Che it Ain't So

There is a character in Jean-Luc Godard's À bout de Souffle who speaks of the path to everlasting fame. "First you become immortal," he instructs, "then you die."

A prime exemplar of the "create a legend/resurrection" method of eternal iconography would be Ernesto (Che) Guevara, the Argentine-born revolutionary who was executed forty years ago today in Bolivia. Death transmogrified him into a symbol of revolution itself. Time has turned him into an empty Warholized emblem that adorns everything from T-shirts to fanny packs to bumper stickers and apparently even a soap with the slogan "Che washes whiter."

In death Guevara has certainly managed to whitewash his image. A cleansing aided by such personality cultisms as the film The Motorcycle Diaries, which portrays Guevara as a young, wide-eyed do-gooder who travels South America looking to right social wrongs. Romanticized and corporate pimped, for most who even know who Guevara was they have no idea what he stood for. They merely accept that he was the South American Martin Luther King.

He was not.

Guevara was a brutal, egotistical killer without the smarts to enact lasting economic reform nor the guile to achieve true insurgent victory. His most significant military achievement -- the taking of Santa Clara during Castro's Cuban revolution -- might have been more a matter of financial bribery than military strategy.

What is in little dispute is the savagery of his tenure as the commander of the La Cabaña Fortress prison. Think of it as Cuba's Abu Ghraib. In a mere five months Guevara oversaw and personally signed off on the execution of as many as 500 people. Men, women, children. Not all merely loyalists to overthrown Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista. Also executed were political prisoners, dissidents, artist, intellectuals and homosexuals. A representative number of the left the revolution was supposed to be lifting up.

His bloody handiwork should come as no surprise. Before Guvera was a soap pitchman from beyond the grave, he was the "The Butcher of la Cabaña" who preached: "hatred as an element of struggle; unbending hatred for the enemy, which pushes a human being beyond his natural limitations, making him into an effective, violent, selective, and cold-blooded killing machine."

I'm sure Gandhi would have been proud.

As head of the National Institute of Agrarian Reform, and President of the National Bank of Cuba, Guevara would institute popular reforms that would eventually lead to economic disaster. From the middle 1960s until the Soviet collapse Cuba was subsistent on their largess to a tune of $65 billion to $100 billion annually.

As a military leader Guevara was hardly more impressive. In the Congo he hooked up with a couple of bloody rebels, failed to inspire the people and accomplished little more than putting his own men through a shredder. It was a misadventure Guevara himself described as a "history of failure."

An expedition into Bolivia proved disastrous. Guevara completely misread the situation on the ground, could not incite a popular uprising, was completely abandoned by the Bolivian communists, their Soviet backers and even the Cubans.

Bolivian Rangers took him prisoner on the 8th of October, 1967. He whimpered as they came: "Do not shoot! I am Che Guevara and worth more to you alive than dead."

The Bolivian's figured otherwise. The next day Guevara was executed.

And thus began his ascendancy from abject failure to high icon. A populist, a revolutionary. A man who turned his back on material gains to give instead to the people.

And if you believe that, consider this: when Guevara was captured in Bolivia he was wearing a Rolex watch on his wrist.

Long live the revolution.

Comments

[ZenJu]

Most all of you humans scare the shit out of me, Che and other "revolutionaries" included. Conservative, Liberal, communist, capitalist, fascist--all talking monkeys with a bent toward control-freakiness and using others (and the environment) as a means to whatever ends you find attractive. Monkey chatter. The only reason I choose to hang around this dirtball is the morbid fascination and curiosity to watch our species screw up until we off ourselves by the next century. Peace.

[definitelyNOTmisterRIGHT]

Wow, that brightened up my day!

