So I'm doing a school project on Che

[MustCrushCapitalism]

Pretty awesome, eh? The project is a research paper on someone who you consider a hero. The funny part is that you're supposed to relate it to a Robert Kennedy quote. :lol:

Share your own experiences of dragging the revolution into schoolwork.

[Bostana]

Not to long ago I posted a thread on how to include the Revolutionary Communist theories in my version of Martin Luther's I have a Dream speech.

[Agent Ducky]

I have to do a cause-and-effect research paper for English class so I'm doing my project about about what caused the CNT-FAI anarcho-syndicalists to be unsuccessful during the Spanish Civil War.

[Susurrus]

I had to do an assignment that asked about how we would solve the economic crises. World communist revolution would do it. Also I did a profile of Emma Goldman for a history class, and was asked to teach a couple classes on the history of communism.

[TheGodlessUtopian]

I wrote a similar paper on Che... did well.

As for me during my ENG101 class I incorporated socialism into every paper! My teacher loved me :cool:

[Ostrinski]

I also did a paper on Che last year:wub:. I don't have it anymore unfortunately, I wrote it for school. Put a lot of work into it though.

[TheGodlessUtopian]

I also did a paper on Che last year:wub:. I don't have it anymore unfortunately, I wrote it for school. Put a lot of work into it though.

My paper in contrast I pumped out in 40mins... of course, I didn't have a choice in the matter as it was the essay I had to write in order to pass my English GED test.

[MustCrushCapitalism]

As for me during my ENG101 class I incorporated socialism into every paper! My teacher loved me :cool:

Nice, there.

I do remember relating some essay on the play "A Raisin in the Sun" to socialism, but there are some literary works where it'd just be... impossible.

...unless someone can write a revolutionary leftist critique of Romeo & Juliet. Then I'd be impressed.

[TheGodlessUtopian]

...unless someone can write a revolutionary leftist critique of Romeo & Juliet. Then I'd be impressed.

...well, I can stretch things quit a bit so I might be able to do it.... first I will need to read said book though.lol

[Aloysius]

Last year, we were supposed to make some travel brochures and I made mine on Cuba.

My evil-as-fuck teacher said the brochures were supposed to be as factual as possible.
When she gave it back, I had points marked off for inaccurate information. About food. And the climate. And the US's embargo against Cuba.

Of course, the little blurb on the back that said "This brochure was not commissioned by the Communist Party of Cuba, blah-blah blahblahblah."
And then this picture: http://www.tvcamaguey.co.cu/images/stories/clasificadas/efemerides/efe_pcc.gif

[Sam_b]

Once as an undergrad I had a presentation topic on the Central & East European economy, into which I was able to namedrop the IST sections of several countries. Not particularly 'revolutionary' however.

[A Revolutionary Tool]

Presented a oral report about Lenin's life to the class in which I was supposed to give it like I was Lenin. Spent most of the time talking about Lenin's theoretical works which obviously made me go a little into Marx. The same year I wrote my research paper on the events that were happening in Nepal back when it looked like the Maoists were actually going to challenge the bourgeoisie :rolleyes:

Senior year I did a research paper on illegal immigration which meant I spent a lot of time criticizing American foreign/economic policies with the conclusion that capitalism ultimately sucks. Same year I did my final research paper on the Greek economic crisis, which of course meant lots of anti-capitalist messages with a socialist conclusion. Many other papers I wrote with an obvious anti-capitalist mentality with lots of references to Marx and my teachers always loved my writings(Even the conservative ones) and I always got A's or high B's on them. Now if only I did regular homework more often, I may have gotten good grades in English. Same goes with history.


unless someone can write a revolutionary leftist critique of Romeo & Juliet. Then I'd be impressed. Of course you could write a paper about Romeo and Juliet from a revolutionary leftist POV!

[MustCrushCapitalism]

Here's the final product. Terrible I know.

Seven billion people are currently living out their lives on this planet. (Coleman) Of these, how many will have their names etched into history, and be remembered many years from now? A few small few. But what is the factor, the element that produces such durable and long-standing memories, engravings into the great book of history? Robert Kennedy once said that “Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope.” Reiterating Kennedy’s point – one who battles, and fights against the injustice they see in the world – is a true hero. This strain of hero would fight for the wellbeing of others, showing true selflessness and resolution to fight injustices in the world. When one does such things, they send forth a ripple of hope, inspiring others to take part in the universal struggle against injustice. Based upon Kennedy’s account, one exemplary example of a hero would be Ernesto “Che” Guevara. Che Guevara was an opponent to injustice everywhere, challenging both the imperialist powers of the world and the global capitalist system, and for these reasons, he is undoubtedly one of the greatest heroes to walk the face of the earth.

