03/17- Columbia and Venezuela

pg 163 "It was...as if everything solid melted away in to the ether, eliminating all individuality and absorbing us, rigid, into the immense darkness."
This quote talks about how Ernesto feels like many of the poor people are just slipping away because no one cares about them. They don't have a voice. These are the people that Ernesto wants to help.

pg 165 "bloodstained weapon"
This quote is simple. Violence, conflict, struggle, a willingness to do battle are all good interpretations of this quote. Now at the end of the book, the reader can finally see that Ernesto doesn't just want to talk about change; he wants to fight for it.

pg 165 "I feel my nostrils dilate, savoring the acrid smell of gunpowder and blood..."
This quote kind of goes with the one above. It is very descriptive. "gunpowder and blood" is like violence and death. And the word "savoring" means that Ernesto enjoys those smells. He wants to kill for want he believes in.

pg 165 "...prepare myself to be a sacred space within which the bestial howl of the triumphant proletariat can resound with new energy and new hope."
This is probably the single most pro-communist quotation in the entire book. Ernesto/Che is pretty much letting the proletariat (working class) know that it is time to rise up and fight to get rid of suppressive capitalist governments. Fight for communism.

03/12- Theme #6 Introduction

1. The most useful site for me was the first one because not only does it give you example of what a good thesis statement should look like, it also provides examples of what a bad thesis statement looks like.
2. The general idea of my thesis would go something like this:
Ernesto's desire to become a selfless doctor lead to Che's lasting generalized socialistic impact the people of Latin America still resignates (sp?) today

Peru Diction Quiz

Ernesto chose to write so much about Peru for a reason, and I believe that reason is the simple fact that Peru had such a powerful affect on Ernesto. Machu Picchu, the half-RAZED ancient capital of the Incan Empire, is no exception. One of the most important things about Machu Picchu is how Ernesto is so disturbed by the BESTIAL conduct of the Spanish Conquistadores, and how a once powerful race of people can fall into INDIGENCE and servitude. He goes on and on about the inequality of today and the unfairness of the past. This TIRADE lasts for many pages, which only solidifies my belief that the conquest of the Spanish Conquistadores is extremely important to Ernesto. In Ernesto’s mind the only way to help the indigenous Indians is to educate them, treat them with more respect, value their culture (so that the Indians may begin to regain their pride), and adopt their ancient temples as RELICS to a lost age.
Ernesto described Cuzco, one of the biggest cities in Peru, with one word and one word only: EVOCATIVE. What Cuzco evokes in Ernesto is somewhat of an ENIGMA to me; it could be a whole host of emotions and feelings. Regardless, it always amazes me how Ernesto and his friend, Alberto, manage to GLEAN bits of food and housing from the Civil Guard and the locals. I thought it was strange that when Alberto protective an Indian woman from the torment of the Civil Guard the Civil Guard decided to stop helping them. It just seems very fickle and arbitrary to me. This dissociation between the Civil Guard and Ernesto and Alberto IMPEDED their travels, but only for a bit.
Lastly, Lake Titicaca, which is actually one of the highest lakes in the entire world, impacted Ernesto with its PLACIDITY. The lake taught Ernesto about the natural beauty of Peru. It’s STAGNATE waters helped assure Ernesto that even though some things change, some things do not. The Lake allowed Ernesto to take a short glimpse into a past long forgotten.
One thing that really made me upset was on page 100 Ernesto told a military officer that he only drinks if he is eating also. This gets me upset because the IRREFUABLE truth is that he is manipulating the people around him to get what he wants. And it’s not just random people, it the people that care enough about an absolute stranger to take the time (and the money) to help him. This lie really speaks volumes about the moral fiber of Ernesto “Che” Guevara.

03/09 Essential Question #2

Throughout most of Ernesto’s life he had no idea what he wanted to become. One of his earliest aspirations was to go into medical school and become a doctor. Later in life, after he traveled around South America he realized how deprived many individuals are. After seeing the state of many parts of South America Ernesto changed into the idealist known as Che; which is slang for Argentinean in Cuban Spanish. Che wanted nothing short of World Wide change. He was a hardcore socialist at heard and believed that the responsibility of government was to provide for its citizens. In the beginning, Che was met with friendly agreement; but as the years went by even the most radical revolutionaries began to realize how moderate their politics were compared to those of Che. Even though there a lot of opposition (even within the ranks of Che’s “friends”) Che still managed to revolutionize Cuba, and introduced lasting governments sprinkled through Latin America.

03/04- Chile

pg 57-60
When Che and his friend Alberto had a newspaper article written about them, and they were referred to as "The Experts." This experience influenced him a lot because he is not really a leprology expert; but he allows people to believe he is in order to get certain perks. In reality, Ernesto was even a doctor.
This is similar to when Che gets promoted in the Cuban government by Castro. Castro calls him an expert so he is an "expert." This represents the fact the Che is okay with receiving goods and services even if he doesn't deserve them.
pg 59
"TWO ARGENTINE LEPROSY EXPERTS TOUR LATIN AMERICA BY MOTORCYCLE."

2/26 Apples to Apples

In Bolivia, Che supported a group of individuals that tried to destabilize the Bolivian government. This is exactly the same thing that the United States is doing in Afghanistan. The only difference is that Che was trying to get rid of a democratic government and establish a communism ally, the United States is trying to protect their armed forces by training better Pakistani and Afghani forces.

2/24 Argentina

In general the introduction is a prime example of Che’s voice and diction. It was written so well that when the narrative actually began I could tell the difference. This voice is very informative, in my opinion Ernesto’s introduction was better than the two girls’ introduction.
The second excerpt:
“The intention of this diary is not really to recount those days in Miramar where Comeback found a new home, with one resident in particular to whom Comeback’s name was directed. Our journey was suspended in that haven of indecision, subordinate to the words that give consent and create bonds.”
I had to read this quotation at least three times and I still don’t know if I understand what is being said. The diction is very complex and Ernesto’s voice is enigmatic, yet explicative. I think that Ernesto sums up the entire reason or reasons why he went on this journey, but puts it in terms of this little dog, Comeback.

El Che Reaction #1

enjoyed the movie yesterday because it was very informational; and information is exactly what I needed. I think that the director of the movie is a little bias; I would prefer that the movie not be so pro-Che. I still don't understand exactly why he is so famous, I have yet to read anything written by Che that is as powerful as other people have lead me to believe it should be. To me, he is still just an ordinary revolutionary.

Das Kapital meets Easy Rider

The idea of Easy Rider is that laid back, roaming around from place to place, and not caring attitude. This relates to Ernesto's humanitarian trip around Latin America. During his trip he must have witnessed all of the unstable Latin American governments. That, in addition to all the poverty, must have convinced him that capitalism is bad and that the government should take a stronger role in helping the poor.
Das Kapital is all about the drawbacks of capitalism, and how capitalism only functions at the expense of something else.
Pretty much, Ernesto is a traveling communist and that is why it is said that this book is a hybrid between the two distinct philosophies.