Che Guevara: An Example to Be Followed

Commander Ernesto Che Guevara’s image and thoughts are present more now than ever today in Latin America, which is entering its second independence.

The mythical Cuban-Argentinean guerrilla fighter always believed in a better world. And he sacrificed his life trying to achieve that goal.

Today marks the 43rd anniversary of Che’s capture -- wounded and with his rifle unusable -- in Quebrada del Yuro by the Bolivian army. A day later, he would be murdered by military troops in La Higuera.

Such a CIA-supported crime shocked the world. The example of his life, of course, lives on. Voices are heard around the world, expressing admiration for Che – who always knew how to balance practice and theory.

Death took him by surprise at an early age. However, his short life was devoted to contribute to the fight of other peoples to achieve their independence.

He also fought tirelessly against U.S. imperialism and he said many times that it was the cause of the neo-colonial condition of the underdeveloped countries.

As an example, we have the case of Cuba. Che Guevara fought together with the Cuban people for their complete and permanent independence and, later, his profound convictions took him to fight in Africa and Bolivia.

Che, who became an icon of the world revolutionary movement, was always faithful to his principles concerning the fact that the most beautiful quality of a revolutionary is feeling “injustice against anyone, anywhere in the world.”

That man, whose image was immortalized by the camera of photographer Alberto Korda, has been all over the world and Che’s image has headed protests as well. His simple, just, supporting and decisive way of acting before danger earned him a memorable place in history.

The doctor – an example of humanism and internationalism – fought up to his last day for the freedom of Our America. And as the leader of the Cuban Revolution Fidel Castro said, he did not survive his ideas, he enriched them with his blood.

Che serves as an invaluable legacy for all who love peace and just causes in the world.

RADIO HAVANA CUBA