The Motorcycle Diaries
I finally completed the book - The Motorcycle Diaries by Che Guevera, which gives some insight into how Che became Che. It doesn't provide any direct reason for that, although, the last speech put in the book as appendix is the most explanatory of that. Since, I have turned myself into not a good reader in the recent days, I only have a handful of noteworthy things that I can remember from the book.
When I watched the movie - The Motorcycle Diaries, I was baffled by how many times they fell from their motorbike, but since then, based on my own recent experience with motorcycle, and their more detailed description, I now understand why that is possible or more likely to happen. The unequal distribution of load, and any sort of gravel or potholes along the road, is enough to tip the motorcycle over. And whatever they did, and how far they traveled on such a bike on such roads is very commendable.
The next thing that is amazing is the way they traveled. They traveled on Ponderosa for part of the journey, and after that they hitch hiked rides on trucks, used boats for some part; they slept in tents, they got lodging in relatives's house, in hospitals, in police stations, in leper colonies, in trucks while traveling, and in someone's house, either based on their kindness or Che's and Granado's incessant begging; they got their food through begging, through fishing, or at hospitals, police stations, leper colonies; and sometimes, they got money on others' generosity, not that they were cheated slightly at times. But, just to think, that they can travel like this, to me, is amazing. I don't think this is possible in today's world, maybe some people, actual travelers do this same thing today also, but I just think, in these times, this is not possible, or at least, is incredibly difficult; are people even generous enough or trustful of others to do that. Anyways, the way they traveled across the whole of Latin America, is just incredible.
Another noteworthy thing is that Che had asthma, and several instances, he gets pretty ill, and has to go to hospital, and get adrenaline shots, but still he dared to go around and know Latin America so well.
To me, there are two things, which show signs of Che becoming Che; one is his visiting of leper colonies. He recognizes all the shortages of resources in not only leper colonies, but also hospitals in several parts of Latin America. Then, at the same time, he empathizes, and rather becomes one with all the leprosy patients, which signifies his interest in serving the people. The other reason is his interest in history - the battles he talks about that was won, its significance, strategies used and so on. This shows his interest in such things, which probably must have been very helpful in his revolutionary years.
Like I mentioned earlier, the attached speech is the most self-explanatory of how Che turned from a medical doctor to a revolutionary. Of course, he talks about the Guatemala incident, when he decides to join such a movement. For him, what is important is social medicine, which involves improvement in wide aspects of the society, because individual revolutionary effort go in vain if there is no revolution, if one has to fight alone against a whole nation that doesn't favor progress. And for this, his revolution, which is through a collective effort, directs the capacity of individuals to the "tasks of social medicine". One lovely thing that he says is that one should not practice charity but practice solidarity, not say "we come to give you the charity of our presence" but go to the people and "learn from their wisdom". I believe this particular thing, is not any communist agenda, but rather a truth in general, that one should seek or try to practise.
Lastly, my remaining thought, is if he was happy that he joined this movement in Cuba, for Cuba. I actually do not know a proper thing about Cuba, and its people, and this movement, but it makes me wonder, with all these different opinions, if he ever felt that whatever he worked so hard for, didn't turn out to be the way he hoped to be, or if he felt that he got it wrong somewhere, that whatever he believed in was not the right path. I wonder, if he felt that pain or that realization, not that we know the actual truth, or I, at least, do not.
Just a link of Che's travel:
https://www.tripline.net/trip/Map_of_Che_Guevara%27s_Motorcycle_Diaries-6663666201441004BFD7D7A952E2785C
When I watched the movie - The Motorcycle Diaries, I was baffled by how many times they fell from their motorbike, but since then, based on my own recent experience with motorcycle, and their more detailed description, I now understand why that is possible or more likely to happen. The unequal distribution of load, and any sort of gravel or potholes along the road, is enough to tip the motorcycle over. And whatever they did, and how far they traveled on such a bike on such roads is very commendable.
The next thing that is amazing is the way they traveled. They traveled on Ponderosa for part of the journey, and after that they hitch hiked rides on trucks, used boats for some part; they slept in tents, they got lodging in relatives's house, in hospitals, in police stations, in leper colonies, in trucks while traveling, and in someone's house, either based on their kindness or Che's and Granado's incessant begging; they got their food through begging, through fishing, or at hospitals, police stations, leper colonies; and sometimes, they got money on others' generosity, not that they were cheated slightly at times. But, just to think, that they can travel like this, to me, is amazing. I don't think this is possible in today's world, maybe some people, actual travelers do this same thing today also, but I just think, in these times, this is not possible, or at least, is incredibly difficult; are people even generous enough or trustful of others to do that. Anyways, the way they traveled across the whole of Latin America, is just incredible.
Another noteworthy thing is that Che had asthma, and several instances, he gets pretty ill, and has to go to hospital, and get adrenaline shots, but still he dared to go around and know Latin America so well.
To me, there are two things, which show signs of Che becoming Che; one is his visiting of leper colonies. He recognizes all the shortages of resources in not only leper colonies, but also hospitals in several parts of Latin America. Then, at the same time, he empathizes, and rather becomes one with all the leprosy patients, which signifies his interest in serving the people. The other reason is his interest in history - the battles he talks about that was won, its significance, strategies used and so on. This shows his interest in such things, which probably must have been very helpful in his revolutionary years.
Like I mentioned earlier, the attached speech is the most self-explanatory of how Che turned from a medical doctor to a revolutionary. Of course, he talks about the Guatemala incident, when he decides to join such a movement. For him, what is important is social medicine, which involves improvement in wide aspects of the society, because individual revolutionary effort go in vain if there is no revolution, if one has to fight alone against a whole nation that doesn't favor progress. And for this, his revolution, which is through a collective effort, directs the capacity of individuals to the "tasks of social medicine". One lovely thing that he says is that one should not practice charity but practice solidarity, not say "we come to give you the charity of our presence" but go to the people and "learn from their wisdom". I believe this particular thing, is not any communist agenda, but rather a truth in general, that one should seek or try to practise.
Lastly, my remaining thought, is if he was happy that he joined this movement in Cuba, for Cuba. I actually do not know a proper thing about Cuba, and its people, and this movement, but it makes me wonder, with all these different opinions, if he ever felt that whatever he worked so hard for, didn't turn out to be the way he hoped to be, or if he felt that he got it wrong somewhere, that whatever he believed in was not the right path. I wonder, if he felt that pain or that realization, not that we know the actual truth, or I, at least, do not.
Just a link of Che's travel:
https://www.tripline.net/trip/Map_of_Che_Guevara%27s_Motorcycle_Diaries-6663666201441004BFD7D7A952E2785C
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