Che Guevara, Anti-Yankee Symbol
Hatred of the US and its "imperialist" economic policies is widespread in Latin America. Che Guevara has become its symbol, as was evident when on October 9 the 30th anniversary of his death coincided the fifth congress of the Cuban Communist Party. In Havana, Fidel Castro gave a rambling speech nearly seven(!) hours long, which must have tried even the faithful. His reference to China showed that he now looks to Beijing. However, he lamented the end of the Soviet Union, and enunciated an economic policy reminiscent of it rather than of China.
He looked tired, and the hero was Che Guevara, who was killed in Bolivia at the age of 38. A large picture of him decorated the stage, and Castro made no reference to their differences. Guevara was a pure revolutionary who thought Castro was bureaucratic. It was rather chilling to see little school children throughout Cuba swearing with clenched fist their loyalty to Guevara's revolutionary ideas.
Throughout Latin America the anniversary of his death was celebrated, in most cases as a demonstration of anti-Yanqui rather than of violent revolutionary feeling. In Mexico, Televisa devoted its newscast to him, stressing that Castro's expedition against Batista's Cuba set out from Mexico. In the Bolivian village where Guevara was killed, pilgrims came from many countries to pay homage to him. His native Argentina issued a stamp in his honor.
Especially interesting was the attention paid to him in the Spanish media. Anti-Yanquiism in Latin America gives Spain an opportunity to stress their common Hispanic heritage. The Spanish language is, as the great humanist Antonio Nebrija said in his 1492 grammar, " the instrument of empire." The Guevara celebrations coincided with a banquet in Madrid's royal palace marking the annual celebration of the Cervantes Association, founded in 1991 to spread the Spanish language (cf Germany's Goethe Association). The banquet was attended by all Latin American ambassadors. The discreet speech of King Juan Carlos had clear political implications. It was noted that the banquet took place just before the meeting of "Iberian" heads of state and government in the Venezuelan island of Margarita; Castro will presumably attend. Praise of Guevara is unlikely, but he will be there in spirit.
