Killer Chic: Hollywood's sick love affair with Che

Almost everyone has seen someone wearing a Che shirt. Do these people know what Che represents? Check out this 9 min video on the subject.



It is pretty sick to see young people wearing Mao and Che shirts. Imagine if someone walked around with a t-shirt of Hitler with a swastika.

Ironically, if Che were stay alive today he would have absolutely hated the fact that his image had turned into the thing he hated most: Capitalist Marketing.

[edit on 27-1-2009 by Cool Hand Luke]

[edit on 27-1-2009 by Cool Hand Luke]

Hey, they're just shirts. People should be able to wear what they want. You don't think it's acceptable, so don't wear one of the shirts. I mean, you might as well complain about rednecks parading the rebel flag around everywhere. On their trucks, on their shirts, hanging from their houses. I saw a whole garage door painted like that.

It's a freedom of choice. I don't agree with flying a rebel flag, I don't have too.

Hi Cool Hand Luke.

Originally posted by Cool Hand Luke...It is pretty sick to see young people wearing Mao and Che shirts...

I can understand you for Mao, but for Che, it's OK, because
Cuba was REALLY abused by the country abusing it ! !

Blue skies.

Can't say I've ever seen anyone wearing a Mao shirt; I personally own a few Che shirts and am well versed in the history.

Will I stop just because it offends you? Hell no, get over it and if someone were to ask me to cover it, I'd punch them in the throat for opening their mouth to state their opinion to me.

It's all about being 'Realistic' and in real life, unlike the internet, you can't just put people on ignore/mute, you have to deal with their choices or not pay attention to them. You can ignore them but really, why? That type of policy is pre-school, only people like Dubya Bush would really think that it works.

che was a rebel leader of higher than normal integrity and cunning that went around the world fighting for what he believed in and renouncing the power offered him. the CIA eventually summarily executed him.

Mao was a sick and power hungry man but then i've never seen him on a t-shirt.

not that it matters, it's about symbolism, punks, most notoriously the sex pistols, routinely wore the swastika, not as a symbol of nazism but as a symbol of rebellion against the established order. che is a symbol of the rebellious attitude. it's more about idealism than anything else.

[edit on 27/1/09 by pieman]

Originally posted by Cool Hand Luke
Almost everyone has seen someone wearing a Che shirt. Do these people know what Che represents?

Well, I'll tell ya, the Cubans still venerate him as the one who broke the back of the dictatorship by derailing a troop train filled with American arms, and fighting the Battle of Santa Clara. Batista subsequently high-tailed it to the DR with 40 million dollars US.

They'll also tell you that he was finally assassinated by the CIA, and only recently were his remains returned to Cuba. You should go and see the memorial.

Oh, I forgot...you're not allowed to.

A friendly reminder...

Mod Note: Courtesy Is Mandatory – Please Review This Link.

This topic can be discussed with the civility and decorum that befits ATS. It is possible to state an opinion without referring to threats of violence.

Adherence to this simple request is expected.

Guevara is one of the worst criminals in Latin American History.

It is truly a shame that some people believe in a idealized version of a common criminal that got lucky, people who wear his image should be ashamed of themselves.


"He was a champion of human rights and social justice".

He started forced labour camps in Cuba, the first one being Guanahacabibes in 1961.

"He freed Cuba from Batista and the U.S."

People think that he freed Cuba, in fact he helped make it a colony, a soviet colony.

"He defied the Russians."

He didn´t, he was their pawn until they asked for something in return, when the Russians backed out he asked the Chinese to be his new master.

"He was a popular peasant hero".

Well he wasn´t, the Bolivian peasants never agreed with any of his wild ideas, in fact they were the ones who helped arrest him.

"He was a guerrilla warfare genius".

He was one of the worst fighters in history. His revolutionary army attempts in Nicaragua, República Dominicana, Panamá and Haití
all failed. If this wasn´t enough he also failed in Congo and Bolivia.

He was a cold blooded murderer, he was famous for humiliating and torturing his victims before he shot them

I like the guy, far less evil that united fruit or for example Bush.

You're probably just angry because people see that your American empire is in fact the evil corrupt force which oppresses the world.

The hypocrisy of free market Socialists and Communists is just amazing! What other major group of sheep would idolize mass murderers? Wonder how many of these hypocrites would gladly live their lives under these mass murderers? Wonder if they would still idolize them if their families were taken and never seen from again because of an overheard comment in a marketplace? Just plain sickening!

