Che Guevara Used as Figurehead for Florida Car Race
- Posted on September 7, 2010 at 9:10am by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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A comical car race in Palm Beach County Florida has decided to use the image of Cuban revolutionary (and former Castro right-hand man) Che Guevara as a central figure in its logo. But considering Guevara’s history, some aren’t finding it that funny.
“When I saw it, I said, ‘That’s totally insulting,’” racing promoter Ralph Sanchez (who’s of Cuban descent) told the Palm Beach Post. “They don’t understand the history of what this man has done.”
Guevara was influential in helping Fidel Castro seize power in Cuba in the 1950s. And while Guevara is often depicted on t-shirts, he is credited with being a brutal enforcer of Cuban policies — using firing squads to execute those who disagreed with the government. He also characterized car races as capitalist and bourgeois and outlawed them in Cuba.
“If some people take offense at an icon we’re using sarcastically, that’s an unfortunate but natural byproduct of humor; if they don‘t understand that we’re on the same side as they are, I can’t help that,” race founder and administrator Jay Lamm wrote in an e-mail to the Post. The race is a 24 hour event in which racers use a previously broken-down car made to look like a Halloween float.
“No matter how much sarcasm is used, it’s still offensive,” Alberto Naon, a Cuban-born racer who’s competed in similar events before, told the Post.
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Comments (70)
DanniDee
Posted on September 7, 2010 at 12:07pmWhat a mess!
Report Post »rstarce
Posted on September 7, 2010 at 11:42amHow angry can you be at stupidity. These people don’t know history, they don’t read. They listen to Progressive propaganda. Have pity for them.
Report Post »Docere
Posted on September 7, 2010 at 11:29amWell if they want to line them selves with Socialist Dictators who kill there own people, then let then tarnish there own record. All these people who wear Che Guevara are either ill informed on history or they support revolution and death to many so that a failed theory call utopian socialism. It don’t work, it never has worked and never will work.a Republic is the best way not even a not a democracy.
Report Post »kingsjester
Posted on September 7, 2010 at 11:26amPitiful. Just pitiful.
Report Post »WVRob
Posted on September 7, 2010 at 11:22amBad decision by the race promoter. Not funny.
Report Post »missmarie
Posted on September 7, 2010 at 12:01pmIt was, in fact, the race promoter that was offended and brought the issue to light.
Report Post »warriorcop
Posted on September 7, 2010 at 11:17amGood News all, MSNBC (My Socialist News Broadcasting Company) Just reported, Che Guevara Image to be replaced by Obama’s
I have a headache
Report Post »Ela
Posted on September 7, 2010 at 11:02amIt is about time to learn history,Florida!
Report Post »Nez
Posted on September 7, 2010 at 10:57amChe the murderer was not a cuban, he was a serial murder who went from country to country murdering people if the name of socialisum until he got involved with Castro and found a place he could kill with glee and be pated on the back for it by the Castro Bros.
Report Post »baldwin4freedom
Posted on September 7, 2010 at 10:51amThere is a cure for stupid. If the progressives get what they want by fully destroying the capitalistic system then these people will be the first ones working for bread and water, but it will be to late.
Report Post »Born2Run
Posted on September 7, 2010 at 10:46amI guess I missed the sarcasm. :/
Report Post »kierstin1989
Posted on September 7, 2010 at 10:45amSo if the image of Hitler were used in a comical, sarcastic way, would that be okay? Timothy McVay perhaps? Bin Laden? These people obviously need our charity, so they can buy a clue!
Report Post »slp
Posted on September 8, 2010 at 8:01amActually, yes. Hitler is often poked fun of. What about all of those recent YouTube videos of Hitler reacting to various things in popular culture? Or the musical “Springtime for Hitler” from “The Producers.” Ridicule can be a good thing, and in this case it think it is more irony than sarcasm (which in either case a lot of people just do not get). Trivializing the person can keep people from admiring them, although one should never forget the horrible truth.
Report Post »Spookytruck
Posted on September 7, 2010 at 10:35amChe was an evil man and should be treated as such. Ignorance can be cured with truth in education, but there is no cure for stupid.
Report Post »PATRICKHENRY
Posted on September 7, 2010 at 10:32amWhy dont’ they just wear FIDEL CASTRO t-shirts and sport CASTRO’s mug on the logo? Why use a middle-man??????? hmmmmmm….
