Just say nay to Che

[Troubleshooter]

http://slate.msn.com/id/2107100/

"The present-day cult of Che—the T-shirts, the bars, the posters—has succeeded in obscuring this dreadful reality. And Walter Salles' movie The Motorcycle Diaries will now take its place at the heart of this cult. It has already received a standing ovation at Robert Redford's Sundance film festival (Redford is the executive producer of The Motorcycle Diaries) and glowing admiration in the press. Che was an enemy of freedom, and yet he has been erected into a symbol of freedom. He helped establish an unjust social system in Cuba and has been erected into a symbol of social justice. He stood for the ancient rigidities of Latin-American thought, in a Marxist-Leninist version, and he has been celebrated as a free-thinker and a rebel. And thus it is in Salles' Motorcycle Diaries."

[Scopulus Argentarius]

Che was an enemy to freedom and glorified criminal amonst some circles. Those circles have also legended him into the "model iconoclast".

Che is evil - may god have mercy on his soul. Redford is not evil, just genuinly stupid; although, he may cash in on the greater stupidity of Che worshipers in this country. Redford insists on drumming up past "legends" of rebellion since he, himself, nolonger can produce anything of real artistic value.


Just a note of discussion.... Doesn't the styling of Ipod ads resemble greatly that of the Che teashirts. (not that I have anything against Ipods ). Thinking differently?

[wolf]

Che seem really, really cool in Evita ...

[Griff]

I wonder if Che is as popular in latin American dorm rooms as he is where his struggle had fewer victims? I know my brother had at one time an affection for Che but I wonder if it comes from the same place as the folks who prefer just to blame the actor Stalin rather than acknowleging that the system is horribly flawed? It always seems Communists wish for the dictator they never had. The Christ imagery around Che is very effective and more than a little cynical coming from an atheistic movement... I prefer the Marley poster myself.

[Dr. Zaius]

Che got lucky in a way. He died young and handsome before he had a chance to show the world what an reactionary bastard he could become someday.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Shame he died, it would have killed NAFTA.

[elSicomoro]

I've never understood the whole Che/Mao worship thing...of course, I don't quite get the whole Mumia thing either.

[Radar]

Che was a scumbag, but the funny part is 90% of the kids with a t-shirt bearing his face, or a poster don't even know who it is. They have no idea that he was a communist scumbag, or even what communism really means. It means suffering, poverty, sickness, corruption, force, coercion, dispair, and destruction.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Uh...is your wife's embassy reading these threads?

[Radar]

Doubtful. But I don't really have to deal with her embassy. I just have to deal with the U.S. Consulate. America is holding her up, not Vietnam. I was really hoping to spend my first anniversary with her, but it happens to land exactly on Tet (Chinese New Year) which I think is good luck, but which makes the ticket almost double the cost.

Vietnamese tradition says whatever you're doing on New Years (Tet), is how your entire year will go. People wear new clothes, clean their houses for weeks to make it perfect, give money to children to give them good wishes, have feasts, etc. because they want their year to be happy and prosperous.

I think if we are together on our wedding anniversary Feb 9th, it will mean we're going to be together most of this year.

The way things are going, it looks more like she will be in America in April or May. We'll throw a party a month or so after she gets here because none of my friends or family were able to make it to Vietnam for my wedding. It will be sort of a second reception but more like an informal party.

I'll keep you kids posted and when I have the exact date I'll invite you all so if you happen to be in Southern California and want to check out some Vietnamese traditions and eat some good food you can stop by. Even those I have historically not gotten along with online. In person I'm much more mellow. I get all my aggression out on discussion groups. :P

[richlevy]

Originally Posted by Radar

Vietnamese tradition says whatever you're doing on New Years (Tet), is how your entire year will go.

Well, that explains the Tet Offensive.

I think if we are together on our wedding anniversary Feb 9th, it will mean we're going to be together most of this year.

If it's not against some tradition, let me wish you good luck with that. I think Red staters and Blue staters can agree that married people should be together.

Even those I have historically not gotten along with online. In person I'm much more mellow. I get all my aggression out on discussion groups. :P

I have this mental picture of you, me, TW, UT, Mari, and Onyx all sitting around drinking beer (or tea) and having a quiet discussion - for about 5 seconds. I don't know if I'll be getting out to CA anytime soon, but I will make it as far as Vegas.

Maybe you two will make it to Plastic Forks this year. I have a year round pass to Longwood Gardens (www.longwoodgardens.org), so I would be happy to show you around.

Seriously though, good luck with getting together. Mazel Tov.

[richlevy]

Originally Posted by Troubleshooter

http://slate.msn.com/id/2107100/

"The present-day cult of Che—the T-shirts, the bars, the posters—has succeeded in obscuring this dreadful reality. And Walter Salles' movie The Motorcycle Diaries will now take its place at the heart of this cult. It has already received a standing ovation at Robert Redford's Sundance film festival (Redford is the executive producer of The Motorcycle Diaries) and glowing admiration in the press. Che was an enemy of freedom, and yet he has been erected into a symbol of freedom. He helped establish an unjust social system in Cuba and has been erected into a symbol of social justice. He stood for the ancient rigidities of Latin-American thought, in a Marxist-Leninist version, and he has been celebrated as a free-thinker and a rebel. And thus it is in Salles' Motorcycle Diaries."

The Cubans had Batista and ended up with Castro and Che as the alternative. The Iraqis had Hussein, and ended up with Bush and Blair as the alternative. Thats just the way the world works sometimes.

BTW, I'm writing this from a room in the new Havana Towers at Tropicana Casino in Altantic City. How's that for irony?