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Honestly, I feel she should counter and refer the individual who threatened her with "referral" - to the review board. You want to teach lies to our children, you should be called out for it. Unbelievable. It's a black and white example of teaching hate and intolerance to young children. I've got her back 110 percent!

Ditto, they need some Cuban sensitivity training in their school. Bring in a few che survivors and let them hear the stories. Not unlike holocaust survivors. How dare they treat her this way!

I'm in LA. How do we back her? Can we get the address of the school and write some letters?

As a southern Californian, I can tell you this is the usual here. Between the teachers' union and pandering politicians, it is almost impossible to find any public statements hostile to Guevarra or any of the Castroites. I am reduced to asking anyone who wears a Che t-shirt if they also have a Himmler and if not a Charlie Manson as they seem to be into mass murderers. I am usually met with a blank stare.

The whitewash of communists has been going on in our schools for decades.

CubaWatch,
She hasn't got a chance. Both the union and the administration in almost any school district here would consider the poster to be hate speech. The truth no longer matters in our schools. The only thing that matters is making students, especially minorities, and idiot educators feel good about themselves.

Ken

While you have a point, I feel it's an honest way to say loudly and clearly: "I reject your falsehoods" and perhaps draw a little attention to this nonsense. Who knows, maybe it's a futile effort. I simply feel as though this woman could use the situation as a stage to point out the inherent bigotry and hatred exhibited by anyone expressing this sort of sick reverence for Che Guevara. I can hear my cousin Ruben in Havana now when I tell him about this load of crap, I swear, I think he'll sh&t himself.

Take care,

-AB

I agree with what Cubawatch suggests, I think she should call a local news action line and pitch it with like a first amendment rights problem. She did put her own poster and never called anyone else a lier, while the other teacher called her a lier. It may actually shed some light on Ché real story. One never knows, big things were all small once.

This is a perfect example of who the real "BIGOTS" are . . . the liberal left loves to throw that label quickly to those who differ from their position ... in order to shut them up! But they are the true intolerant of opposite views and try their best to suppress any facts or arguments that would shed light into their "phony" pillars of liberalism dogma.

Sonia, I agree with the previous comments. You have the right to express your opinion of "Che" and the Che myth first hand. More so than the teacher who attacked you, because your family life was directly impacted by Che's actions. Just like that of many Cubans. There are well-documented historical facts about the "real" che and not the "romantic/idealistic" motorcycle riding che. Don't let them intimidate you Sonia! That's what they want . . . !

BTW, I'm not even sure castro loved che . . . as part of the myth of the revolution, he has used che as another socialist propaganda tool . . .!
I wish you well :) Melek

"Liberals are very broadminded: they are always willing to give careful consideration to both sides of the same side." ~ Anonymous

sonia,GO GIRL...!!!!!!!...U R RIGHT AND I SUPPORT U A 120%....GOD BLESS YOU.

Sonia,

I am a university professor in Los Angeles and can empathize with your "Che" problem and the intolerance of Guevara- and Castro-supporting colleagues, as well as the surprise of other Los Angeles Latinos when you state your opposition to Cuba's current regime and its "heroes."

Hold your ground. Remember - YOU are a Cuban, not them. I hate resorting to this during arguments, but usually I point out to these intolerant people that Cuba is where I and my family was born - it is MY patria. My dad was starved in a forced labor camp. My grandparents never saw their children or grandchildren again. My uncles went to jail accused of being spies. Compared to anyone, especially in LA, we have earned the right to have a strong opinion about Cuba. Remind them that Che was not a Cuban.

I suspect your union will support you against any board actions. The teacher's union should be bigger than the local concentration of extreme-left teachers like in your school. They might be helpful in a First Amendment case like this.

Good luck. Let us know what happens. You did the right thing.

Jorge

Sonia, I am behind you 150%. You should make that stupid ignorant teacher read Humberto Fontova's book about che so he can see the truth, but then I am sure the ignorant, ill-informed teacher will also call the book a lie even though it is full of facts. Maybe you should protest the poster that says that Mexicans own this Country, that is down right hatred. Hold your ground and don't let anyone intimidate you, after all, you have the truth behind you!

