The Accidental Russophile

One of my favorite websites, The Straight Dope, has written about Che Guevara today. While not exactly a related topic, I thought it was worth providing a quick link to the article.

Dear Straight Dope:

A lot of people are using and promoting the image of Che Guevara, selling shirts, etc. What does anyone really know about this guy? What impact or achievements did he have? How does “history” regard him and what he did? Was he much like Fidel? What did he want for the Cuban people/peasants of the world and the USA? What’s the real deal on this guy? –Biff, Planet Earth

SDSTAFF Bricker replies:

Che Guevara was a self-sacrificing revolutionary who gave up a comfortable bourgeois existence to fight for the impoverished and oppressed, a staunch believer in the cause who rejected the trappings of power to return to the battlefield.

Or he was a violent, cold-blooded killing machine, a sociopathic hooligan who exulted in the death of his enemies, mismanaged the Cuban economy, and won battles by bribing his opponents to surrender in advance.

Like other polarizing political legends, the “real deal” about Che Guevara depends largely on whom you ask, and through what political lens your source views the world.

For those interested, the rest of the article is here.