"Che"

This familiar yet intense face, is sported on t-shirts all over the world. Ernesto "Che" Guevara is the name belonging to this revolutionary. At the beginning of the year, in History class I was able to choose any book to complete a book review on. I choose Che, despite the endless possibilities I had.

Che was born a native to Argentina, and immediately took an interest in school. He took a large interest in traveling and eventually dropped out of Medical School in order to travel. His early observations in Peru, Buenos Aires and Guatemala sparked thought of change. The inequality among individuals and groups within a society such as economic inequality really angered Che. He witnessed first hand many unjust activities that would stay locked in his memory forever.

Che returned home and finished Medical School. He began to travel again and ended in Mexico where his support was for liberation. Ernesto came to trust Fidel and Raul Castro. These men began a secret training camp which sparked the Guerrilla Warfare. Che was an outstanding leader, with amazing tactic and wisdom.

From 1956 to 1966 he lead battles throughout Latin America. His revolutionary state of mind ended on October 9, 1966 when he was captured, shot and killed.

The reason he stood out to me so much was because, he and several man; disagreed with the way Juan Batista ran the country. Many things were occurring that were unfair. Many were starving and addicted to drugs. Land was taken from people and the people no longer had the right to vote. Che and others came together to fight the government, because they knew what they were doing was wrong. Che more than ever wanted to liberate Latin America’s oppressed and exploited masses. Che made three fundamental contributions to revelatory thought in Latin America. The Cuban experience showed that popular forces, could win in a war against a professional army. Another was that you didn’t necessarily have to wait until all conditions for revolution are present, that not all demand of people need to be met or fulfilled. Lastly if its to succeed than full concentration on rural areas, not just cities alone. He knew that he was a powerful person and that many supported his cause. With his fellow believers by his side he was not worried.

When he was captured and before he was put to death, he had told the officer, "I know you've come to kill me. Shoot, coward! You are only going to kill a man!" Che was not just another man, he believed in something and would not let the Government continue with things that were not right. It was a serious fight that drove him to the Congo, to live and fight in caves in the hills. It was a sacrafive and ultimately a life sacrifice he gave for the rights of man.

I know that there are so many issues I think about on a daily basis, that the government can just go on ignoring. Just the fact that The United States is fully capable of feeding all the starving mouths of the world amazing, but we don't feed the hungry. Instead we continue to let 4,000 die every hour of starvation. I would like to challenge myself to make a scene on an important life threatening issue, but the power of the government, compared to none(me), is scary. I think these days its just easier to get rid of someone who stands in the way, rather than dealing with the person. I do believe thought that one day a group of people are going to come together for the greater of the people and make a severe change or at least impact.