What was Che Guevara's Philosophy on Life?

[Spiritual Minded]

I saw this quote in someone's signature: "Ultimately, all true revolutionaries are motivated by love." - Che

Love for what? People? Righteousness? What exact what his motives? Does anyone here know if Che Guevara's had a philosophy on life? And do any of yall know if he ever commented upon people like Mahatma Gandi, Martin Luther King and Jesus? (If so please post quotes).

(Edited by Spiritual Minded at 1:57 pm on Aug. 4, 2002)

[Red Anarchy]

I think it's love for justice

" If you tremble with indignation at every injustice, you're a comrade of mine"

"Above all, always be capable of feeling deeply any injustice committed against anyone, anywhere in the world. This is the most beautiful quality in a man. "

[Spiritual Minded]

Justice in itself, or justice because you actually care for other people than yourself.

[Supermodel]

Because the only way for communism to work is for everyone to love all mankind and to love the work they have to do for the betterment of mankind, even if the benefits do not accrue to you or your family.

If Freud were alive, he would say Che was talking about sex.....

[Spiritual Minded]

Hahahaha...

I think you're right the only way Socialism can work is if we LOVE eachother! BUT... how do you explain all the people he killed "for the cause"?

Peace

[Supermodel]

He killed them because they pissed him off.

[honest intellectual]

The quote is from 'Man and Socialism in Cuba' :

"Within the country the leadership has to carry out its vanguard role, and it must be said with all sincerity that in a real revolution, to which one gives himself entirely and from which he expects no material remuneration, the task of the revolutionary vanguard is at one and the same time glorious and agonizing.

At the risk of seeming ridiculous, let me say that the true revolutionary is guided by a great feeling of love. It is impossible to think of a genuine revolutionary lacking this quality. Perhaps it is one of the great dramas of the leader that he must combine a passionate spirit with a cold intelligence and make painful decisions without contracting a muscle. Our vanguard revolutionaries must idealize this love of the people, the most sacred cause, and make it one and indivisible. They cannot descend, with small doses of daily affection, to the level where ordinary men put their love into practice."

So love for people.

SM, don't say things like that. Che killed people because he believed it was for the greater good i.e. the cause of socialism and equality

[Spiritual Minded]

More thoughts anyone?^^^up

[mujer revolucionaria]

I have not read all of Guevara's war diaries, and I have not read his thoughts on killing in war. but I thought maybe this quote could be helpful. This comes from the book written by Haydee Santamaria about the Moncada attack. She was one of two women who participated in the military action. These are thoughts that are almost directly mirrored in Casto's History Will Absolve Me speech, which I could find as well.....but its early and I am tired. I think this is a general feeling among the revolutionaries, so I am assuming Che likely thought along a similar line.

"'I was moved for some time by the first man I saw die - a man who had gone there to fight. When I saw his body fall, it disturbed me so much for that a long time I could not forget his falling.

But I dont mean to imply that all this made me weaken and stop looking and stop seeing them fall. We were not doing it for pleasure; it was a neccessity.

I believe it takes a great effort to be violent, to go to war. But one has to be violent and go to war when there is good reason. And what you cannot lose in the face of it all is sensibility. You must keep the same human qualities you had before you started killing. It is painful to kill, but if it is neccessary, you must do it"

If anyone wants me to find Castro's words on this, let me know I have the speech in a book right next to me.

[Red Revolution]

Love is to widely used a word.

[Spiritual Minded]

Mujer revolucionaria: thank you! (i want it!! hehe)