Despite Hollywood's glamorization of communism, that evil ideology still holds the record for murder and destruction, far surpassing even the Nazis. Take for instance last year's The Motorcycle Diaries that portrayed a beatified "Che" Guevara but neglected to note the millions of people he helped murder and oppress.
Villains [of truthful movies about communism] would include--you guessed it--Che Guevara, whose legacy includes both ordering and conducting executions and founding forced labor camps. "Guevara . . . quickly gain[ed] a reputation for ruthlessness; a child in his guerrilla unit who had stolen a little food was immediately shot without trial," writes Pascal Fontaine in "The Black Book." Guevara also wrote in his diary about executing peasant Eutimio Guerra, a suspected informant, with a single .32-caliber shot to the head. Guevara, in his will, praised the "extremely useful hatred that turns men into effective, violent, merciless, and cold killing machines." He tried to spread the havoc caused by the Cuban revolution in other countries from Africa to South America, rallying for "two, three, many Vietnams!"Guevara oversaw executions at La Cabana prison; some of those executed were his former comrades who wouldn't relinquish their democratic beliefs. "To send men to the firing squad, judicial proof is unnecessary," he said. He didn't assuage his barbarity by being a brilliant statesman, either, helping drive the economy to ruin as head of Cuba's central bank and minister of industries. "Though claiming to despise money," writes Fontaine, "he lived in one of the rich, private areas of Havana." Guevara told a British reporter after the Cuban Missile Crisis that the nukes would have been fired if they were under Cuban control--which would have wasted all of those future American suburban revolutionary wannabes.
I don't like communists, and naive, healthy, rich Americans who sanitize the history and evil of communism disgust me.
It saddens me greatly that Guevara used such violent means to carry out what started as a good ideal. I hold him as a personal hero, despite the fact that I strongly disagree with many of his actions. What you have to remember is that most communist revolutions (and people's revolution of any type) come out of greater injustices and oppression that was already there. Is it ok to kill mass numbers of people? Absolutely not, but the goal was good. If you're going to compare Guevara's acts with those of the Nazis, you have to remember the reasons behind both acts. Also, when you say the murders committed by communist revolutions were higher than the nazis', are you talking about all the many revolutions over the course of the last century? Because the Nazis committed deliberate acts of genocide all within a fairly short time, which has not been repeated since WWII.
Genocide has not bee repeated since WWII? Quite debatable
che was a great man. the usa as usual had to get involved in order for them to be the only prosperous country in the world. the usa are really cowards
It's a sad thing honestly, but it has to be said. Che Guevara wasn't a nice person, he has been glorified into a Christ almost, but even he, himself said that he is the exacty opposite of a Christ. Point in case though, he has cemented himself into our culture, and will always be considered what he truly is, an idealist. You could even argue that his experiences in Guatemala (before he joined the Cuban Revolution) made him this way, it was there where he witnessed the straight out CIA intervention when a communist government was elected.
the point is that one mans terroist is another mans freedom fighter. che was inspired and motivated by the injustices he witnessed during his motorcycle journey of south america. had he not had the adventurous spirit that took him on that motorbike tour at the impressionable age of 19 then he would probably be a semi-retired GP living in rural england. betty was right when she said [sic] that che shouldn't be compared to the attrocities committed by the nazi regime. apart from anything else che fought for freedom. who can say with any degree of honesty that the nazis fought for the good of the common man?
mb: Che fought for freedom? That must be why he executed so many people and created so many forced labor camps. Communists are always eager to commit evil to achieve their goals.
A child of his enviroment, should people be judged by there ideas or by the methods they go about to achieve them. generally speaking im a fan of che at least of his idealism. Are any of us blameless for the world we live in, the heros we now worship for example mandela the saint yet look at the state of his country.The message i get from che is believe in something and live life.
I am quite a fan of Che, since he is the 2nd best example of a good communist. Of course, Karl Marx, Lenin, Stalin, Trotsky and Mao also qualify. What do they have in common? They are all dead.
The best example of a communist of course, is an ex-communist. David Horowitz for example.
