Che Guevara spawns tourism industry with 'Che Trail'

[Judi Lynn]

Che Guevara spawns tourism industry with 'Che Trail'
In life, Ernesto "Che" Guevara fought to overthrow a corrupt, capitalist elite. In death, he is spawning his own tourism industry – soon to include a three-country "Che Trail."

Published: 10:40AM BST 27 May 2010

Tourism officials in Argentina, Cuba and Bolivia are collaborating on a historic route that will allow Guevara buffs to retrace the footsteps of the Argentine medical student turned revolutionary in Cuba who was killed in a failed mission to foment an uprising in Bolivia.

Bolivia's vice minister of tourism, Marco Antonio Peredo, said that the international "Caminos del Che" trail will include sites where Guevara was born, fought and died.

Officials say they are being sensitive to Guevara's legacy, long ago co-opted by T-shirt vendors the world over.

"We aren't looking to commodify him – he's not a product that's for sale," said Diego Conca, who coordinates Argentina's portion of the Che trail, inaugurated last year. "His journey transformed him, and we think that following this route can also be transformative for tourists."

More:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/southamerica/argentina/7770642/Che-Guevara-spawns-tourism-industry-with-Che-Trail.html

[Peace Patriot]

1. Well, in truth, they are "commodifying" Che--even if it is a beautifully ironic twist on

typical tourist lures that focus on ancient civilizations or "pristine beaches" or fun festivals and nightlife. Focus, instead, on a revolutionary, an advocate and fighter for the poor--indeed, an advocate and fighter for the people who clean tourist hotel rooms and sweat in the kitchens of tourist restaurants. Focus on RECENT history and the bloody, tragic tale of U.S. warfare and corporate profiteering in Latin America.

I find the Che t-shirt phenomenon kind of sad, really. I mean, if I were a young CIA recruit in Latin America, the first thing I would do with my clothing stipend would be to buy up a supply of Che t-shirts, to have a fresh one ready for the next operation, as the t-shirts get tear-gassed or bloodstained in my efforts to turn peaceful demonstrations violent and to implicate leftists in various crimes. Hero worship is too damn easy, and very exploitable.

It's not Che's violence that I object to, in the promulgation of this ikon. The violence against the poor and their advocates has been so awful in Latin America that I find armed resistance understandable. I don't condone it. I understand it. I was raised in the Catholic Church, after all, with its theology of "the just war." I don't buy that theology any more, but I think there is, indeed, a BIG distinction to be made, as to crime and sin, between a warrior with justifiable motivations--a warrior who takes up arms against real injustice--and greedy war profiteers and corporate tyrants.

It's the phenomenon of worship itself. It can numb you to your own responsibilities, to possible bad consequences of your own actions, and can cause you to be controlled by your emotions and to disfavor rational thought and conscience. We must never forget that the ikon of the extremely bloody and awful 'christian' Crusades in the Middle Ages was gentle Jesus and his Cross. Has a worshiped ikon ever been more misinterpreted and misunderstood?

Anyway, a "Che tourist trail" gives me pause. I appreciate their trying to teach real and recent history. And I'm sure there are lots of people who would like to do such a tour, not out of worship but out of a genuine interest in being educated and informed. And it's none of my business anyway, really, what Argentinians, Cubans and Bolivians feel is appropriate for tourists. Just wanted to explore my complicated reaction. One thing I know, this project certainly indicates that "the times they are changin'" in Latin America, and that is cause for joy.

[EFerrari]

2. And today, Boliva is FREE.

:toast:

[Mika]

3. Cuba too.

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[Judi Lynn]

4. Great photos, Mika. Thank you! n/t

[flamingdem]

5. Wow, is that Raul with Che? He really does look a bit Chinese nt

[Mika]

6. So many are/were totally over focused on Fidel (& Che).

Distraction from the fact that the Cuban revolution was and still is a populist revolution formed and organized on a national level by large cadres of motivated and hard working young men and women. It wasn't just Che, Fidel, Raul.

As much as I hate to use Wiki as a source.....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Cuban_revolutionaries



Cuba 1952: Student anti-government demonstrations
May 20, 1952
Student anti-Batista protests started at the University of Havana in April and grew to a
massive demonstration held by the students on May 20 (Independence Day) to
commemorate the 50th anniversary of Cuban independence, affirming loyalty to the
1940 Constitution, calling for Batista’s ouster or resignation, and urging Cubans to
reject his modified constitution and demand a return to the 1940 Constitution.

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