Sunday, April 18, 2010

Tribute: Ernesto "Che" Guevara

I remember it was during my days at IU, when I first began to notice and admire this iconic face that was plastered on people's shirts, cars, walls, etc... The famous image often came with a title underneath such as "Viva la Revolucion"... At that time I didn't know anything about Ernesto Guevara, or the significance of his life yet I was still intrigued by the rebellious symbol. It would eventually inspire me to read and learn about the incredibly fascinating life of Ernesto Guevara, the Che.

He was born in Argentina and was raised into a middle class family. He had a severe case of asthma, of which would daunt him for the rest of his life. He was still an extremely talented athlete and also very intelligent. He went to school to study medicine just the same as his father.

I remember when I first watched Motorcycle Diaries in my apartment in Chicago, I suddenly began to understand Che's perspective. This incredible film, directed by Walter Salles, shows Ernesto's transition from a medical student to a political advocate. At the age of 23 he joins one of his best friends on a motorcycle road trip across South America, of which he gets a first-hand look at the exploitation and injustice in the world. It is during this memorable journey that Ernesto realizes there is a greater purpose in life for him. This film is based off of Ernesto's journal of the trip, and gives an extremely accurate insight into the mans life before he became "el Comandante." It's so incredible to see this young Ernesto Guevara, as a common good person, a promising doctor, handsome, intelligent, with good friends, good family, and a great life in Argentina, and to know that he will later give all of that up to fight for justice.

Following this film, I was further inspired to read more about his life, so I remember when I lived in Chicago I got this enormous biography from the library. I took the book everywhere with me; in my Greenleaf Apartment, on the benches of Rogers Park, riding on the L, and often on the airplanes to-and-from my work. I remember I was often cautious about hiding the cover of the book (a red, black, and yellow color with the famous guerrilla image). I loved the book and I loved to read it. I got further and deeper into Ernesto's life, especially his transition from medical student to his years as a wandering man.

In 1953 he traveled across Central America, and eventually settled in Guatemala, a country of which he saw great socialist progress under the presidency of Jacobo Guzman. Yet it was a year later that a successful coup organized by covert CIA agents established a new right-wing dictatorship under Carlos Castillo Armas. Ernesto was furious with the result and decided the only way to defeat American Imperialism was through an armed struggle. He therefore left Guatemala and moved to Mexico where he would begin his life as a revolutionist. It was in 1955 that he met Fidel Castro.

Ernesto decided to join Castro's cause of overthrowing Batista's regime in Cuba, which had become a U.S puppet. Fidel's organization was known as the 26th of July Movement. Ernesto became the group's medic, and had to go through intense guerrilla training in the mountains of Mexico. On Novermber 25th of 1956, 82 men set off for Cuba on a boat called the Granma. They landed under heavy gunfire, of which only 22 survived. They eventually organized themselves in the Sierra Maestra mountains, of which they spent the next 2 years building up their force. Once the rebels had destroyed many of the military outposts and had control of the mountains, they began their offensive. Ernesto lead his force into Santa Clara, which became the decisive victory for the 26th of July Movement. Batista fled the country and was forced to resign, thus granting power to Fidel Castro's revolution.

Following the successful Cuban revolution, Che served as one of Fidel's closest committee members, as an economic, military, and international adviser. He is given much credit for the Cuban Army's victory against the US-aided invasion of the the Bay of Pigs. During the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962, Che was frustrated with the Soviet's influence on Cuba. He felt the USSR was using Cuba as a pawn against America. He spent the next several years working as a foreign diplomat traveling too many places, where he met many world leaders such as Mao Zedong. By 1965 he had grown tired of the politics, and wanted to return to his revolutionary cause.

He ventured to Africa to offer his guerrilla expertise in the conflict of Congo. Yet after seven months of struggle, he found that there was no unity or desire amongst the rebels, and that their cause was hopeless. He therefore left Congo, and lived secretly in Dar es Salaam and Prague for the next six months. By early 1967 Guevara was once again off to aid his expertise to a revolution. This time it was in the country of Bolivia.

As depicted in the film CHE, directed by Steven Soderbergh and starring Benecio del Toro, his mission in Bolivia was a failure upon arrival. Unlike his success in Cuba, where he had worked his way to the top, he arrived in Bolivia as a foreigner chosen to lead the revolution. This made many of the Bolivian fighters upset, and disloyal to their Argentine commander. To make things even more difficult for Che, was that the Bolivians were simply not as a passionate for revolution, as the Cubans were. Che found great difficulty in arising passion and unity amongst the peasants, and found that there was just no desire for change in the country. After nearly a year of traveling through the jungles and mountains of Bolivia, he was eventually tracked and murdered by CIA operatives.

Cultural Legacy
Ernesto Che Guevara represented the epitome of revolution. He was a fighter for the people, fighting against oppression, injustice, and inequality. Although he was a bloody mercenary, who used violence as a means of change, his purpose still cannot be denied. He gave up everything he had for the sake of mankind. It is this reason that Che has forever become a legacy.

Recommendations

Che Guevara: A Revolutionary Life by Jon Lee Anderson
  • I spent much of my time in Chicago, with my nose deep into this paperback biography about Ernesto Guevara's life
Motorcycle Diaries
  • Incredible film directed by Walter Salles, starring Gael Garcia Bernal as the young Ernesto Guevara, and Rodrigo de la Serna playing Ernesto's friend Alberto Granada... Much of my aspirations in life have been inspired by this film...
Che
  • Great Biopic directed by Steven Soderbergh and starring Benecio del Toro as the Che... The movie is divided into two films, one focusing on the Cuban Revolution and the other focusing on the Bolivian Revolution. The film has a very authentic, realistic look to it. I recently went on a splurge and purchased this $50 dollar DVD set. Although for the time it has hurt my pockets, I know it was a worthy investment and it makes me happy to see it in my collection.