500 people who were suspected of committing crimes against humanity during Batista's regime were brought before Che at La Cabana prison. Approximately 50 were executed after a careful study of the supporting evidence against them. Those executed were men who castrated and mutilated prisoners, poked eyes out, raped young girls in order to get information out of their families. The evidence presented to Che showed that they were guilty of their crimes and they were put to death. If they committed these crimes in the US they also would have received the death penalty.
As far as labor camps are concerned. They were for prisoners of the Batista regime who were not given the death penalty because their actions didn't warrent it. Private Cuban citizens were encouraged to do volunteer labor becuase the US blockade against Cuba prevented the government from having enough money to pay people for all their work. They were encouraged, but not forced, to work as part of the socialist work ethic and for the betterment of the country. Che himself is known for working 15 hour days 6 days a week and then spending half of his Sunday volunteering to cut sugar cane.
Guevara was a good man who represented the interests of the oppressed masses. Afterall he gave up his position as a government minister to lead guerrilla wars in the Congo and Bolivia. His memory is still so strong because such saints just don't die away.
How sick, twisted idealogues like Che Guevara become figures of almost religious stature in this country (and abroad for that matter) is beyond belief. It is appalling to see how so many are so easily brainwashed by anti-American historical revisionists. If these same patsies were subjected to life under regimes led by the likes of Guevara, Castro, or the scores of other communist "heroes" now pushing up daisies, they would surely feel differently. And, of course, never mind that harboring those feelings could very well mean a death sentence under such a regime...
If you like communism so damn much why are you here in this country sucking up our resources? Why don't you just go?? The people that regularly risk life and limb to flee Cuba must be idiots right? My grandmother must have committed unspeakable war crimes to have been hung upside down and beaten to near death. you adore che so much, go to Cuba and be with him and his handiwork.
Such ignorance! This generation has seen so little and is educated to the point of spoof. What has clouded your eyes has also withered your view. The same shroud of freedom veiled upon your ignorant shoulders that you speak in this forum is also the exact liberty that men like Che Guevara opposed. Che also an ignorant man never learned from history and the damnation of his predecessors’ idealism. A doctor who should have healed, yet he himself became his own patient. "Those missiles would have been fired if they were in Cuban control". Think! Colleagues of his have criticized his economic and military theories. He led so many middle class college students to there death. If they were only around now we would have a Latin generation that would have not only prospered through their travail, but would have changed there world, not by ignorance, hatred, and intolerance, but buy patience, love, and wisdom.
While Castro and Guevara are known to have committed atrocities and kill rivals, we must remember that their 26th of July movement delivered the Cuban people from an evil much worse than what the Cuban people experienced after the revolution. Under general Baptista much of thier culture and life was under threat. Baptista acted only under the influence of the Yankees, the imperialists. Also, 'The motercycle Dairies' were Pre-Che, depicting the live of an adventurer not a revolutionist.
Keep in mind, Castro and Che fulfilled much of their promise in terms of medical, education and also Cuba is second only to the UK in the number of people it sends out for humanitarian Aid. As far as those leaving Cuba and grandmothers getting beat up, people will always be unsatisfied. Cuba, under Castro has advanced more than it can under any other ruler, especially those influenced by imperialists westerners.
I have never read so many moronic comments from people who have not or are not living in the dire conditions that Cubans livein now adays. To say the Che was a good or nice man is coming either from the mouth or an ignorant person or one who has ulterior motives against this country and the stability of the world. People who idolize Che should not be in this country but should pack their bags and go live in a country such as Cuba or Vietnam or any communist/socialist or dictator-run country and just go and enjoy the wonders that your loving Che was fighting for. Here is a man who wiped out people left and right; a dead man (thank goodness) who brought misery and destruction everywhere he went. Even in Bolivia the peasants were not dumb enough to fall for his trickery and refused to join his stupid revolutionary adventures. They saw right thru it. The only he got away with it in Cuba is because Cuban people did want a change---and Castro, Che and Cienfuegos sold a lie to the Cuban people and even the middle and upper classes swallowed the pill until it was too late for them. It is very interesting that only crazy (psychologically unstable) people tend to support Che's ideals--that of wiping out everything in front of them...not to help the poor as they would like you to think but once they have taken over you have to abide by "their" rules. That's all that communism and socialism have in common. I still prefer a capitalist state. It may not be perfect, but show me how the now-defunct USSR (Communist--just like what Che wanted) was any better...there is no other way of putting to people who continue to idolize Che's ideals: If you think he was such as great man and you agree with his ideas...why not move to a country such as Cuba or even China or Sudan--You'll certainly be happier there....