Che Guevara was an avid reader in his youth, particularly taking an interest in revolutionary socialist and Marxist literature. (Miller 30) Che, who was a medical student in his youth, traveled throughout Latin America, and witnessed firsthand the exploitation and poverty that capitalism brought his home, (“On Revolutionary Medicine”) one time noting that he was not permitted to treat a patient who could not afford a procedure, instead being told to let them die. Che was disgusted at the thought of this. After reading Marx, who formulated the Marxist ideology in his famous work, the Communist Manifesto, Che was convinced that Marxism was the means to create a better world, without capitalist exploitation. (30)

Another major influence on Che was another famous Marxist revolutionary – Vladimir Lenin, who was the driving force behind the first communist revolution in history. Lenin led the Russian Revolution in 1917, against Czar Nicholas II, the brutal monarch of Russia who conducted the pogroms, violent attacks on Jewish Russians, as well as leading Russia into ruin in World War I. With the Russian people unable to withstand the malevolent rule of the Czars any longer, Lenin was able to take power and establish the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the first socialist state in existence. Che admired Lenin because he was a “man of action”, who spent time both writing theoretical works about the struggle against capitalism and imperialism, and actively fought against them. Che Guevara is definitively comparable to Vladimir Lenin in this. (Miller 30)

Che Guevara was a firm believer in anti-imperialism, and appropriated most of his life to this cause. In a speech to the United Nations on December 11th of 1964, he was quoted as saying that “Peaceful coexistence among nations does not encompass coexistence between the exploiters and the exploited.” (“At the United Nations”) This statement refers to imperialist exploitation of the developing world – or most specifically, in his case, exploitation of Latin America by the United States. One example of this would be the 1973 military coup of democratically elected President Salvador Allende of Chile, by Augusto Pinochet, who, with the backing of the United States, would go on to torture or kill 28,000 Chileans. (Kandell) Events such as these would drive Che to hate imperialism and the United States for its savage domination of the developing world. He would harshly criticize the United States not only for its ravaging of Latin America, but for its invasions of Vietnam, Korea, and Cuba, as well as the murder of Patrice Lumbumba in the Congo. (“At the United Nations”) Che believed that socialism was the way for the developing world, embracing the anti-imperialist and socialist ideology of Marxism-Leninism. (Miller 69)

It can be seen that Che was a fierce opponent of imperialism and capitalism, but what methods did he use to combat these? Che said once, “In a revolution, one wins or dies.” (“Che Guevara: quote on revolution”) Che was a proponent of revolution, or armed struggle, using guerilla warfare. Che developed his own method of guerilla warfare, which was used extensively in the Cuban Revolution. This method is known as Foco. Foco warfare is a theory of rural guerilla warfare used to overthrow dictatorial governments, in which a small group of guerillas works to gain sympathizers among the populace, inciting the government to crack down on supporters, creating a wider insurrection to overthrow the government in question. (“foco.”) Foco was an effective method of removing dictators from power, as can be seen from the Cuban Revolution.

Perhaps one of the most notable events in Che’s revolutionary career was the Cuban Revolution of 1959. At the time, Cuba had been a victim of imperialism, with American-backed dictator Fulgencio Batista in power, Cubans were enduring a period of repression and corruption in government. Batista used force to crack down on dissidents and censored all press critical of him, while pocketing public funds for his own personal use. (“Fulgencio Batista.”) One notable critic of Batista who became a political prisoner under his regime was Fidel Castro. Fidel Castro would, however, utilize his trial to make his famous “History will absolve me”speech, calling for a return to democracy, honest governance, educational reform to make public education available to all Cubans, redistribution of land, and an end to governmental corruption. (Hamilton) Che Guevara would eventually come to meet Fidel Castro and his brother Raúl Castro in Mexico, where they would establish the 26th of July Movement, which would fight a revolution against Batista in order to enact the reforms proposed by Castro. In May of 1959, the Cuban Revolution came to an end, with Fulgencio Batista removed from power and the Cuban revolutionaries enacting the promised reforms. (“26th of July Movement.”)

Fidel Castro once said of Che said “One of his outstanding characteristics is immediate willingness, instantaneous readiness to volunteer for the most dangerous mission.” (“Fidel Castro’s Eulogy for Che Guevara.”) Despite the great successes of the Cuban Revolution, Che never lost his desire to fight against imperialism elsewhere. Che served as Minister for Industry in Cuba for a few years (“Che Guevara”) but eventually made the decision to leave Cuba, and fight against tyranny elsewhere. In his farewell letter to Fidel Castro, who was by this time a close friend of Che’s, he expressed his utmost sadness at having to leave Cuba, but noted that he was more needed elsewhere. He resigned from all of his positions in the Cuban government and his Cuban citizenship. He would say to Castro that “I carry to new battlefronts the faith you’ve taught me. The feeling of fulfilling the most sacred of my duties – fighting against imperialism, wherever it may be”. (“Che Guevara: farewell letter (1965)."
In 1967, only 2 years after departing from Cuba, Che would bid to spread the revolution to the South American nation of Bolivia, with an aspiration that toppling the United States-backed government in Bolivia would be a stepping stone in achieving a revolution in his native country of Argentina. (Miller 10) On October 9th of that year, Che would die the same way he lived – fighting for the revolution. Due to the poor planning and lack of support for Che and his fellow revolutionaries in Bolivia, Che was unable to avoid capture by the Bolivian military and the American Central Intelligence Agency. (“Che Guevara.”) The next day, he would be executed by American-trained Bolivian soldiers. (10)

