Why Che joined the 26th of July Movement

[Karl Marx's Camel]

I remember watching a small documentary from the Sierra Maestra where it was claimed Che saw Fidel Castro as an 'authentic leftist-bourgeois', whatever that means.
When no other than himself and Raúl were communists, why did Che decide to dedicate himself to a non-communist, liberal/green revolution?

[Severian]

If you pick up "Episodes of the Cuban Revolutionary War", I think he explains his reasons.

But why do you have such trouble with the idea of communists joining a non-communist revolutionary movement that would mark a step forward for working people? Have you read the Manifesto?

[somebodywhowantedtoleaveandnotcomeback]

If right now a bunch of liberals would come to you and say "We want to overthrow the Bush government in the US and install a more liberal system, we need your help.", what would you do? Don't you think it would be an improvement (though not a final solution) and wouldn't you rather help these liberals then let Bush stay in power?

[Severian]

Crappy analogy. The July 26th movement were certainly not liberals. The liberals were people like Prieto.

The July 26th movement were petty-bourgeois revolutionary democrats, with a program for land reform, Cuba's independence from imperialism, and other deepgoing measures benefitting working people.

And from there the revolution did develop into one that overthrew capitalism, after all!

[El Camarada]

Originally posted by [email protected] 30 2005, 09:08 AM
If right now a bunch of liberals would come to you and say "We want to overthrow the Bush government in the US and install a more liberal system, we need your help.", what would you do? Don't you think it would be an improvement (though not a final solution) and wouldn't you rather help these liberals then let Bush stay in power?
i totally agree. i mean lenin had to do a mildly the same thing. He helped set up a "Democratic" Government then a couple of months after over threw it. so in Che helping a group with leanings to helping workers he thought he would be helping (and ultimately he did).

just out of intrest, with totally no relavance, what happened to Alberto when Che was fighting for the Castro's? Did he just bugger off back to Argentina?

[Colombia]

Che never believed in the idea of party first, fighting later and if he had his way, his guerillas would never associate themselves for one ideology for these are the roots of a failed revolution of the old system.

The reason he joined them was quite clear. He wanted to liberate the people. One must also take into account that after Batista fell, the July 26th movement began to have less influence in the government. Perhaps this is because of Che?

[Simotix]

Originally posted by [email protected] 1 2005, 05:30 PM
Che never believed in the idea of party first, fighting later and if he had his way, his guerillas would never associate themselves for one ideology for these are the roots of a failed revolution of the old system.
Che was a Communist since he early traveling days.

You may be mistaken with Fidel who was not a communist (at first).

[Colombia]

Originally posted by [email protected] 1 2005, 07:45 PM
What are you talking about? Che was a communist, there's no mistaking that. Have you written anything he's written?

The July 26th Movement began to have less influence in the government after Batista fell? What?? The July 26th Movement had no influence in government before Batista fell, he was a dictator!

After the revolution all the revolutionary forces merged (RD, PSP, 26 July), and if any group had the most influence it would be 26 July; if any individual, Che.
I mean that he never associated himself to just one form of communist ideology such as Stalinism, Maoism, and so on.

Where have you heard they gained more influence. Were not former leaders of the 26 July arrested soon after the revolution for their dissaproval of it?

[aberos]

colombia is right. many high ranking members of the july 26th movement were tried by the military tribunal for holding counterrevolutionary sentiments after fidel had seized power because they did not like the leftist direction the movement was going in. although, many members of the other groups also faced the same consequences for resisting communism in cuba.

also, che never defined himself as a communist. although it was obvious that he was a leftist through and through, he made quite a career out of skirting the line to avoid labeling himself as a communist.

i think everyone in this thread is well aware of this, but i think maybe colombia's points were just misunderstood and perhaps not so well put?