Kickbutt,
Are you a moron? Where do you think I am writing these messages from? Certainly not from an imperialist, war loving, ignorant republican American state. Please educate yourself. No one is saying communist countries are perfect. In fact their records speak for themselves. However, those in power in powerful countries restrict and slap embargoes on such countries to further thier interests and power. Basic sociology. Please educate yourself and study before commenting.
Kilbane
P.S At least use a legitimate last name or first name. Kickbutt may be your real name however, given your sophmoric moronic comments
i have had enough with every one down playing revolutionarys! americans criticize revolutionarys as if they are terrorist. when all they want is the change for the people of there country. they want to see that there fellow citizens live life in peace not fear, that every one is treating equally. its not thereselfs who turn them into monsters but its us who thrive them to be like that. we are the reason that there starting revolutions. if we payed more attention to reality instead of fantasy and act so arrogent maybe they wouldnt have to put there own lives on the line for us to realize who demented we are. my heart shrivles day by day to see how shallow people are. there will be a day were the hymns of freedom will play from all the souls that were beaten and battered from oppression. It will appear as if we were in a dream hoping to never wake up but it will be the actuall thing. Having reduced hatered and lies to the sounds of a screaming butterfly! :(
It seems to me like some of the people on here don't even know the difference between socialism and communism. Let alone the fact that a couple of United States Constitutional Amendments(the 16th and 17th to be exact) were passed thanks to progressive movements-which included socialism- in the late 19th/ early 20th century. The reason why socialism doesn't work is because people aren't righteous or honest enough to uphold the true ideals that it puts forward. It's basically an anarchist government that would need an honest and objective society to help sustain it. It's funny when I hear people say they want to help the poor but still support a capitalist economy. Instead of just helping why not eradicate poverty all together or a least a good majority of it? A capitalist economy only works if the stratifications of upper, middle, and lower are in place so it's a contradiction to try to erase the poverty line and still be a captialist. Socialism is a Utopian ideal that would most likely only be taken seriously after a social revoltion-meaning a revolution in thought not one that involves weapons(for those that get it twisted)-which would only be triggered after some cataclysmic devastion that would make "Western" Homo Sapiens look for an alternative to the current system.
Between 1959 and 1974, some 640,237 ubans have immigrated to the U.S. In 15 years, 42,682 Cubans a year have come to this Imperialist, oppressive nation. In 1994, the U.S agreed to allow 20,000 Cubans a year into America.
All that I need to know, is that people from all over the world are trying to come into the U.S., not leave it. Why would people come to the country that is oppressing them? That's like European Jews trying to get into Germany!?
Communism, Marxism, on paper, is a great idea. Unfortunately, when it is tried, it becomes a truley oppressive, and un free country. Freedom is natural, Communism is not. Communism/Marxism must be forced upon people, freedom does not. But it does take force to aquire freedom. And that is worth it.
A person who uses force to inflict "their" idea of a perfect socialist idea is, according to history, a bad person. And that includes Che.
I don't know what to think about Che- I'm reading some of his own work, in which he (so far, anways) comes across as a decent guy.
Let me just say, however, that of all the Communist/Socialist dictators in the world, if I were forced to live under one, I would choose Castro. One's chances were far better of living a decent life in Cuba than in say, the Soviet Union or Cambodia.
I'm sick and tired of people still beeing nostalgic of common criminals like Guevara. If you put aside his "speeches" for the "common good", for the "cause of the revolution", if you put aside his posing for the cameras, what is left is the face of a common thug and criminal, of a brutal murderer and a cheap thief.
A lot of people in this world have great ideas ( and no, communism isn't one of those), but does a good idea can justifie the killings of innocent people? Does a good idea can justifie tortures, mass deportations, oppresing of the freedom of speech,depraving of the citizens of a state from the most basic human rights?
I lived under communism for 17 years of my life. I felt under my skin the hate , the violence and the propaganda , the poverty and the misery that the communist state create....For the common good!!!