Saturday, April 17, 2010

Current Film Reviews: Clash of the Titans; Kiss-Ass

Being a huge fan of Greek Mythology, this film looked like the next big thing. Starring Sam Worthington as Perseus, the actor from the film Avatar, it was bound to be an action packed thriller that finally brings homage to the epic story of Perseus and Medusa. The film was a remake of the 1981 film, which I remember watching in my high school English class. To be honest I think the original film was better than this new one. It was extremely disappointing, with a very weak story. The film wastes no time in establishing the action. In the opening 5 minutes humans declare war on the gods by destroying a statue of Zeus. This non-stop action carries on until the end, which I won't lie put me to sleep by the point the highly anticipated Kraken was released. There is no character build-up, drama, or any real moment worth mentioning. Liam Neeson and Ralph Fiennes sold out in this one. If all you care about is special effects with a dry-story than perhaps you may enjoy this one... Yet I think it was a shameful homage to the story of Perseus and Greek Mythology in general.





Now this one on the other hand, may surprise you. At first impression it looks like one of those stupid high school action comedies, but its quite on the contrary. I may have not given it a try until I saw Peter Traver's good review on it. It has a very serious and dark undertone to it, disguised by lots of awkward comedy. In the story a teenager decides to become a real-life superhero by the name of "Kick-Ass". One night he becomes an instant celebrity when he is caught on camera fighting some muggers. Soon he inspires other real-life superheroes to join his cause, such as Big Daddy and his 11-year old daughter HitGirl. Big Daddy played by Nicholas Cage is a former police turned hit-man out for vendetta against a crime lord named Damico. He trains his young daughter to become the ultimate killing machine. The fourth superhero is the son of Daminco, who dons the costume Red-Mist. All four have very interesting stories which interlace in an unexpected way. The action is raw and not at all childish, even though the biggest ass-kicker in the film is an 11 year old. My only tiny complain about the film was perhaps creating a more original costume for Nicholas Cage, instead of a Batman look-alike. Other than that the film brings something different to the table, well worth viewing, especially to witness the sheer awesomeness of HitGirl. I would definitely expect a sequel.

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Life as a Therapist

Took the day off today to just unwind and take some much needed rest... The job is going well, and I have become very engaged with it. For the past 4 months now I have worked mornings with a 12 year old kid named Noah and afternoons with a kid named Hillel. They are both extreme opposites, one is aggressive while the other is very passive. I have had my good days and bad days with the both of them, and like to think that we have begun to understand one another. Yet its a constant battle of trying to connect to them. I find myself losing lots of sleep, especially this past week, deep into thought of ways that I can reach to them. I want to be a great therapist, and find ways to connect with these kids, ways to avoid their behaviors, and new ways of making learning fun. I must admit though that the job is extremely draining, and don't think its something I could make a career out of. Yet until that next big thing, I'm happy with this position and want to continue to stride to be a better therapist. I know in the end I will take so much from this experience.

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

A World Without Nukes

To think that for the past 70 years now, we have possessed weapons that can destroy our planet. I have always considered weapons of mass destruction quite plainly as immoral, unnecessary, and extremely stupid. And to think that perhaps in the next four years, we may have completely eliminated such an option. Over the past few weeks now President Obama has worked hard alongside Russian President Dmitri Medvedev in a World Nuclear Summit to reduce the amount of active warheads. This is a monumental move for Obama's presidency as well as for the global spectrum. In the past few weeks our president has made me prouder than ever, first by finally passing Health Care Reform, and now by pushing this Nuclear Summit through. I know I have often been critical of Obama's first year, mostly because he choose to send more troops to Afghanistan, yet I have recently been more proud than ever that I voted for him... So once again, here's to you Mr. Barack Obama!

Monday, April 12, 2010

The Kite Runner

I watch many films, almost every night, yet very rarely do I take the time to write about one anymore. That is unless of course I see a truly inspiring one, such as I did with the Kite Runner. Based off of the best selling novel from Khaled Hosseini, this adaptation tells an incredible story of a young boy named Amir growing up in Afghanistan in 1978 shortly before the invasion of the Soviet Union. He shares a passion for adventure, story-telling, and kite-flying in the streets of Kabul with his Hazara servant named Hassan. Although they are very close friends, Amir eventually grows ashamed of his relationship with his servant, and has Hassan and his father framed so as to rid them from his family. Shortly after this Amir and his father escape the Soviet invasion by moving to America. In California, Amir's father opens a gas station, while Amir finishes college, and pursuits his dream as a writer. He falls in love with the daughter of an Afghan general, and asks her for his hand in marriage. Many years later, in the year 2000, Amir is called by an old friend from Kabul asking him to return for a very important matter. Amir returns to Pakistan to find out that his old childhood friend, Hassan, has been killed, and furthermore was his brother. Shocked by the news, Amir sets off into Afghanistan, which is now overrun by the Taliban, to retrieve Hassan's son, his nephew. The film is set up into three phases; first his childhood life in the streets of Kabul, then his life as a grown man in California, and finally his journey back into Taliban-occupied Afghanistan. The film gives a good insight to Afghan culture and history and has a very beautiful ending.

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Uprising in Kyrgyzstan

Now here is a country that I have never known a thing about until today... A full uprising has taken place against the corrupt leadership... It has lead to a successful coup, and could perhaps be a monumental turning point for the Central Asian country of Kyrgyzstan... Who knows what is to come, yet it definitely a sign of the times...




So much major news has been happening lately...
  • Obama's Health Care Reform
  • A nuclear pact with Russia
  • Terrorist bombings in Moscow
  • And now this event in Kyrgyzstan which truly reflects that the people have grown tired of the globalized unfair economic structure.