Countless Che T-shirts, Hats, Lighters, etc...

Every now and then I see a person with a Che Shirt on. I know he doesn't know who or what he stood for. Im not sure if i should consider this promoting our cause or promoting coolness. people wear this stuff because they think it is cool to defy those who control them. That very well may be, but actions speak louder than words. am i wrong?

You are absolutely right. Few owners of a Che Tshirt know what he stood/stands for. It's a darn shame.

I absolutley agree. It seems Che has become more of a fashion statement rather than the true Revolutionary figure that he is.

I somewhat agree that is image is being capitalized on, and that some people dont know the first thing about him, howver in my oppinion, it could be far worse. its better to wear the face of a revolutionary and show others and make others form opinions and ask questions then not at all, at least it isnt the face of hitler or something. And besides, in this kind of society,think of it as more like using the capitalist machine to destroy it.

its makes others think, and it probably does spread our cause. but these guys that mostly wear it are like punks and goths. they will probably not do anything. its merely a cool factor *no offense to goths or punks out there*. there is no point in spreading a cause, if in the end it is an empty cause

I think that it is great if you buy the T-Shirts and other stuff from the right places, such as Che-Lives.com. This is good because you know that is is spent on a worthy cause (keeping this site up, and so on)

Also make sure you know what he stood for, dont get caught out! :hammer:

I heard something about the Guevara family coming out against the capitalization of his image.

To be honest I just laugh to myself when a see some rich kid wearing the face of a hardline Marxist-Leninist who had an interest in Maoism :lol:

Che shirts should come with literature on who Che was and what he stood for.

I'm a goth-punk, I wear Che shirts, and I'm a devoted Communist. It's not a cool factor, I'm making a statement.

I do know how you feel though, I've seen some dumbass preppy rich kids wearing Che shirts and it pissed me off because I know they have no idea who he was and what he stands for.

It is cool when someone who knows who Che was goes "do you know who that guy is?" and you can tell him stright up and there like "shit it's a commie", I love doing that to teachers.

i know, im not speaking about all goths/punks. im speaking of my experience. people who i have seen, wear it cause its merely a fashion statement.

Hell yes.

there's a funny che tshirt i've seen around toronto... under the che image, it says "i have no idea who this is". i had a good chuckle when i saw somebody wearing this shirt for the first time :lol:

you know what, if I can't be 1000% sure that the Che shirt was made with fair labor practices then fuck that shirt. Even if it was I would hope people would know who he was before they rock his image (as opposed to thinking he's Zach De La Rocha)

Actually a lot of people have thought he was Bob Marley.

I'm like yeah, It's a black shirt with Bob Marley wearing a red star beret.

Zack de la Rocha isn't as famous, only rockers know who he is, and then they'd probably be able to tell it's not him.

I would wear a Che shirt, but it is to worn by others who just try and act like they care. My Axis Of Justice shirt will do for now.


People do not really know who ZDLR is, they know who RATM is.

Accually I have discouraged a few people from buying Che gears and that and just by telling them it goes against everything he stood for. Yeah Punk Rocker it's the best feeling when some white coller conservitive walks past and gives you a side ways glance, I don't know why aye, mind you they probly just think your a steet punk and dosen't hav a clue, little do they know............

[QUOTE]I heard something about the Guevara family coming out against the capitalization of his image.

It's true. Che's family and the photographer of the famous Che picture have been trying to prevent the selfish use of Che's image. I think that the use of Che's picture by Smirnoff caused this uproar.

Fuck yeah I love that feeling! I actually have another shirt with Lenin and the hammer and sickle on it too.

I'm sure Che appreciates the commericalism that surrounds his image today. I do own a few Che shirts, and wear them occasionaly, but I always keep in mind who he was and what he stood for.

Unlike some people who thought it was just a "cool" shirt....

Yeah i'm the same way with my EZLN shirt.

Are there any websites where I could get a leftist T shirt not made in a sweatshop and the proceeds go to a good cause instead of the pocket of a billionaire capitalist pig?

I believe words can be AS powerful if not more powerful than action. What brings people under something? What is the most powerful demonstration of control? Propaganda! The American recruitment poster that had a man pointing, saying 'America needs YOU' is better remembered than any military parade - battle or nuclear bomb test...

What's the stupidest fad? People wearing Che T-shirts, or people complaining about this?

Um people wearing Che T-shirts and not caring about what he symbolized. We are not complaining, we are just criticizing. If anyone is complaining, you're the only one.

If Che were alive and saw his image being capitalized and made into a pop culture icon, he would definitely not be too happy.

exactly. no one is complaining. we are exercising our right to free speech. its called an opinion and every one is voicing theres. its not necessarily a fad if everyone feels the same way. The mass producing of his image went against everything che believed in. Mass Production, cheap labor, the list goes on.

Its definatily a good thing in my opinion. If it gets one more kid askin his parents who it is, then doing a bit of research about what he stood for, then its a good thing. i just bought a cap from Che-Lives.com. very nice

you're right, it could be a good thing because after all, it is highly probable that capitalism will dig itself a grave.

Exactly!

You could buy your CHe gear from this site. You know where the money is going and its a good cause.

It pisses me off when anybody wears a shirt that has CCCP or Che on it and they have Hollister-sweatshop jeans on or something underneath it. But then I feel like i'm being too much of an elitist and then I feel all guilty and shit.

Im not sure even if the person is wearing a che shirt and they know what he stood for if it still makes it right. in the end it is pure irony. I mean think about it. it went against everything he stood for. Im sure if Che came back alive today and saw his image plastered everywhere with such impunity, he would be appaled.

I got a Che shirt for my birthday once... I wore it a bit, but now it's too small. On the sleeve it said "viva la revolution" and people would be like "who's that, bob marly?" And I'd tell them about him and what he stood for. Now, isn't that a service to us all?

:D he, your probably better than i would be in that situation. i wouldn't even bother to explain, I'd just call them a retard and then leave

Not everyone feels the same way on the issue, I think thats the whole point of this debate. Honostly, I do think che would be real pissed off at seeing kids wearing his image and not knowing what it means, however i dont think its that big of a deal as some people make it. If someone wants to wear a che t shirt or a CCCP t shirt or a lenin t shirt or a h/s t shirt, whatever. I mean there isn't any convenient way around sweatshop / cheap labour clothes in a capitalist society, so might as well make the best of it, wear something revolutionary instead of the ugly crap that most stores sell. Be your own billboard, make a statement, dont let other brands use you as thier billboard by wearing big nike swooshes or three stripes right across your chest. Personally, i think che would be more appalled by that then by his face on a shirt.

For my Che necklace I wear, so far I have gotten:

Jesus (x 4). Fucking sick.
Bob Marley (x3)
God (x1)
Castro (x1) Hey, at least they were close...

HAHAHA. Because God and Jesus totally look like Che. I've been debating whether to get a Che shirt or not, because I don't want to look like another idiot who walks around with a Che shirt just to look like a rebel. Normally I just wear generic brands with no label or anything, just a blank t-shirt and pants from a thrift shop. It's cheap, it's easy, and you don't support sweatshop labor or large corporations.

Yeah everyone knows what that god guy looks like

http://landru.i-link-2.net/shnyves/G...s_Adam.sm.jpeg

eh <_<