Cobber
31st January 2002, 02:42
My first exposure to Che Guevara was in 1980 – I was 13 at the time and was finishing my first year of high school when the senior class staged a mock revolution (as part of their farewell) taking control of the school. One of these students wore a t-shirt with the famous image of Che upon it, another was dressed in fatigues and work a black beret…...
It wasn’t until 1997 my interest in Che was reignited – first reading “The Motorcycle Diaries”, then biographies on Fidel Castro and Che himself. Since that time I have tried to absorb as much of his writings as possible – with “The African Dream” being my current reading along with Mao’s “Red Book”.
So where do I place myself on the circle of politics – definitely not right, but how far left I don’t know. I am the son of an immigrant and work in a modest paying government job – a bureaucrat I suppose – but it is in a position that involves construction and housing. I have a mortgage that is like a weight around my neck – but I owe it to my children and wife to shelter them (and being a slave to a bank is never spoken). I teach my children the importance of sharing and selflessness…
I do know this - I do not like how my country’s (Australian) politicians pander to the whims of the US government; I do not like the self-serving double standard of US foreign policy; I accept that terrorism is a form revolutionary warfare, but do not agree with it.
Finally I believe that we all should work towards a common good and that our ideas should be shared and freely expressed. I hope that this forum will give me that insight and knowledge.
It wasn’t until 1997 my interest in Che was reignited – first reading “The Motorcycle Diaries”, then biographies on Fidel Castro and Che himself. Since that time I have tried to absorb as much of his writings as possible – with “The African Dream” being my current reading along with Mao’s “Red Book”.
So where do I place myself on the circle of politics – definitely not right, but how far left I don’t know. I am the son of an immigrant and work in a modest paying government job – a bureaucrat I suppose – but it is in a position that involves construction and housing. I have a mortgage that is like a weight around my neck – but I owe it to my children and wife to shelter them (and being a slave to a bank is never spoken). I teach my children the importance of sharing and selflessness…
I do know this - I do not like how my country’s (Australian) politicians pander to the whims of the US government; I do not like the self-serving double standard of US foreign policy; I accept that terrorism is a form revolutionary warfare, but do not agree with it.
Finally I believe that we all should work towards a common good and that our ideas should be shared and freely expressed. I hope that this forum will give me that insight and knowledge.