September 11, etc.

[sabotabby]

This year's commemoration was decidedly low-key compared to last year's: They were supposed to show a movie about Allende at UofT, but they ended up having to switch it with another film at the last minute. By the time I showed up (I got lost), the room was already too packed to get in. Apparently, Manuel was going around telling everyone that September 11 was his birthday and that they had to attend. Given what happened to him on that day, 32 years ago, we all figured that to be a coincidence of the most grotesque variety, but as it turns out, it was only the day he was "reborn" as a revolutionary. Or something.

But the event went well -- apparently, Manuel is giving talks on his experience for the first time, and he's a fantastic speaker. I'm sorry I missed it. Afterwards, a bunch of us went out for an extended coffee and talked about current events in Chile and throughout Latin America, and I think these informal get-togethers are probably as good a way of remembering Sept. 11 as anything else.

A few people had just returned from Chile. They're quite disappointed with the "socialist" government there, which they feel is continuing many of Pinochet's policies, and even more worried about the growing materialism and lack of political consciousness on the part of the Chilean population. The latest trend is massive shopping centres, Wal-Mart-type constructions that stretch for over a block. The last time Cristina was there, she stayed with a poor family who couldn't afford new shoes but even the youngest child had a cell phone. There are more cell phones in Chile than in Japan. There are also, however, massive student strikes, including a med school strike where the students were giving free check-ups to passersby. My companions spent hours decrying the politics of their country, but they all agreed that if they could, they'd be back home.

I came up with a great idea for a website. Cristina was all fired up, as usual. We ran into a hipster kid wearing a Ché shirt, so Cristina asked him if he knew who Ché was. ("Some Argentinian guy...um...I think he was a revolutionary or something.") The other day, I was wearing mine, and my co-worker blurted, "Hey, that's the guy on [her boyfriend's] wall."

I thought it'd be hilarious to snap pictures of people in Ché shirts and record their responses when they were asked who Ché is. It could be www.whoisthatonyourtshirt.com.

The best response I've ever gotten? "That's the singer of Rage Against the Machine, dude."

Who's up for working on this?

EDIT: I do kinda have to do this. You folks with digital cameras and social skills, start sending me in your pictures. It's going to be wicked and you know it.

Comments

[cdaae.livejournal.com]

That's frigging awesome. I'd definitely be sure to carry my camera around with me when I'm in London, for that!

[joyful-grrrl.livejournal.com]

oh you HAFF TO!!!

[sabotabby]

Do it!

[sabotabby]

I will -- I just need to collect enough photos and quotes.

[joyful-grrrl.livejournal.com]

i wiah my digicam worked, i would be happy to contribute.

[bike4fish.livejournal.com]

Yesteday I saw someone (early 20's, I think) walking out of a book store wearing a black on red shirt with "Ernesto Ché Guevara" down the back, and I wondered what he knew about Ché. I should have asked.

I will keep my camera with me.

[sabotabby]

Yes, do! I'm especially interested in what people in the US have to say -- I mean, at least in Canada we have diplomatic relations with Cuba. It blew me away to see all the Ché shirts when I was in the States.

[pluvka.livejournal.com]

The best response I've ever gotten? "That's the singer of Rage Against the Machine, dude."

no shit! what did you say? that's so awful (but i'm laughing).
i would totally do this. i'm often tempted to ask people if they know who's on their t-shirt, especially since really trendy chain stores started carrying the shirts.
my digital camera broke over the weekend, though. if i can get it fixed... then i will join in.

[sabotabby]

I just snickered. I'm really bad with the witty verbal retorts, and I have a problem with uncontrollable giggling anyway.

I hate my intermittent social phobia -- on the way back from doing laundry right now, I just saw a woman wearing one. I had my camera on me and everything, but I was too shy to do it. I am dead serious about this project but I need someone else to do the talking.

[human-loser.livejournal.com]

that is such a great idea. I don't have a digital camera, and I live in alberta so there is a huge Che Shirt drought here anyway, but once I hit T.O. perhaps I can help there...

That should also buy me enough time to learn more about the guy so I don't feel like a total hypocrite. (I probably know as much as some of the hipsters, except with the added knowledge that my knowledge is lacking).

[sabotabby]

Part of the site will include a decent biography of Ché. I feel inadequate because I've never read any of his writing (just writing about him). I want to simultaneously mock and educate. Part of it is also self-deprecation on my part, as my Ché shirt was clearly made in a sweatshop.

[fugitivesaint.livejournal.com]

I thought it'd be hilarious to snap pictures of people in Ché shirts and record their responses when they were asked who Ché is. It could be www.whoisthatonyourtshirt.com.

This is an idea that is so simple and interesting that i kick myself for not having thought of it myself.

I'm in. I'm even going to recruit a few artist inclined comrades, people who are naturally gregarious and extroverted, to carry this out.

I'll definitely inform you of our progress with pictures, names and responses.

This is going to be fun.

Again, great idea.

[sabotabby]

The project officially starts now. I may set up a separate post at the top of my LJ for submissions until the site is up.

I did a quick Google, and no one seems to have thought of it.

i thought i would let you know..,

[thejennatheory.livejournal.com]

that although i've never left you comments before, your posts never cease to amuse me.

thank you for the entertainment.

Re: i thought i would let you know..,

[sabotabby]

Heh, thanks. I'm hopeless at leaving comments, albeit not bad at responding to them.

Re: i thought i would let you know..,

[thejennatheory.livejournal.com]

Don't worry. My posts never contain anything of substance/nothing worthy of comments. They're pretty much just something i do when i'm procrastinating. They don't even have good grammar.

[emak-bakia.livejournal.com]

yes, you must make that website! i've seen quite a few here in japan, but i've never asked, although i've been tempted.....

[sabotabby]

Then again, with all of the bad Kanji that happens here, it probably evens out.

[lemur-man.livejournal.com]

Che don't need no bourgeois fascist accent mark, maaan.

[sabotabby]

I'm seeing it both ways. Which is annoying. I need a style guide for pompous radicals.

[lemur-man.livejournal.com]

It's the French who always put an accent on it, because for them it would be 'chuh' without it.

He didn't use one himself (signature on left):

[sabotabby]

That explains my urge to do it, since I speak some French but no Spanish.

I should probably spell it the way he did, huh?

[rote.livejournal.com]

This is honestly the best idea EVER.

Too bad I don't have teh social skillz.

[sabotabby]

Do you have a digital camera?

[rote.livejournal.com]

I sure do! I should bring it with my to school. I saw a guy with a Che shirt last semester. He was also wearing a crucifix around his neck, so I'm really hoping it was just a really ironic mix-up.

[sabotabby]

Not necessarily. My half-Cuban friend wears both. He's both a communist and a Catholic, although I gather he's not so much an observant Catholic as he is a cultural one.

[lzz.livejournal.com]

We ended up in a bizarre cocktail bar the other night which was themed around the Cuban Revolution. It had cocktails with names like "Sweet Ernesto" and AK-47s on the walls.

[ironed_orchid]

But have you seen the Motorcycle diaries - for sure that counts for soemthing?

Hi, I'm popping back in time after linking to this post.