Che Guavara

Ernesto "Che" Guevara was an Argentine Marxist revolutionary, physician, author, guerrilla leader, diplomat, and military theorist. A major figure of the Cuban Revolution, his stylized visage has become a ubiquitous counter cultural symbol of rebellion and global insignia in popular culture.

Not many youth know the reason why they idolize Che Guevara or consider him an iconic hero. Here is some genuine traits that made Che Guevara an icon and a worldwide emblem for a wide range of causes.

Fighting for countries not his own

Che Guevara is considered a modern day saint by many people that see him as a man who risked and finally gave his life to fight for a cause in different countries like Cuba and Bolivia that were not his own. The social inequalities due to monopolization and imperialism of economy by the selfish few appalled him. He was highly driven by his moral and ideology, rather than money or power to bring equality. In parts of La Higuera, the people pray to him as “Saint Ernesto,” although his sainthood is not acknowledged by the Vatican.

Fighting against land Monopoly

Che Guevara fought against people who monopolized the land for their personal gains. He is responsible for increasing land reform laws throughout many regions. The reformation initiated by Che Guevara allowed the breaking of large landholdings to be redistributed among the peasants especially under the agrarian reforms laws introduced in Cuba. He brought down drastically the number of people who were monopolizing land for satisfying their greed.

Improving literacy rate among poor

Che Guevara, who was an enthusiastic and eclectic reader, led the literary campaign to increase the literacy rate Cuba successfully. He realized that lack of literacy and education was holding back the progress of the country, especially of the peasants. He influenced the Cuban government to build schools to educate the poor and the peasant class. Under his guidance, the Cuba’s literacy rate shot up to 96%, which is the highest ever the country has seen.

Putting ideals before ambitions

Che Guevara could have settled into his career as a doctor, but he chose to fight for ideals which were formed during his famous trip through poor regions of South America. From a medical student, he transformed into a soldier to fight for the cause of poor and oppressed. Fidel and Raul Castro saw the leadership and reformative potential in Guevara and included him in their fight. His purging of Cuba has earned him the title ‘The Butcher of La Cabaña’.