Despite the death of Che Guevara, the battle he fought is alive and well. Fidel Castro, in his eulogy for Che, would say that “They are mistaken if they believe his death is the death of his ideas.” (“Fidel Castro’s Eulogy for Che Guevara.”) This has shown itself to be true, as Che is seen as a martyr and hero among revolutionaries and anti-imperialists everywhere. (Miller 10) Latin American socialist and anti-imperialist leaders continue to extensively use his image as a symbol of the struggle against imperialism. On October 9th of 2007, 10,000 people, including many prominent anti-imperialists and socialists of the modern day, attended a memorial service for the 50th anniversary of Che’s death in Santa Clara, Cuba. President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela said, echoing the beliefs of Che, that “Latin America cannot continue being the backyard of American imperialism”, and called Che Guevara an “infinite revolutionary.” Evo Morales, the current President of Bolivia, the same country that Che was killed in, said that “[Che’s] heroic struggle and that of other revolutionaries will continue until savage capitalism is changed”, and that “Che lives.” (“Cuba pays tribute to Che Guevara.”)

Che Guevara was a man who dedicated most of his life, and ultimately sacrificed his life, to spreading socialist revolution and fighting against imperialism. His heroic battle against imperialism is truly a feat meriting being remembered as a hero – which he is to many in Latin America and worldwide already. With his struggle still being fought on strong in Latin America to this day, the massive effects of his legacy are undisputable. Indeed, it is difficult to dispute that, given the facts and details of his life, Che Guevara was a great hero.

[roy]

I did an essay last year on the Arab-Israeli conflict which basically ended in a call for worldwide revolution. It made perfect sense, I swear.

[Zav]

I put a revolutionary slant on most of my papers in high school. My favorite assignment was a one page essay on my 'American Dream'. Instead I did an eight page essay on why the 'American Dream' is a falsehood and a negative concept to pursue. I was explicitly radical in it, using terms like 'dialectical materialism', 'worker-controlled means of production', 'Anarchist-Communism', and 'mutual aid', and filled it with references to works by Goldman, Kropotkin, Proudhon, and Marx. The teacher was a liberal, but actually interrupted another class to tell me how awesome it was. Unfortunately I've long since lost the electronic copy of it, as that was over ten years ago.

[Nox]

I once had to write an essay for my History GCSE on whether Stalin or Lenin was more responsible for the creation of the USSR. Somehow I managed to come to the conclusion that Stalin was. That was back when I was a 'High School Stalinist' :cool:

[Landsharks eat metal]

I wrote a paper on how anarchism is being hijacked by mainstream culture or something like that in my freshman composition class.

The others were just me fucking around on tests and quizzes when I didn't know the answers. For my International Economic Issues class, the test asked something like "Why are Adam Smith's and David Ricardo's ideas so attractive to economists?" I had no idea what the hell the professor was actually asking, so I wrote about how economists are evil capitalists who haven't yet discovered the glories of communism. He just wrote on the side that he wasn't sure whether or not I was serious and that I hadn't really answered the question.

I've already told about this, I think, but in my English class this semester, I didn't feel like writing about something I had read in the national news for a quiz, so I wrote a rant against nationalism and some anarchist slogans at the bottom. The professor never returned this quiz, but I'm pretty sure he's not angry because he didn't flip out when I simply wrote "Fuck this" as an answer to one of his other quizzes.

[Aloysius]

An essay I recently finished was about how the US is a Shakespearean tragic "hero." 45/50, 5 points off for grammar. No-one ever told me that verb case had to agree in the same paragraph, so I felt a little bamboozled.

[arilando]

Pretty awesome, eh? The project is a research paper on someone who you consider a hero. The funny part is that you're supposed to relate it to a Robert Kennedy quote. :lol:

Share your own experiences of dragging the revolution into schoolwork.

What are you 14?

[Firebrand]

I remember somehow managing to put a marxist slant on an essay about buffy the vampire slayer (i was a bit shocked that my english teacher made us study that to be honest, but i figured if the teacher said it was ok to spend lessons watching crappy TV who was I to argue). Still can't remember how i did it, but I remember my english teacher being mildly impressed.

[Art Vandelay]

Throughout high school and now university, I have tried to put a leftist spin on nearly everything I have ever handed in.

[Ballyfornia]

I usually put a leftist spin on everything I have to write for school. I'm doing a history project on "State repression against the Black Panther Party" which goes to my end of the year mark.