No More Statues of Che By Matthew Brady and M. L. Brillman The Galway City Council scuttled plans to erect a statue to Ernesto “Che” Guevara but the very idea is repulsive to those who know about Guevara’s crimes. The plan to build the statue was apparently spearheaded by Irish Labour politician Billy Cameron. The Galway City Council approved an initial motion on March 3, 2012, and construction was slated for late 2012 or 2013 but never got off the ground due to widespread criticism, including public letters from U.S. Representatives Mario Diaz-Balart and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. The proposal itself reflects the success of the €he Guevara brand (“€” insertion is deliberate). The Cuban economy is built, in part, on the myth of a socialist heaven and Guevara’s role in that myth has been prepared, packaged and exported through books, postcards, photos, posters, paintings, videos, t-shirts, berets, and other paraphernalia. Indeed, unsavory characters have their admirers, but Guevara’s posthumous popularity as [...]
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