Originally posted by Camilo1
Guevara is one of the worst criminals in Latin American History.

He was a cold blooded murderer, he was famous for humiliating and torturing his victims before he shot them

It all depends on how you're looking at things, doesn't it? Seems the Bush Administration need not be held accountable for its transgressions? Torture and rendition and such? How about the School of the Americas? America's classroom for right-wing dictators? Whose baby was that, anyway?

Sorry...ya can't suck and blow at the same time, and the Batista regime was no Camelot. History will judge...just like Dubya is hoping.

reply to post by JohnnyCanuck


But Dubya is delusional; if 'History' will judge him appropriately, I'll have to make sure to live forever to ensure that Bush is always remembered as the Tyrant he is/was until he's tried and hanged. Then make sure the books aren't redacted at certain places, just to be sure.

Originally posted by JohnnyCanuck

Originally posted by Camilo1
Guevara is one of the worst criminals in Latin American History.

He was a cold blooded murderer, he was famous for humiliating and torturing his victims before he shot them

It all depends on how you're looking at things, doesn't it? Seems the Bush Administration need not be held accountable for its transgressions? Torture and rendition and such? How about the School of the Americas? America's classroom for right-wing dictators? Whose baby was that, anyway?

Sorry...ya can't suck and blow at the same time, and the Batista regime was no Camelot. History will judge...just like Dubya is hoping.

What does the story of one of the worst criminals in Latin American history have to do with President Bush?. I really see no connection, maybe you can enlighten me?.

I find your "suck and blow" comment distasteful to say the least. I respectfully ask from you to share with the rest of us your knowledge about Latin American socialist revolutions, because history has already judged, they were all failures.

Originally posted by Camilo1 I respectfully ask from you to share with the rest of us your knowledge about Latin American socialist revolutions, because history has already judged, they were all failures.

Whose history? Here's a quote I just got from an associate: "History is a pack of lies that the current majority agrees with."

As to your challenge, I just got back from Cuba a couple of months ago. You should go. Oh, I forgot...Americans are not allowed to.

Know what I saw? I saw kids in school. They looked healthy and happy. They were wearing clean clothes, and nobody looked ill-fed. They have universal health care, and once one has paid into a home for their work-life, they live there at no cost. I saw happy, healthy looking people walking the streets and in the shops. It was obvious there wasn't a pile of money going on...but neither was it abject poverty. No kids in rags...

University education...up to and including PhD is free. You can't work against the government, and you live in a police state. I talked to average Cubans who thought Che was a saint. Go to the Dominican Republic and ask if they wanna swap.

Cuba's biggest problem is the American embargo...and if you don't like their partners, then step in yourself. Oh, I forgot. You're not allowed to.

I hope this helps...

Originally posted by TasteTheMagick
Hey, they're just shirts. People should be able to wear what they want. You don't think it's acceptable, so don't wear one of the shirts. I mean, you might as well complain about rednecks parading the rebel flag around everywhere. On their trucks, on their shirts, hanging from their houses. I saw a whole garage door painted like that.

It's a freedom of choice. I don't agree with flying a rebel flag, I don't have too.

I know they are just shirts. I'm just wondering how many people actually now what the man did. He locked and/or killed any dissenting voice in his country, people were only allowed to listen to "state approved" music and all media was controlled by the state. His ideas are a direct slap in the face to those who enjoy the ability to think and speak as an individual.

Originally posted by Riviera

Will I stop just because it offends you? Hell no, get over it and if someone were to ask me to cover it, I'd punch them in the throat for opening their mouth to state their opinion to me.

People can wear whatever the hell they want. I am merely asking why are people looking up to a man who killed any dissenting voice and controlled all media and turned Cuba into a Soviet state. By the way he was a huge admirer of Mao.

It's all about being 'Realistic' and in real life, unlike the internet, you can't just put people on ignore/mute, you have to deal with their choices or not pay attention to them. You can ignore them but really, why? That type of policy is pre-school, only people like Dubya Bush would really think that it works.

I don't want to mute or ignore them; I want to understand the fascination.

Originally posted by JohnnyCanuck

Well, I'll tell ya, the Cubans still venerate him as the one who broke the back of the dictatorship

Those same Cubans venerate men like Stalin, Mao, etc.. because of their love of communism. But listen to the people that tried to get out of the hell hole. Oh wait you can't because they have either been killed or locked up.