[gpr-2007]

I wouldn't find your opinion of the life and times of Che to be objective or unbiased and worse, it's lacking in-depth research. I also wouldn't find Che to be the great icon he is either. I understand his ideaology and how it developed over his life but as he is a prime example of such events in our lives, such good intention ideaology gets messy when it has to align itself with other ideaology that has less than good intentions. Such is the case with Che aligning himself with Castro. Che wasn't like Castro in the sense of wanting Power and in-depth research suggests he was not aware that communistic (dictatorship) was the desire of Castro. Che wanted to enpower the people. Castro wanted to empower himself whic ironically, is the same as almost all of USA leaders.

Che was not a perfect revolutionary leader. But his ideals of empowering the people of Latin America was perfect. Capitalism is good form of economics however, governments need to regulate or basically limit it so that monopolies, megapolies do not control the entire market and the government. That is the crucial issue in this country today. We need to get back to empowering the people and not the industries. Che understood this and understood how the US is a prime example of how capitalism gets out of hand.

[politicky]

Mr. Ridley, this post was quite the lightning rod, wasn't it? :)

ZenJu,

Oh, but the extremist's comments are sooooooo fun to read. The human condition is really something, isn't it?

For some reason this book helped me to move further away from the black and white thinking:

[politicky]

The book The Third Chimpanzee by Jared Diamond http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Third_Chimpanzee

Is the reason I think capitalism is not going anywhere.

I do think that when capitalism and communism fail, they fail for the same reasons:

Greed, corruption, and lousy regulation.

[davidly]

Were we to take as "in-depth" a look at US history, Old Glory could be seen for what it is. All the nations flags are as pathetic as a friggin' Che shirt.

It is, after all, the "free market" which is primarily responsible for the marketing of Che in North America and Europe.

[metamorphosis]

Exactly right.

I wonder why more people don't recognize this simple fact - no nation's history is free of brutal and deplorable bloodshed. I wear a soviet "logo" as a way to perhaps incite that very conversation.

Sure, Che may have fallen far short of his aspirations, but as far as I can tell they were pure to begin with. Can our country say the same? Did we honestly annihilate the native Americans in order to free them or to just take their land.

It amazes me the lengths some writers will go to in order to whitewash our own shady past while shining the spotlight on someone else's.

Free market fundamentalism and our scary brand of fascist-theo Democracy has caused many more deaths than Che Guevera could ever lay claim to.

[realitytrumpsbull]

Communism sucks, communism failed, and in China
they are probably getting ready to build the Lexus...if they don't do so already...

[davidly]

Actually, Capitalism failed, read felled, Communism. But what it (Capitalism) is really destroying is Democracy.

You see free economic reign for the privileged has ruled both the so-called communist and capitalist systems and regimes. It just so happens that the capitalistic imperialists had more capital. Of course they're gonna come out on top.

[Mike O.]

Why do you think that they had "...more capital..."? Could it possibly be that capitalism, although despised by the meek and powerless, is the better system?

Reason liberals despise capitalism:

It requires a competitive attitude and the intelligence to succeed, neither of which are posessed by the typical liberal. They know that they are weak and impotent and therefore require a system that is "fair" (read biased in their favor).

Conservatives, on the other hand, revel in the thought of competition. We enjoy competition for its own sake. The money is simply a score keeping method.

But take heart, liberals have their place as well. Every business needs labor. We would just appreciate that you stop biting the hand that feeds and protects you.

[theillusion]

While I agree that his image has been pimped out of control, but it is clear to me that you didn’t do any research or don’t really understand much of what you are writing about. I believe it is good to have these discussions because they allow everyone to check their own morals. By listing his numerous failures, you show your pettiness. Then you question his intelligence and try to discredit his accomplishments. If you weren’t already the new attack dog on the block, I would have suggested you give a shot at economic policy or anything other than character assignation and padding yourself on the back. It's always easy to pick apart someone's failures, but until you become part of something bigger than yourself or attempt to follow principles that you (or any individual) believe will improve the lives of people around you, it’s above your head. Try reading The open veins of Latin America, Che, or any books on his life or the history of Latin America. Also, before your next character assignation, slow down and try to see the forest not just the trees.

