Che Guevara

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Che Guevara through time has been termed both a freedom fighter and a terrorist. The actions of Guevara throughout his life create a conundrum for some when they try to classify him because there are both good and perceived bad actions on his part. Before one can draw a specific conclusion as to what to classify him as, it is important to know his history and what motivated him during his life. Guevara came from rather humble beginnings. He was the son of a father who worked in a factory and mother that was a strong willed homemaker. He was the eldest of five children and was known to have the spirit of an individualist. Guevara was so much so an individualist that he and close friend set out across Latin America on motorcycles for a tour of the landscape. At the conclusion of his tour, Guevara attended medical school and became a doctor. At the conclusion of medical school Guevara embarked on a second trip through Latin America. It is this trip that is believed to have so greatly influenced Guevara that he gave up his young career as a doctor and become involved in politics. At the age of 25, Guevara was in Guatemala during the overthrow of the Arbenz government with the assistance of the United States instigated coup. The experience appears to have had a profound effect on his political evolution and was the benchmark for his later development as a revolutionary. As an open sympathizer of the overthrown government, Guevara was forced to flee the country (McCormick, 1998). Guevara developed in to a devoute Marxian Communist and Socialist. He believed in land distribution and equal assets for all. Income and wealth distibution was key to his motivations. Guevara fled to Mexico where met up with a charasmatic Cuban ... ... middle of paper ... ...ttack the innocent people of the United States negates any positive actions he may have taken. The battles that were waged against the militaries of other nations lend credence to his argument that he was a “freedom fighter”, however, his actions against those that did not agree with him politically and socially make him more of a terrorist. Guevara utilized fear and intimidation as a means to control individuals and gain compliance. He is widely regarded as a rigid man that had little patience and as such, lost many of his followers because of this. There are documented cases where Guevara executed followers in the field due to the belief that they had consumed more rations than they were permitted to. These actions were meant to control the group and assure that all complied with his wishes. This does not sound as though this is a “free” group of individuals.

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