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December 2008
CHElebrate in London on 2nd January
An icon, a means of identifying with the anti-establishment, a unique mix of the revolutionary ideals and popstar celebrity, always in danger of being commodified out of meaningful existence yet never entirely divorced from its origins. Che poses a problem for versions of the Left uneasy with such contradictions. Simply slap his face on to a leaflet and expect audiences to turn up for meetings, rallies and demos, who would ordinarily snub a political culture that has precious little else to trigger emotional commitment, and we will surely be disappointed.
New Years’ Day 2009 marks the fiftieth anniversary of the Cuban Revolution. Cuba is the ultimate survivor. From the US-backed Batista who Che and Fidel with their ragbag army of guerillas toppled in 1959, to the Bay of PIgs invasion of 1961, the Cuban Missiles Crisis when a previous US President who swept his nation with a message of change, John F. Kennedy, came perilously close to pushing the nuclear button, the well-chronicled assassination attempts on Fidel’s life, the economic blockade. Cuba has survived them all. And since 1989 it has managed without the significant financial and material support which the former USSR and its allies once provided.
This alone makes Cuba very special. But it is the global inspiration that Cuba provides which makes it irresistible for so many. Che of course is the key to this, linking the appeal to its political origins.
But the breadth of the cultural connections that Cuba offers should not be underestimated either. The music of the Buena Vista Social Club has touched tens of millions, the overwhelming majority who would never have been engaged in any kind of solidarity campaigning. Add sport - boxing in particular - dance and ballet, Cuban rum and cocktails, holidaymaking on this most attractive of Caribbean islands. Those immersed in the political intricacies of debating the pros and cons of the Cuban ‘model' and of course human rights issues are invariably part of any such discussion, should not lightly discount the appeal of these multifaceted connections so many make with Cuba.
‘The true revolutionary is motivated by feelings of great love’ wrote Che Guevara. He gave his life for the cause in Bolivia, helped build Cuba’s economy and welfare system, travelled to Africa to contribute to the liberation struggle there and did all this having rejected a privileged upbringing and good career prospects in his native Argentina. Can all this be adequately summed up on a T-shirt? Of course not, but Che’s idealism, Cuba’s survival are ever present however they are worn or depicted. It is the task of politics to make the connections, to turn that faraway ideal of sunny socialismo into something burning bright amongst the grey, drab managerialism of party politics we have to endure when we come out of that cinema.
The CHElebration New Year Party for the 50th Anniversary of the Cuban Revolution is on 2 January 2009 with Radio Revolucion, Hank Wangford, Luke Wright and Movimientos Sound System. At Offside, 271 City Road, London EC1. To book tickets call 020 8802 3499 or email www.philosophyfootball.com
The Revolucion Cubana T-shirt range is available from www.philosophyfootball.com