[dobberdoss]

Ditto!, this guy was not put on a T-shirt for any of the alledged atrocities John Ridley tries to say are fact. The fact is this guy Che represents something we no longer have these days, that being the balls to go against the grain of the establishment. We now live in a world where to think differently is almost a criminal offense. Long live the memory of Che.

[Jonni Rae]

I would like to see the documentation for his allegations. Che said, "As long as there are slums in Cuba, I will live in the slums," and he did. It is for things like that, and for the fight against the imperialists who made slaves of the Cubans that he is revered. I agree with the blogger that suggests that Ridley read more. Che's diary would be a good starting point. As for Cuba being communist, they have a higher literacy rate than the US, universal health care, and a love for their leader, Fidel and for Che. Visit Cuba, why don't you? Yes, they drive 1950's cars but there is a spirit of hope and optimism and yes, love there that you don't see anywhere else. The concept of a revolutionary or a revolution for that matter which in the 1960's seemed tangible for our generation has dissolved into the most ignorant and crass cynicism. It is so sad, really. Che stands as a symbol of revolution. We could use some of his revolutionary fervor in our politics now.

[SatinPanties]

Exactly! It is the IDEA that still perdures today. The IDEA is much bigger than one man, Mr. Ridley.

[SilverBurlap]

I couldn't agree more. Clearly, Mr. Ridley you haven't read up much on Che.

You end with trying to compare Che's ties with socialism to that of a Stalin-like communist dictator who only uses the idea of fair government for his own betterment and luxury. If you had known anything about Che, this was not how he was. In the early stages of the revolution, Che refused to stay in a nice house promoted through example working for the state, in which he did hard manual labor in addition to planning and trying to develop a real socialist country. Che could have been a doctor in Argentina, but instead he saw injustices in the way things worked in South America and fled upward for a cause that he found to be just.

Whether or not you like Che or agree with his politics, your characterization of him is off. Unlike Fidel, Che actually believed in socialism and tried his best to make it work. The assassinations and executions were surely wrong, as is obvious. But to characterize the man as nothing more than a "brutal, egotistical killer without the smarts to enact lasting economic reform" is nothing less than shortsighted.

I could keep going on Mr Ridley, but instead I'll give you a reading assignment to account for your very irresponsible reporting: "Che Guevera: A Revolutionary Life"y Jon Lee Anderson. Read it and then write.

[chuckgraner]

Che Guevara was monumentally vain and epically stupid. He was shallow, boorish, cruel and cowardly. He was full of himself, a consummate fraud and an intellectual vacuum. He was intoxicated with a few vapid slogans, spoke in clichés and was a glutton for publicity.

But ah! He DID come out nice in a couple of publicity photos, high cheekbones and all!

[oogabooga]

Guevara was a commie killer, who will see the fascists Bush and Cheney in Hell. Then they can discuss killing and money.

[GhostofBillHicks]

I knew something was wrong when a year or so back i came across a JC Penny sale paper and it had a kid wearing a "Che" T-shirt in it.
Thats almost as ironic as my best freind finding a animated version of Orwells "Animal Farm" on DVD for a $1 at Wal Mart.What a bargain!

[metamorphosis]

That's freaking funny.

[Garioch]

Mr. Ridley
In your extensive research on the life and actions of Che Guevara what exactly did you read and digest? One pamphlet prior to writing this?
I find your analysis lazy, facile and I am no particular fan of the man or the icon.

[Beachrunner]

Amen. It's nice to read the truth about Che on an other-than-right wing site. Thanks!

[kakimiller]

Thank you for putting into context the life of Che. All these years, I cringe when I see his face on a shirt, etc. for the reasons you stated above. Keep it up!!!

[Zapatista]

----> Read Che's works for yourself ... and please don't let this lying crackpot ruin what could be an eye opening experience for you.