Sonia, I'd like to add, that I'm also in the Los Angeles area, and if there is anything I can do to help, please email me. Ziva

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Ziva, Better yet, invite Fontova to come and talk to the students in that school.

Nahh... that would be "counter revolutionay propaganda ....

Not to change the subject but anyone aware that the Court Interpreters are on strike in Los Angeles County? --- Lots of cases being mishandled because of it. Big can of worms...

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Sonia, there are many teaching positions in Atlanta :) get out of that hell-hole!!! Best of luck -

I'm not surprised by what happened to Sonia, being that a good number of kids and adults will wear Che shirts everywhere. Last year I had a similar incident at school. The kid was going to walk in with a Che shirt and I told him that it was offensive to me. When he replied that he could care less, I called the office and requested a substitute immediately because I was sick. The next day I reported the incident; the Principal talked to the kid and also the parents. No more t-shirt. I even wore an anti-Che shirt to a school meeting to the surprise of many. I wanted to make a statement, considering that one of the Mexican-Am. teachers in the faculty is a devout chicano and Che lover. He wasn't perturbed by it.
Perhaps she should bring one of those t-shirts to a faculty meeting to give them something to talk about. We can't play sissy with these commies.

Bravo, Sonia!

Don't let this go: counter-punch. I think Cuba Watch's suggestion is excellent. Get the media involved. Perhaps some of the Los Angelinos who have offered to help you could bring Che victims to speak at your school. We can't let this go.

Eli Wiesel has put it best: evil continues to triumph when the truth is denied. This is why our testimony is so important.

We need to become as politely aggressive as the Italian-American and Jewish anti-defamation leagues. Look at all the misinformation they have helped to bury through their efforts.

I've had two run-ins with Che here at Yale: once at the Divinity School and another time at the Casa Cultural (for all hispanics). At the Divinity School they had posters of Che inviting the community to a "Celebration of the Cuban people." At the Casa Cultural they had actually stenciled Che's images on the walls, Warhol-style. Enough to give me vertigo. I raised a fuss, even lost my cool and let out a few malas palabras in English. Che came tumbling down.

We let them win once, on our own turf. We can't let them win again. The ideologues who favor Fidel and Che care nothing for truth. And they certainly do not care for politeness and fair play, which they tend to interpret as weakness. Most of them want to shove their version of history down everyone's throat. To stand up, as you did, is to ensure their failure.

See if you can get local TV involved.

Viva Sonia.....

Way to say what needed to be said!!! We support you tons. Even though in California this kind of thing isn't uncommon, we (as in the people who actually get it) need to keep on trucking!
WAY TO GO!!!!

Deacon, getting Fontova was the first thing I thought of, he´s terrific. He´s also not in LA! But I really support the idea of having Cuba survivors group who are available to speak at schools, etc. They could make such a difference! If any of our readers would like to volunteer or know of someone, please let us know.

As a lawyer, I think you'd have a pretty good case, and I bet there are some great lawyers in California who would be willing to take up the case if it (God forbid) ever came to that.

And that's really a funny statement, that minority opinions should not be expressed. REALLY? Challenge him on that one.

Contact me if you want some more legal thoughts on this, you have a really strong case, I believe.

Bravo, Sonia. They don't call it the Left Coast for nothing. What can I do - in a tangible way - to help you?

I just wanted to thank everyone for their kind and supportive words! I had no idea this would end up on the blog nor that such wonderful and educated people would offer their help! As soon as I find out exactly what is going on I will let everyone know. I also really like the idea of having survivors come to speak at the school. As I mentioned in my email, I have several family members I can talk to. They have always kept quiet about what happend in those prisons, but maybe this will move them to speak. THanks again!

She should put up a wall-length mural of Felix Rodriguez. That'll rile them up.

Sonia.... you should fight this thing to the end. As a future teacher in the very liberal city of Chicago, I have already been in many heated discussions with many students at my University (DePaul University) and at the high school were I am doing observation. The one thing that will help us defeat and stop spreading the lies of those Che loving infidels is the amount of evidence we have against them. Good luck and God bless you. If there is anything I can do to help just let me know.

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