Since the beginning of this blog almost three years ago, I have mentioned my fellow social studies teacher in the classroom next door who has a big Che Guevara poster on his wall. From time to time, he will also wear a Che t-shirt to work. He had on one such t-shirt today. In addition to the iconic image that we all know and despise, there was a quote of Che's underneath the picture:"At the risk of seeming ridiculous, let me say that a true revolutionary is guided by great feelings of love."I came this close to saying something to my fellow teacher, because the moment I read that quote, another quote of Che's came immediately to my mind:
"This is a revolution! And a revolutionary must become a cold killing machine motivated by pure hate."Now that sounds more like the Che Guevara I know. The only thing he loved was killing bound and blindfolded victims. It was on the tip of my tongue to ask this teacher if they sell Che shirts with his hate quote on it, but I just couldn't do it. I have to work with this guy, and despite our totally opposite political viewpoints, we get along quite nicely and have some very intriguing and long conversations about other matters relating to schools and students. Besides, he hasn't said anything about this poster I recently hung up in my classroom, even though I know he has seen it:
I would welcome any reader input about whether or not I should say anything to Mr. Che-phile, but for now, I guess I won't say anything to him unless he takes issue with this poster.Good Day to You, Sir
11 comments:
Unless he makes a stink, just know that you're in the right. No sense in starting a fight, just make sure you finish it...
IMHO, his wearing the t-shirt is an attempt to suck someone into a debate over the "merits" of Che. It would feed his ego if you were to acknowledge his attempt to be controversial.
I would ignore it unless he says something about your poster, and then I might reply something about the importance of examining both sides of an issue.
Where is this class room that has the poster and "teacher" for Guevera?
God, help us.
Larry,
At this time, I am not comfortable disclosing my identity or my school. It's a sad state of affairs that I have to worry about my employment if I am candid and identified at the same time, so I must talk about my school anonymously.
The school is located in Sacramento Country; that's about as specific as I can get.
Thanks for reading my blog!
I have a nice swastika flag that one of my student's parents made for my high school production of "The Sound of Music," if you need it.
I suspect that this guy is living vicariously through a scumbag like Che. Often you find pansies who have no personal courage living through some guy like Che who exemplifies in a weak mind someone who was a courageous freedom fighter. I wouldn't waste my time acknowledging his cry for validation. Che is a killer, so was Manson. I seen shirts of both.
I'm with nunoftheabove.
BTW, thanks to your blog, I ended up buying one of those same posters as a gift to my husband and our niece, a conservative (and proud of it - she got escorted from a Robert Kennedy talk) college student.
I would keep things like they are. Confronting him could get blown way out of proportion and you know which side the administration probably would side with.
Just having the poster in your room is a terrific "strike back," for lack of a better term. I agree with the others -- don't initiate any debate with this moron.
I'm guessing your poster alone is making him seethe!
Your responding poster is great.Sounds like your principal is non-confrontational and will allow a lot of stuff as long as a "fight" doesn't happen. But if it does....your balanced response will force the administrator to leave both up or take both down. Have fun and keep us posted :-)
Wow! This reminds me when I returned from Vietnam, I got a job from the State and on my 2nd day on the job I came to work and on the front stair were two individuals giving out Communist pamphlets. I had just got through fighting them and they are on my front stairs.....Only in America...stay well....
Post a Comment