Report Post »Skwerl
Posted on September 7, 2010 at 10:26amThere are some things you just don’t do in the name of sarcasm: tell your wife ‘yes, those jeans do make you look fat’, do a keg stand at an AA meeting…and use the image of Che for a laugh in a predominately Cuban American community.
Report Post »kierstin1989
Posted on September 7, 2010 at 10:44amAmen to that! Very well said!
Report Post »Joseph
Posted on September 7, 2010 at 10:00amGee kiddies…Wasn’t it Dolores Huerta that said “ all republicans hate Latinos”? Well I saw this one comming, why? Most Cuban Americans are Republicans. These people knew what they were doing, if not then sorry to say, they are idiots. I think we are going to see alot more of this stuff, because of the artsy fartsy Moonbats have the support to administer this creepy stuff.
I can see it now,the liberals like Glenn and others are so desperate this is the only thing they can do legally to attemt to get at the real Americans in order to get us to react violently. All I will say is pray .For for God to impower you to keep the peace in your hearts and keep the message of “THE DREAM” close to your hearts. Let these idiots just do what they will because if we don’t fed into their hate, they will just wither and die…May God bless America!!!
Report Post »Joseph
Posted on September 7, 2010 at 10:07amSorry, I made a bad typo,Ooops…
Report Post »I wrote, “I can see it now,the liberals like Glenn and others are so desperate”
It should have said, “I can see it now,the liberals like Glenn and others have been warning us about, are so desperate”
missmarie
Posted on September 7, 2010 at 10:12amI’m not sure I can agree with the statement “they knew what they were doing” – I guess I agree more with the statement “they are idiots”, but I’m thinking that is too harsh. What they are is ignorant. Have you picked up and read any textbooks recently? The main problem with our kiddos is they aren’t being told the truth. Particularly, progressives and Che fans have gone after our college kids. I hope this promoter uses this opportunity to educate the public on how evil this man was. Knowledge is power!
Report Post »blessings
Posted on September 7, 2010 at 9:54amThis is at least bringing the “hero” into the sunshine for debate – it’s great!
Report Post »Bring on the left’s defense for their agenda and their fake heros!
heidi586
Posted on September 7, 2010 at 9:59amgood point
Report Post »MichiganPatriot
Posted on September 7, 2010 at 9:47amA sad day for Freedom and those that have suffered at the hands of this mass murder. How anyone can praise this maniac is beyond comprehension. But of course the downside to our freedom in this country is everyone has a right to voice they’re opinion.
Report Post »Silverwolf00
Posted on September 7, 2010 at 2:41pmYou must remember that these people on the left also revere the likes of Chairman Mao who was responsible for the death of millions. So one must expect no less from them. President Obama is surrounded with people who would destroy capitalism in favor of a government more along the socialist lines.
Report Post »bernobrien
Posted on September 7, 2010 at 9:44amI had a long discussion with my 21 yr old niece about Che, I told her to look him up herself and find out what he was all about. That is the best way to help the younger generation, let them research him and they will see the light.
Report Post »freedom_gurl35
Posted on September 7, 2010 at 9:23pmYes, exactly. One of my students is writing a research paper on Che. I cannot wait to read it and see what conclusions he’s come to about this man…and to refute any positive claims he makes with my own research.
Report Post »heidi586
Posted on September 7, 2010 at 9:43amWho do you blame: the ignorant…or the educational system that did not/does not teach the truth about history. If these people know the truth…then they are a huge part of the problems we suffer today.
Report Post »missmarie
Posted on September 7, 2010 at 9:56amSo very true! We really need to get rid of the DOE and the teachers union. Since their inception, our children have grown lethargic, weak, and are not receiving a good education from the system. The federal education system experiment has failed. Let’s move onto a new theory to test.
Report Post »baldwin4freedom
Posted on September 7, 2010 at 10:46amI agree with doing away with the department of education. The federal government has no business being in control of our kids education. If the states had control of the content they would be held accountable by the voters feet.
Report Post »nicholjm
Posted on September 7, 2010 at 4:23pmOh dear, oh dear. I don’t even know what to say.
