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

[the last donut of the night]

With due respect to all sides on this question -- I find it much more hopeful to see a young person displaying Che rather than Rush Limbaugh or Sarah Palin. I agree that Che was far too committed to socialism to ever embrace a personality cult built around himself. However, wearing a Che T-shirt often times does express a radical point of view. We socialists have a right to honor and espouse th ideas of our martyrs and key historical figures. I have a number of Che items purchased at the Che Store and Radical Jack -- it's a radical political statement that I like to make, and it still jolts some diehards Republicans and bourgeois libertarians. Good! Besides, if we're going to start complaining about capitalists making money off of socialism, we'd probably have to recall the Communist Manifesto and Das Kapital. Maybe a t-shirt will inspire the reading of Man and Socialism in Cuba or Guerrilla Warfare or Reminiscences on the Cuban Revolution. It is possible to hope.

Your tendency is Democratic Socialists of America. Thus why above post is complete bull.

[ComradeMan]

I own a Che T-shirt, have an anniversary watch (made in China) but have also read his books and his own private anthology. I know what you mean, there's a kind of "Student Chic" that promotes El Che as nothing more than a fashion icon. But there again, how many people wear crosses and know little about Jesus (the real Jesus!!!) and so on. How many neo-nazis have read Mein Kampf... if they can read books that is!

If you become a symbol then it is inevitable. El Che is no longer about Ernesto Guevara the man, but El Che the symbol.

It irritates me too, but perhaps the symbol is necessary in keeping the name alive, if the name is kept alive then the thoughts, words, books etc will be and so on.

What irks me is just who is making money out of it.... Perhaps if the money made from those souvenirs went to worthy causes, developing world charities and so on it would make a difference.

[ComradeRed22'91]

i honestly don't believe that anyone would wear a Che shirt without having some idea of what he stood for. Bob Marley, however, is another point.

[ellipsis]

i honestly don't believe that anyone would wear a Che shirt without having some idea of what he stood for.

Yah I have never actually met one of these people who don't even know who he is. Well maybe me when I was like 15. and this guy:

[Drace]

i honestly don't believe that anyone would wear a Che shirt without having some idea of what he stood for. Bob Marley, however, is another point.

I remember someone posted a story on here that they said "I like your shirt" to someone wearing a che shirt and they replied "yeah, I love Bob Marley too!"

[REVLEFT'S BIEGGST MATSER TROL]

The whole crap about idealistic lefties wearing Che shirts without knowing who the fuck he was is so overblown imo.

And besides that, who really cares? He's become an icon for "general lefty dissent", nobody wears his face to remonstrate with the man anymore really.

[APathToTake]

I agree, I believe most people who wear the shirt do have a rough idea of what he stood for. It's no where near the same league as trendy kids buying £30 shirts, of retro rock bands, pretending they give a shit about them.

Agreed, there are some that wear the shirt to be fashionable, but it's a bit overblown.

And I also think it does help spread the message. When I was younger, getting bombarded with pictures of Che, it sparked my curiosity that would eventually lead me to where I am now.

[cleef]

lol some guy i spoke to seemed to be under the impression that he had something to do with cigar production haha

[Shitfaced]

Yes, this whole che on t-shirts thing has gone way to far, but you know what i hate more, people assuming your some trend following poser for having a che related thing.

[Crusade]

I wear shirts with . At least then people can be sure they're speaking to a fellow communist. Or a freedom hating commie fascist

[AK]

I wear shirts with . At least then people can be sure they're speaking to a fellow communist. Or a freedom hating commie fascist

You forgot godless scum of the earth. Yeah I agree, this Che shit's gone too far; his image is a tool in supporting the system he wanted to destroy. Ironic, eh? His image is also used just to show some sort of "teen rebellion" and whatnot. Che would turn in his grave to see the world of today.

[Ztrain]

How ironic

[bawbag]

It is a very good idea and I believe I am proof of that. I saw him on countless t-shirts and asked my dad who the f**k is that guy? Then he told me it was Che Guevara and being a child of the google age I was up and on the internet in minutes looking to find out who Che Guevara was and that is how I got into socialism and communism etc, I just fell in love with Che's idea of mankind acting on morals and ethics as opposed to acting on their own selfishness, I also loved his hatred for exploitation. Had it not been for Che Guevara t-shirts I would still be a selfish little capitalist with the wrong idea and principles.

Now that I know who he is I really really want a Che T-shirt but even though considering how they benefited me, I keep thinking it is just so hypocritical, I got one as a gift for christmas but I don't know where it was bought and it sits in my wardrobe waiting to be worn but I argue with myself that if I wear it I may be selling my soul to the capitalists.

[TheSamsquatch]

It's just like the situation with those that wear a band's shirt for whatever reason, KNOWING that they don't listen to the band's music.
Somebody wearing a Che shirt that doesn't know the first thing about him, gives a bad name to those that understand who he was and what he did that choose to wear a Che shirt. I agree that every shirt should come with literature, or you should have to take a basic test on him to be able to buy his memorabilia.

[RATM-Eubie]

I read Che i know who he was and yes i own a shirt of his

[Lulznet]

Its embarrassing to see someone in the Che shirt due to the fact that they don't understand what the shirt even represents...

Even then if they did understand they're likely buying said shirt for 20 dollars or more from a company that doesn't even have any allegiance to the meaning behind the shirt. And making it worse the shirt was likely produced in a sweatshop.

[Invincible Summer]

Its embarrassing to see someone in the Che shirt due to the fact that they don't understand what the shirt even represents...

Even then if they did understand they're likely buying said shirt for 20 dollars or more from a company that doesn't even have any allegiance to the meaning behind the shirt. And making it worse the shirt was likely produced in a sweatshop.

Then you might as well destroy anything you have that has to do with anything, since it was most likely produced by a company that has no allegiance with ____, and was made in a sweatshop

[Lulznet]

Then you might as well destroy anything you have that has to do with anything, since it was most likely produced by a company that has no allegiance with ____, and was made in a sweatshop

Excuse me for thinking its rather ironic that an Anti-Capitalist revolutionary would be on a sweatshop made T-Shirt.

[tbasherizer]

it's therefore oxymoronical to buy a book on Greenpeace.

Be real people - you can't stop something like it. Without that trademarked face...I bet alotta members here wouldn't be members, because they would've never been exposed to the revolution.

If I didn't see someone wearing that RATM Che Guevara shirt - I doubt I would've bought/read Jon Lee Anderson's book.

my 2 cents.

You have to admit, however, that the band Rage Against the Machine is pretty committed to their message. Well, Zach and Tom are at least. I'd love to get a Che shirt, but I never happen upon them when I have money to spare. Instead I'm thinking of saving up for a T-shirt press and making a bunch of far-left shirts myself.

[Veg_Athei_Socialist]

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

So wait, the money goes to the site? I could live with that.