Che Guevara by Mason

Che Guevara by Mason - April 2014 Scholarship Essay

Throughout my experiences in literature I have come to realize that the stories that stick out to me the most have not been works of fiction, but rather the biographical and auto-biographical stories of some of history’s most prominent figures. From the Roman Emperor Tiberius Claudius to Thomas L. Friedman and even Eric Prince, reading about people’s personal struggles and how these great people have dealt with said struggles are what have aided in shaping my view on the world as well as my life. The tales that I believe have taught me the most would be the set of three diaries by Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara.

From what is written in newspapers and spoken on television in the United States, you would be led to believe that Che Guevara was an insurgent with extremist beliefs. Buzz words like “extremist”, “murderer”, “homophobe”, and even “terrorist” are all attached to Ernesto’s name, and cause Che to be seen as an enemy to the American people. Even I believed these tails as true until I read Che’s first diary. “The Motor Cycle Diaries” chronicle Ernesto’s travels across Latin America after his graduation from medical school. During this journey Che first encountered the extreme poverty of South America.

The single most important message I picked up from Che’s writing is to be vigilant of wrongdoings being perpetrated by governments and not to turn a blind eye to injustice. Once I saw the world through Che’s eyes, I saw that he could have easily stayed in Argentina and lived a very comfortable life as a doctor. I asked myself what would cause a person to leave so much behind for a foreign land, and I found the answer in a quote from Che, “At the risk of sounding ridiculous, a true revolutionary is guided by great feelings of love.” Once I read this I understood Che’s motivation for his actions; his love for all people and his hatred for injustice.

Another admirable trait I’ve taken from Che through his writing is how humble Che truly was. Once the Cuban Revolution was finalized and Che was named the Minister of the Interior of the new Cuba, he required all journalists wanting to interview him or even take his photograph to work on a farm for at least two weeks. He also would work at the Havana docks and local meat markets on Sundays, for no pay, as to assimilate with the Cuban people. This humble nature found in Mr. Guevara has inspired me to remain humble and remember that I am no better than my neighbor, and my neighbor is not better than I.
The extreme poverty that Che witnessed through his travels was the creation of despots, some of which were funded by the American government. These men sought to rob their bountiful countries of their natural resources and pocket all of the profits that they could. These corrupt dictators are the inspiration for Che’s revolutionary spirit and the reason for his affiliation with Fidel Castro. Reading the firsthand account of Che’s journey and revolutionary stories spoke to me in ways that no other literature ever had. These books are the reason I plan on traveling the impoverished countries of the world and aiding those who are truly struggling to survive.

Like Che I intend to become a medical professional. I have been inspired to pursue a career in medical grade orthotics and prosthetics to help impoverished people, who without aid will be forced to walk on improperly developed feet and live a life of incredible pain. I may not be derailing trains and assaulting military outposts as Mr. Guevara did, but the revolution I will fight is a medical aid revolution, a revolution to get the needed funds to the people who are truly in need. This drive in me, this fire, was ignited by Che and his stories written in his diaries. I will do all I can to succeed in this goal. People are in need, and it seems to me that western countries don’t do enough to help the ones who need it.