Report Post »Bodysnatcher
Posted on September 7, 2010 at 9:42amAnd Yes we got stupid people even in Florida.
Report Post »littlebin518
Posted on September 7, 2010 at 9:56amThat is evident with Alan Grayson be elected. Let’s hope that Floridians have wised up this election cycle.
Report Post »Toader Gloat
Posted on September 7, 2010 at 11:21amI done did be seeing me summa dem stupid peoples in Florida. They done had yucca plants allova day prapitty.
Report Post »faithwalker
Posted on September 7, 2010 at 9:34amWhether sarcastically or not, it’s still in poor taste. But I defend their RIGHT to use it.
Report Post »freedom_gurl35
Posted on September 7, 2010 at 9:22pmI second that!
Report Post »firethecommunityorganizer
Posted on September 7, 2010 at 9:32amProgressives are too stupid to look beyond the Che trademark.
Report Post »baldwin4freedom
Posted on September 7, 2010 at 10:41amI actually think they do look past Che. It is all about bringing down the Capitalistic system. It is the only way they can get full control of the people.
Do not underestimate the enemy!
Report Post »pscully17
Posted on September 7, 2010 at 4:27pmtelling incite into the ACORN/OBAMA/ALINSKY/PROGRESSIVE mentality– rewind the tape on the Aorn scandal with Hannah Giles– the Acorn worker point blank tells HAnnah the ****** to : NOT Educate, or teach the imported whores to read!! To control them, you have to keep them stupid– hmm sounds familiar!! isnt that what slave owners did? Manual Laborers needed for the farms would RUN if they knew Anything about life! Bottom line– Obama and the Dems have been working on the Youth, preventing quality education!! remember, the dems control Teachers Unions, School Boards, and Universities! get it now? Look at the media– Nbc, cbs, Abc etc- ALL Regurgitating the same message, so if the general population is being fed CANDY BARS and LOLLIPOPS, and endless handouts, they are too Stupid then, to LOOK at the BIgger Picture and relaize they are DOGS in Obamas Pavlovian Experiment! Obamas Pissed tho, becuase the Internet, Foxnews, and Conservative Controlled Radio is Blowing Holes in their KEEP THE POPULATION STUPID AGENDA! Obama is DONE, barring a Turn of Violent and aggressive Attacks on the population, he has lost the war!!! Thank God!! Thank you Lord God!!
Report Post »mlsn22
Posted on September 7, 2010 at 9:30amYeah Jamme you need to get your humor in check. How could you think this is funny? Che was an ******* and a murderer. There are tons of other things your could stick on your car that actually would be funny. Besides, we need to stop putting Che up as an advertisement. He’s a brutal murderer, not an advertising icon as some have been using him. Dont help promote this piece of garbage’s image. Also, dont forget, our kids our watching. Do you really want to be part of that crew that‘s molding our kids’ minds for the worse?
Report Post »PillyMan
Posted on September 7, 2010 at 11:00amI appreciate your passion, but when we chastise the ignorant, please don’t use such harsh language. We don’t want to stoop to thier ignorance.
Report Post »professorG
Posted on September 7, 2010 at 9:30amMaybe if they dressed him up in a clown suit. That would be humor.
Report Post »Toader Gloat
Posted on September 7, 2010 at 11:13amHAHAHAHAHA…SWEET!
Report Post »igetit
Posted on September 7, 2010 at 11:58amEven clowns can be scary!
Report Post »brinksmom
Posted on September 7, 2010 at 9:30amOutrageous! Some people are just idiots!
Report Post »dressseller
Posted on September 7, 2010 at 9:48amAgreed. & not funny.
Report Post »missmarie
Posted on September 7, 2010 at 9:49amHopefully, the race promoter of Cuban descent, can use this opportunity to educate and enlighten people about the specific abuses of this man. He can’t be labeled a racist for it and probably has more insight into the affects it had on his culture. Perhaps if more people knew the truth, his image would be as insulting as Hitlers in the public square? I hope he continues to discuss this in the public forum and I’m glad he spoke up!
Good for you Mr. Sanchez!
Report Post »butler180
Posted on September 7, 2010 at 10:31amRight on.
Report Post »Jeff in Miami
Posted on September 8, 2010 at 5:12amIs this race a demolision derby?
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