 An
Ernesto 'Che' Guevara portrait in front of a house
in the Old Havana.
Born to a middle class
family and trained as a medical doctor, the young
Argentinean travelled and witnessed the plight of
the South American people, and had envisioned a fair
and justice society. He joined the rebel groups in
Cuba and fought along side with Fidel Castro and
other revolutionists. After the revolution, he held
positions in important ministries and the Central
Bank, in charge of the industry and economic reform.
Despite his passion, however, the result was largely
a failure due to the lack of experience. Withdrawing
from public office, he returned to Africa and South
America for guerilla warfare, but was subsequently
captured and executed by the CIA in Bolivia in 1967.
Coupled with his personal charisma, Che Guevara has
become an icon who dare to confront injustice and
oppressions, no matter how powerful they are,
without considering personal safety and profit.
Although Che might never have envisioned the social
condition of Cuba today under his comrade Castro,
although the end result undoubtedly adds an element
of tragedy to his sacrifice and devotion, it is his
passion that inspires generations of young Marxists
and left-wingers. Like Che once said: "Revolutions
rarely, if ever, emerge fully ripe, and not all
their details are scientifically foreseen. They are
products of passion, of improvisation by human
beings in their struggle for social change, and are
never perfect. Our revolution was no exception". |
