Hollywood Idolizes Che Guevara, a Brutal Communist Cuban Revolutionary

I was watching a very intriguing episode of Glen Beck on the Fox News Channel on Monday March 29, 2010 when he brought up a discussion on a radical named Che Guevara. Just by looking at this name you may not know who it is, but you may be surprised to know that he has actually turned out to be quite a pop culture icon in many areas of the world (even in the United States). So, who exactly is Che Guevara?

There are many words that can be used to describe Che Guevara (as seen on Wikipedia). Some of these words are intellectual, diplomat, author, guerrilla leader, and a true Marxist. Oh yeah, and a cold blooded killer. He was one of the most significant leaders in the Cuban Revolution that took place in the mid to late 1950's. As a matter of fact, he was Fidel Castro's right hand man and he helped him overthrow the original government of Cuba. In the process, Che killed hundreds or maybe even thousands of men who tried to stop the revolution. He was described as a very harsh disciplinarian. He even supported China's communist ways.

So, what is the significance of this information? Hmm, let's see, maybe that he has become a pop culture icon? Even here in the United States, people wear T-shirts with his face on them and people even wear chains that show his face (yes Johnny Depp, we're talking about you). Heck, the proof can be seen at the Coolspotter Web site. There are numerous photos that show Depp wearing the pendant. To be fair, Johnny Depp is not the only star to wear something showing Che's face. The rapper Jay-Z has even been seen wearing a T-shirt showing the face of the guerilla (see here). Also, Che's image has even been used to sell beer! He face has also appeared on tattoos, hats, posters, and bikinis. What exactly has the world come to?

To top it all off, a movie titled The Motorcycle Diaries was released in 2004 (IMDB). The movie, which described the early life of Che, won an Oscar in 2005 for the Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures. Time Magazine even gave him the title as one of the 100 most influential people of the 20^th century. Today, rebellious youth use him as a symbol for their rebellion. Yes, a communist, Marxist, brutal killer has been idolized by the people who he sought to slaughter. Don't you love the irony? Thanks to Hollywood for idolizing Che Guevara and passing it on to the millions of impressionable people across the U.S.A.

Sources:

"Che Guevara," Wikipedia The Free Encyclopedia.

"Celebrities Who Use a Che Guevara Necklace Pendant," Coolspotters.com.

Internet Movie Database, http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0318462/awards

"Che Guevara: The Movie," GeoClan.com.