Ernesto “Che” Guevara is best known for being a somewhat symbolic figure for the Cuban Revolution in the 1950’s. Today he is often seen on t-shirts as a sign of rebellion. In his address to the United Nations in 1964, his “Colonialism is Doomed” speech, he spoke about his distrust of Colonialism. He found that colonialism limited peace with, “Peaceful coexistence cannot be limited to the powerful countries if we want to ensure world peace.” Forced compliance did not necessarily mean peace, it meant submission. He was influenced by his travels throughout South America when he was younger as a medical student. He saw poverty, hunger and disease in these countries that influenced his ideas and desire for revolution.
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Che Guevara, “Colonialism is Doomed”
Che Guevara was an Argentinian doctor turned Cuban revolutionary and spokesperson whose popularity peaked after the Cuban Revolution of 1959. He became an ally to the Castros, and often spoke out against several American policies. In his speech to the UN in 1964, Colonialism is Doomed, he referenced colonialism as “complacent” and stated, “But imperialism, particularly United States imperialism, has tried to make the world believe that peaceful coexistence is the exclusive right of the great powers on earth.” He referenced the Soviet Union and China as threats to the US and alluded to the bullish ways of NATO and the Turkish government, which he believed eliminated hope for peaceful coexistence.