If they are people there today, that still sympathize communism, still have a hope for the "revolution", they can do us a favor and go to live in a communist country...I'm pretty sure, Cuba, North Korea, Vietnam or China will welcome them with the open arms...
P.S.
In the end of the '60, Guevara wanted to visit my country ( Albania, it was communist state then)....He stayed for 3 ( three) hours at the airport....The authorities ( the communist ones) refused to let him in,because Che didn't wanted to have a hair cut and his beard shaved ( just as the official policy for accepting every foreigner in my country was at the time, long hair and beards were symbols of capitalist decadence)...Thus Che departed from a country which he saw as a example for his "beloved" Cuba, pissed off and humiliated.
che guevara was a pimp he fought for the lil man and he wanted everyone to be equal and to gain alot u have 2 sacriface alot so u gotta understand him and right now i am wearing a che bracelt and have a shirt of him cause he fought for the poor
This blog as realy interested me for a couple of reasons. One thing I would like to adress is the fact that in the long run communism and socialism don't work out in the long run when put into practical use. In those types of governments there is no incentive to be the most dilligent and best worker possible because no matter how hard you work you get the same as the slacker. Let's face it not everyone in the world is self sacrificing. Alot of people will only work as hard as they have to if every one is going to get an equal share because they don't have to work hard. Thats why a communist, marxist, or socialist country will never prosper as much as a capitalistic one. You may say china is an exception but not realy. China openly welcomes capitalistic corporations into their country all the time they embrace them for a number of reasons which include access to new western technologies and to better their economy. A perfect example of them welcoming western technology is there new space program, China used to have the crappiest missiles of all the worlds leading powers, but they were able to aquire technology to improve them from western companies that came over whose main goal was rockets for space exploration. So china doesn't count because they do in fact partcipate in the capitalistic ways that che hated so much. What ever happened to the USSR once the biggest player in communism ever oh yeah they fell apart because they were trying to compete with a capitalistic nation in an arms race and they ran out of money. I like the fact that if iwere to own a business i would have control over my business to do what ever i wanted to do and i couldn't do that in a communist or socialist country If you would like to have futher discussions on this topic please post that you want my e-mail and I will gladly answer to anyone.
Demacracy? we act like every nation should be made in our image. Americas way of life is not for every nation.
Sooner or later the United Sates will crumble just like every other nation that has wielded great power ( rome, russia, france, spain)
I really feel pity for people who walk around with Che t-shirts, hang Che posters, thinking he is so cool, when in reality he was a brutal murderer with a heart of ice.
I feel even sorrier for those who know exactly what he did, yet still hold him up to an almost divine stature.
I do not wish to comment on the situation but I do want to comment on something else. People, learn how to spell. Here are some examples: "justify"-someone put justifie, "warrant"- someone put warrent, "through"-someone put thru, or if you say "there" instead of "their", I will not read the rest of your comment. Although you speak of the lack of knowledge in the world today, you cannot even spell simple words. I simply disregard any points made by these individuals. This is one comment by someone:
Such ignorance! This generation has seen so little and is educated to the point of spoof[...]He led so many middle class college students to THERE death. If they were only around now we would have a Latin generation that would have not only prospered through their travail, but would have changed THERE world, not by ignorance, hatred, and intolerance, but buy patience, love, and wisdom.
You speak of such atrocities yet cannot learn a simple grammar rule. To me, this means you have no credentials.
Che is a personal hero of mine, not just for his beliefs but for the way he died for something he truly believed in. He stood up to America, which is something the modern world needs to do instead of having Americanism imposed upon us. How can a world be democratic when America says what is and is not democratic. It's bullshit.
Reading about Che tought me that money isn't everything and that there is too much greed in the world coupled with so much injustice.
Many say Che wasn't a nice person and, to small extent, this is true. However, many fail to see that he was a 'man of the people' and what drove him on was a burning desire to make the world a better place. Like myself, he saw America as a result of many problems in the world. When a problem such as Che arrives for America, all they know what to do is murder it, which is what happened to Che in Vallegrande, Bolivia. If only the world had more people like Che. Vive Che!
