Ernesto "Che" Guevara Signed Banknotes

[Fulanito de Tal]

When the 26th of July Movement took control of Cuba, many industries were nationalized. One of them was the banking industry, of which Ernesto "Che" Guevara became president of. Che was a nickname given to him because it means friend in Argentinian, his nationality. As with all banknotes, they need a signature to validate their value. Dr. Guevara's signature was on the banknotes while he was president. The thing is, he didn't sign the bills "Ernesto Guevara", but as "Che". That's would be the equivalent of US bills being signed as "Buddy" instead of "Tim Geithner" or whomever :lol:. I think this shows the modesty and simplicity in the revolution, Cuban culture, and Che himself.

Below is a scan of a 10 pesos bill I have with Che's signature on it.

http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h376/fulanitodetal46/CheBill.jpg

[Fulanito de Tal]

Also, in Cuba, Che is not know as Che, but as El Che [The Friend]. He's not seen as just a friend. He's is The Friend. People refer to him as El Che and calling him Che only sticks out. Similar to a an attack on the palace versus The Attack on the Palace (http://www.ecured.cu/index.php/Asalto_al_Palacio_Presidencial).

[CHE with an AK]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/48/CheGuevaraSignature.svg/110px-CheGuevaraSignature.svg.png (http://www.revleft.com/wiki/File:CheGuevaraSignature.svg)




"Man truly achieves his full human condition when he produces without being compelled by the physical necessity of selling himself as a commodity."
— Che Guevara, Man and Socialism in Cuba
At this stage, Guevara acquired the additional position of Finance Minister, as well as President of the National Bank. These appointments, combined with his existing position as Minister of Industries, placed Guevara at the zenith of his power, as the "virtual czar" of the Cuban economy. As a consequence of his position at the head of the central bank, it was now Guevara's duty to sign the Cuban currency, which per custom would bear his signature. Instead of using his full name, he signed the bills solely "Che." It was through this symbolic act, which horrified many in the Cuban financial sector, that Guevara signaled his distaste for money and the class distinctions it brought about. Guevara's long time friend Ricardo Rojo later remarked that "the day he signed Che on the bills, (he) literally knocked the props from under the widespread belief that money was sacred."

Guevara's first desired economic goal, which coincided with his aversion for wealth, was to see a nation-wide elimination of material incentives in favor of moral ones. He viewed capitalism as a "contest among wolves" where "one can only win at the cost of others," and thus desired to see the creation of a "new man and woman." Guevara continually stressed that a socialist economy in itself is not "worth the effort, sacrifice, and risks of war and destruction" if it ends up encouraging "greed and individual ambition at the expense of collective spirit." A primary goal of Guevara's thus became to reform "individual consciousness" and values to produce better workers and citizens. In his view, Cuba's "new man" would be able to overcome the "egotism" and "selfishness" that he loathed and discerned was uniquely characteristic of individuals in capitalist societies. In describing this new method of "development", Guevara stated:

"There is a great difference between free-enterprise development and revolutionary development. In one of them, wealth is concentrated in the hands of a fortunate few, the friends of the government, the best wheeler-dealers. In the other, wealth is the people’s patrimony."



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Che_Guevara