Che Guevara remembered for politics and myth he inspired

Forty years after it shook Latin American politics, Fidel Castro's overthrow of the Cuban government proved that it is still relevant to Latin American culture Wednesday evening at the Veranda. In celebration of Latino Heritage Month, the Asociaci-n Cultural de Estudiantes Latinoamericanos, the Lambda Upsilon Lambda fraternity, the Philadelphia Cuba Support Coalition and the Greenfield Intercultural Center hosted "The Life and Legacy of Che Guevara," a forum for discussion of the late hero of the Cuban revolution. Images of Cuban guerrillas flickered across a television screen as guests made their way into the Veranda. Three speakers -- postdoctoral student Julio Gonzalez, History Professor Ann Farnsworth-Alvear and Cuban diplomat Johana Tablada -- spoke to the diverse crowd of about 70 students, faculty and guests. "Che was an icon of a romantic, idealized vision that was a part of the cultural landscape of Latin America," Farnsworth-Alvear said. Born Ernesto Che Guevara into a middle-class Argentine family, Guevara went on the become one of the most prominent figures in Latin American history and mythology. Farnsworth-Alvear said that his eloquence, his accessibility and his genuine devotion to socialism made him a symbol of a utopian revolution for whom people felt an intense affection. Guevara was a guerrilla fighter and commander in the Cuban revolution and a friend of Fidel Castro. Successful in Cuba, he attempted but failed to introduce his revolutionary ideology to the Congo. But since his assassination in Bolivia in 1967, Guevara has continued to be a revered -- and to some -- an almost Christ-like figure in Latin America, Farnsworth -Alvear and Tablada said. After the lectures, the floor was opened to questions. One guest pointed out Guevara's legacy of instilling in the Cuban people the desire to build a new society. Despite the common notion since the fall of the Soviet Union that Communism must inevitably self-destruct, Cuba continues to fight for a socialist way of life. Several of those who attended the event said they learned a lot from the speakers and found the program interesting. "I just thought [the speakers] were all very dynamic and honest speakers," physician Natasha Flemens said. Afterwards, refreshments were served and guests perused various socialist literature provided by local bookstore Pathfinders and the Cuba Support Coalition.