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Most college kids know the following about Che: He saw the poverty and exploitation of LatAm by the US and others and decided to do something about it after th
by socialismisok 4y ago
Most college kids know the following about Che:
He saw the poverty and exploitation of LatAm by the US and others and decided to do something about it after the CIA assassinated Arbenz. He was pivotal in overthrowing Batista, an autocratic despot.
He later served in several government programs, and wrote a memoir about motorcycles.
He was eventually executed without trial by Bolivian special forces backed by the CIA.
But college kids probably don't know that much about the flip side of his character. Plenty of stories suggest he enjoyed killing - he certainly had no concerns about executions. He wrote some pretty racist stuff in his early life.
He's a complicated figure, for sure.
- mc32 4y agoI mean, he's quoted by a revolutionary publication as saying: “We don’t need proof to execute a man. We only need proof that it’s necessary to execute him.” “We executed many people by firing squad without knowing if they were fully guilty. At times, the Revolution cannot stop to conduct much investigation.” Unfortunately, he appears not to have been assiduous in taking notes as Stalin was, so hard evidence, so far, is spotty.
- socialismisok 4y agoYep, you won't hear me disagree with you that he was very comfortable executing people extrajudicially.
- tomcam 4y agoI'm guessing by your username we're on opposite ends of the socialism thing. Don't care! I love your willingness to take evidence as it stands. Believe me, as a stout USA patriot and free market enthusiast, I do not shrink from the weaknesses of my positions either. For example, you're dead right (ahem) about the CIA. Sincere thanks for joining the discourse.
- socialismisok 4y agoI think blind adherence to a doctrine is a big problem. I love talking about this stuff. And I want it to be approachable, reasoned, and something that someone might go, "well, I don't agree with you, but you aren't just a surface level ideologue".
- tomcam 4y agoDammit we need to start a podcast
- socialismisok 4y agoHahaha. Well, you see how quickly I'm vilified here! I'm not sure I'd be that excited about exposing myself to the wider internet. :D I do try to respond to comments here with genuine answers and discourse, but the downvotes here lead me to believe a podcast would likely result in a lot of disinterest or angry mail headed my way.
- tomcam 4y agoAlso views