I would also like to add another point with regards to Che "merchandise". Many walk around with Che t-shirts (Prince Harry a prime example) and hang posters on their walls. DOn't they see that this is what Che so despised - the evil form of Capitalism. Many people like Prince Harry are ignorant to this fact and use his image to improve theirs. This, may I say, is bollocks. I understand Che's image needs to live on since his murder, but to add to the growth of Capitalism is a dis-service to what the great man lived (and died) for. His legend must live on, but not to add to the cofferes of a Capitalist system, wishing to make money off his image. Ironic? I think not. Taking the piss? I think so!
sigh, from my experience, the fact is is that no matter how you argue with a communist/che geuvara t-shirt wearing individual, they will not listen, or choose to entertain the realities or results to communism. The only thing we can do, fellow Americans, is to look at the facts. We will use the examples to strengtthen our zeal against such a ideology when voting at the polls and see a liberal candidate (soft communist in disguise) we look to the other options. For we won't forget the millions put into gulags, forced to labor until death (9,000,000) along with the executions, and oppression (google "Socialist Realism" for starters if you like "freedom of expression" or perhaps "religion in Soviet Russia" if you want to see the existence of State Religion at its best) in the former country of USSR. We won't forget the fact that after the Vietnam war Hanoi's gulags (the "re-education" camps) that killed 50,000 civilians. We won't forget after the US pullout of Vietnam which allowed the strengthening of Pol Pot in Cambodia which led to an ethnic cleansing leaving 1-3 million people slaughtered (give or take 2.8 million all together with S. Veitnam) [wall street journal 1986]. We won't forget the fact that Cuba was kept alive by USSR as they kept their weapons there pointed at the US. We won't forget that as Cuba starves and buildings crumble, Castro was named one of Forbes' most wealthy men in the world (900 million/ LA Times May 4, 2006) We won't forget the fact that Che, a murderer, is the icon of the force that is intent on the downfall of this country. We won't forget who the enemy IS: those who wear his flag in this country. Americans, we are the most sought after country in the world. As terrorists rise and liberals cheer, we are not given the chance to live like children anymore. We need to stay informed, move forward and let these "others" plot and plan for their own demise. God Bless!
This might sound cold, but no one I've ever seen or heard of is perfect, putting your childish belief of questionable stories aside. He is an image that is being worn now by a population of merchandise that is sold to a public that in its time will like myself stop and look around seeing more and more each day why people like him existed in the first place. To remind us how. Evolution has been bloody, and will remain to be so. Man has to control its population if hoping to stop the incline of supply and demand on not just needs but everyday consumer crap that blind us or tempt us not to speak out on cultural genocides and injustices happening NOW. While our parents in kids are fighting next door, your Uncle is robbing you blind. Social Security, IRS, the 2 consecutive life terms plus seven years Leonrd Peltier is serving for a crime that he has not been Proven Guilty of. Help me here guys. B.
Look people i lived in Argentina(where che was born)and i never heard anything bad about Che.The U.S is the only country in the world that bad mouths Che.South America loves Che.Che is a true hero who fought against imperialist and capitalist pigs.HES FREEDOM.
Whenever I see someone comment about how an avowed communit was fighting for "Freedom".. I wonder if there is any help for these people. Look at the success and accomplishments of America. We have found the solution to the human condition. Individual liberty. Capitalism is not a designed system so much as it's just the natural order of free people's engaging in the free exchange of goods and services which better themselves and their fellow man.
People will always do better the more free they are, and people who liver under communism/socialism are never free, therefore people under communism will never do as well as people who avoid or escape communist oppression (like the Cuban people who risk life and limb to wash up on South Florida's shores. History has proven that to be correct. Communism and Freedom as an anethma(sp?) to each other and can never co-exist because of the very nature of Communism in that it is everything but Free, Good riddance to Che, long live TRUE freedom.
Communism is EVIL. Che Guevara was a downright criminal. I only wish I could have shot him myself. He spread his filth all over Cuba, and several other parts of Southern Hemisphere. The only reason he became so popular was because Bleeding Hearts turned him into a martyr. If he were to have been killed secretly this would have never happened. America was in the right and Che was in the wrong, you can't call me a U.S.A. extremist because I live in CANADA.
-Ps- I can tell right from wrong... obviously Che couldn't.