Image of Che Guevara needs to be Re-thought

This week, Cuba will celebrate the 40th anniversary of Che Guevara’s death. Guevara, idolized by communists and college students alike, was largely responsible for putting Fidel Castro in to power in Cuba, as well as starting revolutions in other countries, including Bolivia. In 1967 he was captured and killed by US-backed Bolivian forces. His face, often emblazoned upon red t-shirts, posters and other paraphernalia, has become a fashion statement within a capitalist society, despite his anti-capitalist ideology.

It is not difficult to find college students, even at our beloved Fordham, wearing these red shirts, seemingly idolizing the man on their chest. But how many students know the truth about Che? How many know that by wearing this shirt, they are advertising and essentially supporting a man not only guilty of fighting against US interests in Latin America, but likewise guilty of killing millions of Cubans, Bolivians and others who opposed his grand revolution?

It may surprise some students to learn that Guevara, despite what our modern culture and celebrities may say about him, executed tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of Cubans who disagreed with him. Ever wonder why there are so many Cubans in Miami and other parts of Florida? Look no further than your friend’s chest. Guevara is largely responsible for establishing the Castro dictatorship, which since having come to power, has indoctrinated the Cuban people with pro-communist garbage, outlawed freedom of speech and caused the flight of millions of Cubans who now seek freedom in the USA.

Students who wear Che’s face plastered across their chest (or anywhere else for that matter) should seriously reconsider their attire. Wearing Che’s face is not unlike wearing Stalin’s, Saddam Hussein’s or Chairman Mao’s. This is a man who is guilty of crimes against humanity as well as being an enemy of the USA. His actions forty plus years ago have resulted in at least one country, a mere 90 miles from our nation’s shores, having to live under a tyrannical dictator. But, at least they have a great health-care system (according to Michael Moore that is).

Ignorance is no excuse for college students to adorn themselves or their dorm rooms with Che. Che’s mass murdering is well documented, and one only needs to talk to Cuban refugees or their descendents to learn of his and Castro’s atrocities. Make no mistake; Cuban refugees don’t risk their lives coming to the USA because Cuba is a great place to live today. They come here because Cuba’s state-run economy is in shambles; they can’t get the proper health-care for them or their children; education largely stops after the sixth grade; they’re tired of the communist indoctrination and propaganda and furthermore, they’re tired of not being able to criticize their government.

In fact, Cuban refugees aren’t merely tired of all these things, ladies and gentlemen. They’re frightened. They’re frightened about what will happen to them and their families if they criticize the Castro government. While Che’s success was unfortunate to say the least, there may be some hope on the horizon. Castro’s health is failing, and he has largely passed on his power to his brother, Raul. Of course, Castro’s death can’t come quick enough for many, but in the meantime, let’s not mock the tragic family histories of our Cuban brethren living in the USA by adorning ourselves with the face of the man responsible for the deaths of their family members.