It is not a statue -- it is just an idiot

A little over a week ago, we posted a story about a statue of the butcher of La Cabaña that seemed to have been erected in New York's Central Park from one day to the next. We were all incensed by this insult to the thousands that lost their lives to this murderous thug, and wondered how such a tribute to a psychotic serial killer could appear without warning or fanfare.

Well, it seems the statue is not really a statue but actually a Barcelona street performer posing as Guevara. Believe it or not, David Gonzalez from the New York Times tracked down the story and confirmed it is not a statue but only an idiot wearing a beret and painted bronze. And to his credit, Mr. Gonzalez reminds New Yorkers that if Che had had his way in 1962, we would all still be waiting for the radiation levels to come down in Manhattan. He actually goes the extra mile to explain that Che is not a figure anyone should be admiring.

Che Guevara has been put on a pedestal in Manhattan. This is something not lacking in irony, since Manhattan might not exist today had the Argentine-born, Cuban-tested revolutionary had his way and unleashed the Soviet nukes against the United States during the 1962 missile crisis.

Can New Yorkers be so oblivious as to allow such an homage to occupy the southeast corner of Central Park?

Technically, no. The statue actually depicts a Barcelona street performer portraying Che, part of three bronze sculptures by Christian Janowski, which were recently installed by the Public Art Fund. Such distinctions may be lost on passers-by, who may well think the installation is a marketing stunt for the upcoming Benicio del Toro movie, “Guerrilla.”

You can read the New York Times' factual story (Yes--using the word "factual" and "New York Times" in the same sentence without a "not" somewhere in between is as weird to write as it is read) about the Che non-statue HERE.

Posted by Alberto de la Cruz at December 2, 2008 07:47 AM

Comments

Posted by: FreedomForCuba at December 2, 2008 10:38 AM

Posted by: JackSnurd at December 2, 2008 12:59 PM

Posted by: mario at December 2, 2008 04:03 PM

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