Que Viva El Che

Thirty-seven years ago today Ernesto “Che” Guevara, Latin American revolutionary and icon, was killed in Bolivia. To commemorate his life and to clelebrate his continuing inspiration to progressive-minded people throughout the world, every October 8th is known as “El Día del Guerrillero Heroico” … Day of the Heroic Guerilla.

Tonight, in the National Conservatory of Music, there was an amazing cultural event of radical and revolutionary readings, speeches, poetry, and music. I’m talking about the kind of music that makes you want to cheer and dance and clap your hands! Beautiful, moving, soul-stirring music.

Or so I’m told. Sadly I spent the night watching cable tv in my apartment on my new television set.

No, no, no… just kidding. I haven’t even bought the tv yet. And there was no way I was going to miss this concert. In part because I love the music. But also because it’s the perfect way to catch-up with all my far-flung lefty friends. (I think I knew half of the folks in attendance!)

It was a wonderful start to a promising weekend, that includes the arrival tomorrow morning of my dear friend Susan Goins-Eplee, who is serving as translator for a visiting workcamp to Huehuetenango.

In closing, since Che also serves as an icon and inspiration for this website, let me end this journal entry with his words:

"Déjeme decirle, a riesgo de parecer ridículo, que el revolucionario verdadero esta guiado por grandes sentimientos de amor."

"Let me say at the risk of seeming ridiculous, that the true revolutionary is guided by great feelings of love. "