<p>It is not uncommon to see T shirts with the image of Korda’s infamous picture of Che. (It may have started with the band “Rage Against the Machine” back in the late 80s early 90s). In the last few years, we can see more young adults wearing them.</p>
<p>A few days ago, I noticed several “celebrations” and parties in New England, commemorating the 40th anniversary of Che’s death. I find it ironic, that a lot of the people wearing those T shirts know nothing about how sinister this man really was. Some of the fliers that I have seen, are using the image as a slogan to “stop the war” in iraq. Whenever i have asked the relation, I get this very dumb founded look telling me " dude…is che!!</p>
<p>Why do you people think that what has prevailed is the romantic image of a heroe, when in fact this guy was an instigator of conflicts, failed miserably at what he tried to do and was in fact ruthless and cruel?</p>
<p>Why? Stupidity. Cluelessness. An eagerness to appear edgy & hip coupled with a failure to seek truth. Wasn’t the NYC public library, or the Met, recently selling Che items? (I can’t remember which.) They were quietly removed after Cuban-Americans objected. No apology was issued. </p>
<p>Might as well wear a Goering t-shirt.</p>
<p>As any survey of history will show, one man’s freedom fighter is another man’s terrorist. Whether Che’, or Eden Pastora, or Quantrill’s Raiders or Bloody Bill , Jayhawker or Bushwacker - guerilla warrior or outlaw sadist is a just a matter of politics. In my estimation history appears to strongly favor the winners.</p>
<p>curmudgeon, that’s an interesting view. It does get thrown around a lot now days with the situation in the middle east, etc. However, I believe it to be more complex than that. Are you saying that it is alright or acceptable to “make” anyone a heroe? There is more than politics here. There is a lack of knowledge about who the person really was and what the person in question really did. It is only ignorance what could justify such romanticism about the figure.</p>
<p>Hitler was a heroe to the germans in the early stages. His nationalism rallied the masses. Yet, after people started finding out the truth about him, what he represented, things began to change. I do not think that anyone would say now days about the neonazis…“is just a matter of politics”…</p>
<p>I’m saying that we will make/invent heroes for “our” side of any issue and villains on “their” side. Only thing that changes is the side you’re on. One needn’t look any further than Begin. The British hunted him like a Boone and Crockett trophy buck.</p>
<p>searchingon - seems to me the same thing happened with Ronald Reagan.</p>
<p>Deir Yassin and The King David Hotel were forgotten (for convenience) by the time of Camp David. Had Che’s revolutionary politics been more successful maybe any atrocities attributed to him would be , too. Same with Quantrill. Same with Bloody Bill Anderson. I mean, it happened for Custer and Sherman. I’m not taking the “side” of any of these folks right now - just pointing out that butchery and barbarism is not uncommon in “heroic” historical figures - “our’s” or “their’s”. What changes is our sense of justification for the acts.</p>