HISTORY CHANNEL DOCUMENTARY: The True Story of Che Guevara

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5762714709014580290&q




"Che was the most complete human being of our age."

~ Jean Paul Sartre




“I know you are here to kill me. Shoot coward, you are only going to kill a man.”

~ Che Guevara , seconds before being executed

[chuckgraner]

"Don't Shoot! I'm Che! I'm worth more to you alive than dead!" the quaking "guerrilla hero" was quoted on discovery.

viva la robolucion!

[whomung]

IRAQ has WMD's.... Bush was quoted

MAYBE THEY LIED???? NeoCons can't have him be an inspiration, martyr, hero....

Remember Iran Contra? School of The America's? Negroponte death squads? 250,000 dead South Americans?, all brought to you by the same guys who gave us Iraq.

Yeah.... I believe EVERYTHING THEY SAY.... Why would they lie?

[ipv4]

Wow I just read your bio Mr.Ridley and then I read your blog.. is their someone else writing for you if not sir you can do better then that.

[Zapatista]

* Che was radicalized while living in Guatemala when in 1953 ... he saw first hand the CIA overthrow President Jacobo Arbenz.

Not to mention ... during the time of Che ... Americans banned blacks from drinking from the same water fountain as whites !


No wonder the Reich Wing hates the great Che so much.

He stood for justice and is seen as heroic ... meanwhile most Reich Wingers stand for greed, materialism, and man butt sex in bathroom stalls.


----- HASTA LA VICTORIA SIEMPRE -----

[bartonfink]

are you kidding? look, don't extoll one person's "stand for justice" and heroism in one sentence, and then use a disparaging remark like "...reich wingers...stand for man butt sex in bathroom stalls" in the next. it's just dumb. or maybe you'd like to see a revolutionary hero like che contiue to put homosexuals in front of a firing squad?

freedom for everyone, or for no one...

[Factivist]

I think the real infatuation with Che stems from the fact that he gave up everything he had and, against all odds, fought for something he believed in. That's something that this world, in particular the impoverished world, is desperately seeking.

The details are no longer relevant, whatever they may actually turn out to be. Just like the misgivings of past US presidents, they are overwhelmed by their own icon status.

To top it off dead heroes don't sell out. They don't sell their songs to corporations or endorse products... but if Che is the brand or the icon or the logo of the coming revolution, I'm sure he'd be very pleased.

[aztecmummy]

Stop crying liberals. Your leftist hero has been exposed for the cretin he was. Deal with it.

[Zapatista]

..........­..........­......


* In further irony ... Anti- Che Miami Cuban's are currently harboring Luis Posada Carriles - South Americas Bin Laden who was CIA trained and blew up Cubana Flight 455 in 1976


..........­..........­......

[whomung]

Not a single (1) citation or reference... just allegations and smears

[cylindar]

I am not a particular fan of Che, but I gotta tell you that man had more gas in his shorts than you could ever muster up. I don;t know where you got that mishmashed historical sketch, but it sounds like a CIA publication. Get real Hondo!!!!

[Nommo]

Hey Rids, maybe next you deconstruct Batista?

[lyingtruth]

Ridley, You should have blogged this in the Weekly Standard!

[hondugirl]

Okay, first of all The Motorcycle diaries are a personal journal of Che Guevara and during his travels around sotuh america he was not out to right social wrongs. But when traveling through these countries, unless you are completely blind, it is impossible to notice the social injustices. And anyone with a compassionate heart is moved to want to do something for the people in those dire situations.

Second, how can you criticize the means that he tried to revolt if you do not analyze the places and conditions where he was trying to bring social justice? Have you analyzed Congo, Guatemala, Bolivia? I am from central america and have traveled the world and lived in several countries in Europe and central and south America. One thing that I know is that a revolution without arms in these situations is hopeless. And this is the same thing that Che realized.