Classical Values :: "Tou che!"

"Tou che!"

Glenn Reynolds' link to Samizdata's Quote of the Day reminded me that I had missed the 40th anniversary of the Che Guevara's death:

I belong to a Facebook group called "Che Guevara was a murderer and your T-Shirt is not cool". It has 10,935 members. It's not nearly enough. To celebrate the anniversary of his death, why not join up and get on the right side of history?

Well, that's certainly the least I could do, so I just did.

Marc Sidwell also supplied a link to this t-shirt, which is a good way to remember the beloved murderer so many foolish people imagine to be "cool."

I was reminded of a t-shirt I designed (but alas never made), which I thought would probably annoy the Commies more than it would any other group.

I called it the PINO-CHE "T" -- and now that they're both dead, it seemed like a good time to resurrect it.

As I said at the time,

I mean no offense to the victims of either of these two men, as it is not my intent to glorify them. Only offer a little perspective.

(And symmetrical ridicule.)

The post drew Steven Malcolm Anderson's final comment here:

Tou Che!

I'm glad the shirt gave Steven something to laugh about on his last day on earth. I'd give anything to have Steven back, and none of us wants to go.

But if you've gotta go, I can think of worse things to do than laughing at Che Guevara on your way out.

MORE: Don't miss "The BBC's vile infatuation with Che Guevara" -- which begins with this especially vile quote from Che:

"To send men to the firing squad, judicial proof is unnecessary... These procedures are an archaic bourgeois detail. This is a revolution! And a revolutionary must become a cold killing machine motivated by pure hate."
Che Guevara

UPDATE: My thanks to Glenn Reynolds for the link, especially his comment that it "could create all sorts of amusing commotion."

Of course, Glenn has a long history of creating t-shirt commotion, and no doubt the t-shirt humor police will note this latest outburst of politically incorrect shamelessness.

Humor on certain subjects is of course verboten!

MORE: I can't help noticing that Glenn is pictured here (at the bottom of the page), wearing the t-shirt that made such a commotion in the politburo of akademia.

I just tried uploading my design there, but "file uploads are temporarily disabled."

AND MORE: Finally figured it out. The PINO CHE T-shirt is for sale here!

It looks like this:

Go ahead. Outrage your commie friends!

UPDATE: The commotion Glenn predicted seems to be starting (although it's not the type of commotion I expected). More here.

Comments

Thanks for making me both happy and nostalgic.

I joined the facebook group, ordered the t-shirt, and missed Steven all at once.

It's almost enough to make me start thinking about beginning to blog here again.

I could do a multi-part series on the joke that is teacher training in New Jersey, but I don't want to jeopardize my own career.

Dennis · October 14, 2007 09:28 PM

You're always welcome, Dennis.

As to not wanting to jeopardize your career with a "multi-part series on the joke that is teacher training in New Jersey," do you mean you now have a career as a comedian?

Eric Scheie · October 14, 2007 11:00 PM

One might note that Che's murders only made things worse. Pinochet's brought peace to Chile.

Pinochet's legacy for Chile was to fix their Social Security system so it works better than ours.

Che's legacy? Just more murder.

M. Simon · October 15, 2007 01:16 AM

Several years ago I bought a Che T-shirt, and added some words to it:
SI SOS HINCHA DE CHE, SOS HINCHA DE PELOTUDO SIN CEREBRO.

Politely translated from Argentine Spanish grammar and slang:
If you are a fan of Che, you are a fan of a brainless idiot.

Gringo · October 15, 2007 09:26 AM

There's another great Che parody shirt, one which simply says beneath the portrait, "I have no idea who this guy is."

Mad Insomniac · October 15, 2007 12:47 PM

How about this one?

Eric · October 15, 2007 12:59 PM

These guys have some good ones as well:

http://bureaucrash.com/taxonomy/term/243

Kyle Bennett · October 15, 2007 02:00 PM

Every time I get to the bottom of a post here and see "COMMENTS," it reminds me of the surprise I used to get from the things Steven said here.

I'm glad they're still around.

guy on internet · October 15, 2007 02:34 PM

Companeros! What is this? Can I believe my international fraternal brotherhood eyes? How dare you mock the Che'! Why, if only there were two! Twins, if you will. Healthy and vibrant and plump and full of life. I know your mocking ways would cease upon sight of two healthy Che's coming towards you. Just the sight of the two fine Che-Che's would put everyone in a complaint mood! So while you mock, I will be out looking for the Che-Che's - may they wave proudly! Onward!

Californio · October 15, 2007 03:49 PM

I'm always reminded of the other slogan for these T-Shirts that I saw someplace. Also most enjoyable. A T-shirt with Che's face, like normal, but with the added words "This Brutal Communist's Image Brought to You by Capitalists Everywhere."

Truesilver · October 15, 2007 03:55 PM

Che Chia Pet

bour3 · October 15, 2007 06:53 PM

Try that again. Che Guevara Chia Pet>

bour3 · October 15, 2007 06:57 PM

I had a idead for a shirt similar to this but it had Pinoche standing over Che's body like the 'Sic Semper Tyrannus' seal on the Virginia flag with his boot on the chest of Che.

No big fan of Pinoche but knew this would have made the lefties spontano-stroke.

Mike Puckett · October 15, 2007 09:15 PM

Here's one I came up with a while back. Someone later actually made one much like it.

Ken S, Fifth String on the Banjo of Life · October 16, 2007 09:40 AM