Fashion icon or murdering monster
By Martha Woodward
Who was Che Guevara and should he be a fashion icon to the youth of America? Perhaps actors like Johnny Depp, who has been seen wearing Che's image on his clothing, and the Chief Librarian at the New York City Public Library, where a gold watch with Che's photo on the face and the world, "Revolution" inscribed on the back was for sale in the Gift Shop, need a real history lesson.
Che's image has come to be associated with a counterculture of rebellion and revolution. However, Che was more of a murdering monster than a hero to be lauded.
Ernesto “Che” Guevara was born in Argentina in 1928. Though educated as a doctor who received his medical degree in 1951, Che was best known as a Marxist revolutionary and major figure in the Cuban Socialists' Revolution. He was an integral part of Fidel Castro’s rebel army in his plot to overthrow the Cuban government in the 1950’s.
A photo made of Che by famed photographer, Alberto Korda, and titled "Guerrillero Heroico" was named the "most famous photo in the world" in 1960. This photo is the one that is often used as a fashion statement on tee-shirts, hoodies, hats, jewelry or other items. Those who are choosing to wear his likeness surely do not understand just who Che was. He expressed rebellion all right, but not in a good way.
Che Guevara was the kind of guy who enjoyed murdering capitalists. He is known to have killed as many as 175 people by shooting them in the back of the head. He ordered the death of many more. Che and his "goon squads" roamed Cuba searching for anyone he perceived to be an enemy. To Che, the greatest enemy of communism was any person who had gained great wealth in Cuba. Che spent a lot of his time going to the posh homes of wealthy people in Cuba, marching them outside for execution in front of a crowd which often included the person's family. Che once shot a pregnant woman in the stomach because he didn't like her looks--she was dressed in too much finery for his tastes.
After helping Castro take over in Cuba, Che traveled to Bolivia to help with a revolution there as he was said to long for more murder and mayhem. Che was captured and shot in the head in Bolivia in 1967, saving the world from more crimes by this monster. Perhaps the people who are wearing his image on their clothing need to look at the photo of him after he was executed--nothing stylish about that.
Americans who love freedom need to be more aware of the man behind the myth.
