Che Guevara's Influences in Latin America

Ernesto Che Guevara was a Latin American guerrilla leader and a revolutionary

leader/thinker. He lived from the years of 1928 to 1967 and achieved many

things during his lifetime. Che was leading or part of many revolutionary acts

in South and Central America. When Guevara was done with his medical studies in

1953, he joined Jacobo Arbenz in Guatemala. They attempted to bring social

revolution but were overthrown in 1954 which was supported by the United States

C.I.A. Che then met Castro in Mexico to join his revolutionary forces. He

helped Castro achieve his revolution in Cuba. Che led forces to invade central

Cuba as a Major in late 1958. He fought in Castro’s army helping to shape

strategies. Guevara rose in Castro’s army and served in important positions

such as the Minister of Industry (1961-1965). In 1965 Che went to Bolivia to

train a guerrilla force. He was executed by Bolivian Forces in 1967. Different

people have different thought about Ernesto Che Guevara. Whether one believes

Che Guevara is a mass murderer or a revolutionary hero, his influence in Latin

American politics today is undeniable.

Some might say that Evo Morales, Bolivia’s President, is the new Che. He is in

fact largely influenced by Che Guevara and uses him as an example to help lead

his country. Bolivia is currently the poorest country in Latin America and Evo

Morales stands to change this. Morales says in an article “Che realized that

equality is collectivism.” Morales is following Che Guevara’s ideas to help him

redistribute the wealth to the people of Bolivia. He is also trying to recover

their natural resources. Morales aims to achieve Che’s vision of freeing a

unified Latin America from imperialist powers. "Latin America cannot continue

being the backyard of American imperialism." Latin America is starting to live

out Che’s vision by living in solidarity and co-operating with each other.

The solidarity that Latin...