Perceptions

It has been a long time since I have written, which is ironic considering this is the time when I should be spending the most time writing.

There is a t-shirt that kids my age like to walk around in. Most likely you have seen it, a star emblazoned on the front, silhouetting the face of a revolutionary icon, Che Guevara. Every time I see someone wearing that shirt I want to shake them and say, "Do you know who this man even is? Do you know what he is a part of? Why he did what he did?"

The man died in 1967, years before any kids wore his t-shirt. I wonder if those kids know about his personal involvement in the execution and torture of his own soldiers, who he claimed were informers or spies. Being a former medical student, I'm sure he was well fit for the job of torture.

Then moving on, he helped Fidel Castro rise to power in his regime, and spent many years in Cuba, you know the same place that let Russia put missiles on their island. and considered Russia's removal of those missiles an act of betrayal! Then, he vocally supported the Viet Cong throughout the Vietnam war, again openly declaring himself an enemy to the West.

His "revolutionary campaigns" went from the Congo to Latin America, and all of them failed except for Cuba, until he was captured and executed by the Bolivian Government (Depending on who you believe).

I don't understand what is to be idolized about the man. He was a dedicated enemy to our way of life, and a murderer. Was his cause worthy? I can't say that it was or wasn't, but the ends don't always justify the means, and socialism is not an end I would like to see.

Though, in all reality, he won. I wonder if anyone will wear a shirt with my face on it 40 years after my death, not even knowing who I was or what I did?