Happy 40th, Che!

Monday is the 40th anniversary of the death of Che Guevarra. He was killed here in a remote village in Southcentral Bolivia. There are thousands of people from all over the world making the long trek to Valle Grande to commemorate his life and vision. I have been told by many that it is a spectacle to attend and a once in a lifetime opportunity. I have to admit that I thought about making the journey this weekend, but I decided that the purpose of curiousity was not enough. I passed up the once in a lifetime opportunity because although I support a lot of what Che stood for, I can´t back the violent means he turned to in an attempt to reach his goals in the later years. There is more truth to his story than the iconic and overused symbol that he has become since his death. Although I´m not in Valle Grande this weekend, I plan to continue to look into the life of this Latin American revolutionary, whose vision still pulses very strongly through the people here. There is a deep and emotional truth to his vision for justice that I am only beginning to understand.