October 10, 2008
Tears from Vienna
It is the worst type of bigotry imaginable. The celebration of the extermination of what were initially hundreds of Cubans which later became thousands by Ernesto “Che” Guevara stands as a shout of hatred against the Cuban people. In much the same way that Vienna’s most infamous son, Adolf Hitler, described the Jews as a "bacillus”,"a “boil” that must be "lanced" from the body of the "fatherland," the city’s Mayor Michael Haeupl has declared his disdain for the Cuban people with the unveiling yesterday, of a 28-inch bust of the man Cubans would eventually come to now as “El Carnicero de La Cabaña" (The Butcher of La Cabaña).
Amid shouts of criticism, Haeupl unveiled the statue in a park along the Danube River. One news story released by Earth Times pointed out that "right-wing parties said a ‘murderer’ should not be honored in this way." While a statement of fact, one must also realize that it is not a question of condemnation by either right or left. It is, rather, a question of humanity across the board. Most human beings on either side of the political spectrum now see Guevara as the ruthless killer he was, yet there is still much work to be done. There are still those, like Haeupl, who concern themselves more with the fashionable – albeit sick – image of Che, rather than the reality.
While it would be easier to simply react in disgust – hang our heads down in sorrow over this latest statement of indifference regarding the Cuban nightmare – it is our responsibility to remain proud, to wave the banner of our fallen family members high in the face of such outright bigotry and expose the carefully constructed lies surrounding individuals the likes of Guevara for what they are – nothing less than bigotry from an ignorant minority.
Indignation is our right in this case, however, indignation lacking substance is merely rhetoric. Tell your stories to the masses. Our dead must never be forgotten and while some may view us as lesser-beings, it is our duty to respond with truth, delivered in a firm and objective manner.
In memory of the dead and as a condemnation of the travesty recently visited upon Austria, I submit to you a piece I posted here at Babalu long ago:
Posted by Anatasio Blanco at October 10, 2008 09:40 AM
Comments
The great director Billy Wilder, a refugee from Nazism, once quipped that the Austrians were geniuses because they had convinced the world that Beethoven was Austrian and Hitler was German. This monument, unveiled in a country that welcomed the Anschluß in 1938 by marching and raising their hands in salute to Hitler, and the National Socialist party, should not come as a surprise to any of us.
Posted by: George L. Moneo ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.babalublog.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at October 10, 2008 10:10 AM
It's not so much bigotry as indifference, a pathologic desire to look fashionably "progressive," and the sense of security that comes from being one of the hip/cool crowd.
After Pope John Paul II said what he said about "Che," nothing anybody says or does regarding the Argentinian bastard should surprise us.
Posted by: asombra at October 10, 2008 10:47 AM
Asombra,
There was a time when I thought it might be the result of either indifference or simple ignorance however, with all the first-hand accounts of Guevara's killing machine, with all the evidence available, I can only come to the conclusion that since people do in fact know what went on in Cuba in those days, that they accept it. And if they accept it, they condone it. And if they build statues to Che, they are in effect whole-heartedly supporting the destruction of the "pueblo." And it is for that reason, that I believe it has a great deal to do with bigotry and the belief by so many, that Latin-Americans in general, are a lesser-species, an inconsequential minority in need of a ruthless strongman to "keep us in line."
Best,
-AB
Posted by: CubaWatch at October 10, 2008 10:53 AM
Both Asombra and Cubawatch have it right.
Posted by: Henry Agueros at October 10, 2008 12:06 PM
It doesn't excuse anybody, but let's not forget the key role of the (in)famous Korda photo in the obscene deification of Guevara. Sadly, all too many people really ARE that shallow and that easily swayed by appearances or image. Hell, look at Obama. It's unbelievable to me how anyone with half a brain can take the guy seriously as a presidential candidate, but it's happening. Sometimes, I'm not sure if it's stupidity or perversity. Either way, it doesn't make me feel very good about the human species.
Posted by: asombra at October 10, 2008 01:02 PM
Pigeons in Vienna now have one more statue to perch and shit on.
Posted by: Firefly at October 10, 2008 06:37 PM
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