UNITE! There are so many things wrong with our American society right now, especially greed and ignorance, and there are so many people that are still oppressed. People ignore that or don't even open their eyes to it. We need to be the Che's of today and do something before its too late. Peace, Erica
PS There's this really dope Che belt buckle I want! hehe
Marc Ecko's new line this year features a series of garments with Guevara's face on them. I'm not sure whether this is a good thing or a bad thing. ________________________________________________________________________________ ~My Mom's Jamaican, My Pop's American, I guess I'm Jamerican~
~NEVER try to cut your own hair~
"I'm a star, but I'd rather be a comet by far" -Andre 3000
14. "RE: Ecko' Unlimited" In response to Reply # 13
That's a hard one. When you see Che's face staring out at you from a t-shirt, more often than not, i think, it's probably being worn by someone who has no idea what the man fought for. Hell, I've met a couple of kids who didn't even know who it was they had on their shirt. When asked why he would wear a shirt with the face of someone he didn't know, one replied" He must be a real hard M*F* because Zach (de la rocha) is down with him". My mouth dropped and i had to walk away before i smacked somebody. But it's also nice because i do know that there are people who sport those shirts and know about him and agree with and support his ideologies. But for an entire clothing line, that's just capitalizing on him, and that's just wrong.Granted, someone could say that they are trying to make people aware, but how, by making a profit? Why not by teaching about the man. It might make one person go out and read up on him, but for real, this is about nothing but making money.
15. "does everybody have the matching Che mugs?" In response to Reply # 14
I have had the same thought as well. I was in a store that was selling a t-shirt with Che's image for $20. At first, i was thinking "what a dope shirt", but then cringed immediately. Who profits from this? Certainly not the workers who made the shirt. More likely, the owners of the means of production benefit. So in effect Che's image has been exlpoited. Its use has contradictory purpose from his own socio-political thoughts and practices. It has been co-opted by the forces he had fought against. But, that is what is what can be expected from this consumer culture.
I had a situation like this the other day. I was at the store, and bought two shirts, one with Marcus Garvey on it, and the other with Haile Selassie's face printed on it. I have worn these often, and have made more people aware of who they are (people ask 'who's on your shirt'), but do not know who made dinero off of this effort. I just didn't let it bother me. They have a picture of a woman in a Che dress in the VIBE issue that came out last month with EVE on it.
________________________________________________________________________________ ~My Mom's Jamaican, My Pop's American, I guess I'm Jamerican~
~NEVER try to cut your own hair~
"I'm a star, but I'd rather be a comet by far" -Andre 3000
in her "Bag Lady" video, her fake-ass was rocking a Che shirt that made me so mad. Urghhh.
This is always a dilema, many figures that I look up to opposed both idolizing leaders and consummerism. Yet, still I think that rocking T-shirts with their image is still proving the service of education.
The whole reason I wanted to learn about Che, and have researched him is because of a t-shirt I saw. I asked my mother who was on some guy we saw at the airport's shirt, and she said it was Guevara. I looked him up on Yahoo, and was inspired by what I found out. If I ever see a shirt with his face, I will probably cop it. Hyde on That 70's show has a Che t-shirt
________________________________________________________________________________ ~My Mom's Jamaican, My Pop's American, I guess I'm Jamerican~
~NEVER try to cut your own hair~
"I'm a star, but I'd rather be a comet by far" -Andre 3000
22. "RE: Ecko' Unlimited" In response to Reply # 14
yeah, i agree. che is definitely someone who i admire and respect for his tremendous idealism and activism, but it totally irritates me that he has become a trendy icon to so many people who sport his image without knowing anything about him or who have all these misconceptions about him- they don't know that he originally was from argentina, started off as a doctor in the revolution and did not have such a violent role initially in the revolution...many people don't realize the true worth of this great man.
19. "he rode motorcycles" In response to Reply # 0
kinda inspired me to go on a lil roadtrip to south america on a beat bike and little funds.
dude was straight dope and i think lots of ppl cand find similarities in his life and their own. i need to read more about him before i can fully support his ideologies, but i do have a sticker on my truck and a che journal, of sorts.
Printer-friendly copy 
Email this topic to a friend
Okay Activist Archives
