Memoir for America

Modern empire screams- it's better here!

Ideology of ... Myself?

I don't really think that I have a specific ideology. Like most people my age, I play life by ear and don't plan my actions based on a particular set of beliefs/ values. Obviously, I believe in all abstract morals that everyone does: honesty, kindness, trust, etc. However, I don't think that simply hoping to have good morals distinguishes me and my ideology. I don't really understand how anyone my age can be so sure and set in their beliefs. 

Maybe, in my quest to "discover who I am" as I grow up, I will find out the specifics of my personal ideology. Who knows?

Apples to Oranges?

I'm glad that Pakistan is being more accepting to the US's help in controlling their country. However, I can't help but wonder what our motivations are for helping. They clearly aren't totally altruistic, or we'd be aiding the government in unstable places such as Sudan or the Congo. Though our judgment may be clouded when it comes to getting involved in Pakistan's troubles, I can't say that we are like Che in Bolivia.
Che was trying to overthrow the current government in Bolivia to spur other communist revolutions in Latin America. He had little to no support even from the Bolivian Communist Party.
The US is trying to stabilize the current Pakistani government and wipe out rebels such as Che. I don't think we should get so involved in other countries' affairs, especially countries that could very likely turn around and betray us, but our efforts are moving Pakistan toward a more stable future.

Voice

"Okay, but this is this is how the typewriter interpreted those fleeting impulses raising my fingers to the keys, and those impulses have now died." 

This represents Che's tone. This tone is kind of melancholy or bitter- not exactly a happy way to begin a story. The reader gets the feeling that Che is dissatisfied with the story, or something else.

"But I'll leave you now, with myself, the man I used to be..." 

This also exhibits Guevara's tone. This tone is rather wistful and melancholy. It shows the reader that the book is somewhat of a coming-of-age or transformation story. Che seems to miss the innocence of youth, or the naivete he used to have.

Loneliness of Adventure

3. "There is nothing lonelier than adventure."(22)

"There is nothing lonelier than adventure," he said, stirring his tea slowly, adding another packet of Splenda. I didn't care to respond, only shooting him a quizzical look.
Taking a sip, he brushed the sugar off of the table. "People think they'll come back and everything will be exactly the same, but it's not. Journeys change people."
I rolled my eyes. He was getting philosophical again. It was so hard to drag my Grandfather back down to earth from the dreamworld he usually inhabited.
"That's all well and good, but I was just about to tell you that I'm leaving tomorrow at nine..."
The corners of his mouth turned up. "You're just like I was when I was your age. Stubborn. Rash."
"Thanks."
I looked up again, to see his rheumy eyes more watery than usual. "The army makes you strong. Tough, but strong." He paused, taking a sip of the steaming tea. "This is too strong."
I agreed, and we descended into our comfortable blanket of silence.
Minutes later, he broke it, looking across the table and into my eyes for the first time. "I'm proud of you."

Ideology of Che

Che Guevara is most known today because of his ideology- beliefs that he ended up giving up his life for. His strong faith in socialism and Marxism's ideals governed the course of his life; because of them he became the controversial revolutionary.
Guevara believed that all people are created equal, and deserve the exact same treatment in every part of life. People should work voluntarily to improve society and personal ownership is a sign of greed and oppression. Che wanted his life philosophy to be spread all over the third world, whether by peaceful means or no. Anything motivated by personal gain was strictly forbidden and a force of evil imperialism in his book. To Che, the individual was nothing. The only thing that mattered to him was the "common good"- an abstract idea that consumed him until his execution in the Bolivian jungle.
John Lennon's socialist anthem "Imagine" reflects a great portion of Che's ideology in the lyrics.

Preview to Motorcycle Diaries

The Front Cover • It’s by Che Guevara- not exactly the best character
• It’s a New York Times bestseller
o Must be well-written
o Or controversial
• Picture of Che Guevara on the front
• It’s a ‘journey’ story, kind of like On the Road
• Will this be good? Is Guevara a good writer?

The Back Cover
• Travelogue sort of story about Guevara’s journey across Latin America
• Lots of good reviews
• Takes place when Che was 23

Inside the Book
• Copywritten 2003
• No dedication
• Brief chronology of Guevara’s life and itinerary of Che’s journey
• No other titles.
• He writes very well- with a descriptive, educated sound

OVERALL IMPRESSION
I see this as a classic “coming of age” story, albeit set in Latin America. Throughout his travels in Latin America, Guevara will discover much about himself and his culture. I think it will be well-written and enjoyable, though I do not foresee myself agreeing with his ideology.
Glen Beck portrayed Guevara as a cold-blooded killer, a Hitler wannabe, even. The book seems to show Guevara as a tragic hero who died for the Latin American cause. I believe the true Che was somewhere in the middle- a man who meant well for his people, but employed brutal tactics, and fell into corruption the longer he was associated with the cause. I am eagerly anticipating beginning the Motorcycle Diaries- though Guevara's views are suspect in my opinion, they still should be interesting to read.

Book Previews

I know it sounds bad, but I really judge books by their covers. The cover can reveal a lot about the author's style. A example of a book cover that caught my attention early was The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon. The book didn't really end up to be my style, but I still enjoyed it.
Reviews on the front and back covers also affect my choice on whether to read a book. If a book is endorsed by something as reputable as the New York Times or Chicago Tribune I am more likely to consider reading it.
Finally, the synopsis on the back cover of a novel is very important to me. It is only through these summaries that one can get a first taste of what the story will be like.

Response to Glen Beck Video

I agree with Beck. Most people don’t know the facts about Che Guevara. He may have stood for ideals, but so did Stalin originally! Even Hitler stood for "high ideals" before he came into power. It doesn’t matter what you believe- the only thing that counts are your actions. Che Guevara’s brutal actions in his bloody communist revolutions don’t make him a hero, they make him a terrorist willing to sacrifice human life.
Beck’s sarcastic style gets across to the audience well.