They'll also tell you that he was finally assassinated by the CIA, and only recently were his remains returned to Cuba. You should go and see the memorial.

Oh, I forgot...you're not allowed to.

If you are assuming I am American, you are wrong. I am Canadian, so I could if I wanted to but I would only go to spit on his grave.

Originally posted by pieman
che was a rebel leader of higher than normal integrity and cunning that went around the world fighting for what he believed in and renouncing the power offered him. the CIA eventually summarily executed him.

He renounced the power by taking it over and become more ruthless than the man he replaced. Higher than normal integrity? I guess that depends on your standards where killing anyone that disagrees with you is an act of integrity.

not that it matters, it's about symbolism, punks, most notoriously the sex pistols, routinely wore the swastika, not as a symbol of nazism but as a symbol of rebellion against the established order. che is a symbol of the rebellious attitude. it's more about idealism than anything else.

I agree that the reason why most people wear them to be "rebellious." But to claim to be "rebellious" by wearing the image of people (like stalin, hitler, che, mao etc) who demanded conformity at the point of a gun, is the definition of an oxymoron.

[edit on 27-1-2009 by Cool Hand Luke]

Originally posted by Cool Hand Luke
If you are assuming I am American, you are wrong. I am Canadian, so I could if I wanted to but I would only go to spit on his grave.

Since you have such strong feelings, then, I suggest that you escape this interminable winter for a week and go to Cuba to warm up. While there, walk the streets and talk to the people. We live in a world where the great U S of A spies on citizens, locks up folks and tortures them when they are perceived as enemies of the state. They also share some of the finer arts with foreign dictatorships. I only say this because if you want to play the blame game, you'd better widen your scope.

That being said, if you're going to speak for Cubans, you might want to go there so you don't end up talking through that big white hat. Sure, you will find dissenters. Hell, America would have a Communist party as well...if they didn't lock up the members, right? But you'll find educated, sophisticated people that venerate Che. Go there, ask why.

Then come back and tell me how the world works.

Just a quick self edit to add that I happened to visit his mausoleum. You could spit on his grave then, if you wanted to, but I'm not sure I'd advise it.

[edit on 28-1-2009 by JohnnyCanuck]

Whose history? Here's a quote I just got from an associate: "History is a pack of lies that the current majority agrees with."

As to your challenge, I just got back from Cuba a couple of months ago. You should go. Oh, I forgot...Americans are not allowed to.

Know what I saw? I saw kids in school. They looked healthy and happy. They were wearing clean clothes, and nobody looked ill-fed. They have universal health care, and once one has paid into a home for their work-life, they live there at no cost. I saw happy, healthy looking people walking the streets and in the shops. It was obvious there wasn't a pile of money going on...but neither was it abject poverty. No kids in rags...

University education...up to and including PhD is free. You can't work against the government, and you live in a police state. I talked to average Cubans who thought Che was a saint. Go to the Dominican Republic and ask if they wanna swap.

Cuba's biggest problem is the American embargo...and if you don't like their partners, then step in yourself. Oh, I forgot. You're not allowed to.

I hope this helps...

Some say an image is worth a thousend words, I despise long posts so here are some images for you, maybe you missed REALITY on your trip to Cuba, and may I add that none of these images were taken from U.S. media, there is no propaganda message in this images, just REALITY, something that you seem to try to miss.

Here is how foreign children play in Cuba (maybe this is how your kids had fun)

Your tourist Hotel maybe looked like this:

The beach you visited perhaps looked like this:


Pretty great.....

Here is REALITY for CUBANS!!

This is how Cuban children play:


This is how Cuban people live:


This is the Cuban version of going for a swim


Source:

www.cubalibera.org...

More pictures for you:

here is how old people are well fed in Cuba:


going to the supermarket?


o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

I don´t want to humilliate you, but you asked for it.

In my line of work Ihave to deal with immigration issues, one of the worst problems we have are Cuban citizens trying to escape from Cuba, all of them wonderful hard-working people, but scared, tired and looking for freedom, they use our country as a passage to get to the U.S. and they are so desperate that they are willing to do almost anything to get there.

You should talk to them and tell them about the "paradise" you are talking about.......



For your information I am not an american, I can go to Cuba whenever I please, but I choose not to go there.

[edit on 28-1-2009 by Camilo1]