Write our own DoNow

Is a journey truly endless?

*I chose this question because Che's journey never seemed to end, rather just begin new.

Columbia & Venezuela

The last chapter is titled a "note in the margin" it could be renamed to something such as "Through Great Sacrifice," " Epitome of Hatred and Struggle,"or "Sin and Motivation." These possible new chapter titles give a meaning and a better interlude about the chapter ahead.

Che speaks with emotional interest and with compassion, his imagery is truly vivid:

*"The future belongs to the people, and gradually, or in one strike, they will take power, here and in every country." (pg 164)

*"My sin is greater because I, more astute and with greater experience, call it what you like, will die knowing that my sacrifice stems only from an inflexibility symbolizing our rotten civilization, which is crumbling." (pg 164)

* "You are not aware of how useful your contribution is to the society that sacrifices you." (pg 164)

*"I know this, I see it printed in the nights sky...will take my bloodstained weapon and, consumed with fury, slaughter any enemy who falls into my hands." (pg165)

*"The stars drew light across the night sky in that little mountain village, and the silence and the cold made the darkness vanish away." (pg163)

Word Splash Quiz

Ernesto and Che reach Tarata where there are few inhabitants. They are overcome with hunger and coldness. The people look at the boys as if they are "Demigods" because they visited the land of Peron (Peru). They asked about their experience in Peru, and their encounter with the ALLURINGLY beautiful Evita. They two then find a police station where they then hitch a ride in a truck. The truck made TEDIOUS and frequent stops which prolonged the traveling. Along the trip the two experience a ritual which they found ENIGMATIC, it was not until later that they were told the story behind the strange cerimony. Once reaching their destination they met a teacher. The teacher spoke very highly about his people. He spoke him mind on the people and the INDIGENCE in which they lived. He wished the people had money to build good schools so that they could be properly educated. He told of how the sick people lived with a FATALISTIC mind set on their death, and that all they had left to hope for was that their children could achieve what they couldn't. They reach Puno which is a PLACID lake and realized soon after that it was a Checkpoint for Foreingers and it was IMPERVIOUS for them to cross. They ended up having to stay overnight until they found a way to get across. This IMPENDED on their trip, but early the next day they got a ride across on boat which they had to pay for, and at that point money was scarce. They reached the Naval of the World. They stayed with a sergeant at a police station, who was drunk when they met him. The man even tried to pay Che to shoot him gun near his mouth in attempt to shoot his cigarett, which Che was ABHORRENT to,despite the offer of money. They travel again and come to the Naval, the location of the EVACTIVELY beautiful Cuzco Empire.

Essential Question

Ernesto's motorcycle journey though Latin America was the journey that uncovered who he was, and who he was supposed to be. His transformation from a young man with aspirations and passion for exploration and understanding to a strong and over empowering leader was the result of time and influence.

Ernesto was a young man in search for his place in life. His goals and motives were certain, yet who he was was not clear from the beginning. One can deduce that he was a leader for certain. He was a master at getting what he wanted, and manipulating people into helping him get ahead. When Che had/was given 479 soles Alberto had only 163 1/2 soles. When they were both given shirts, Ernesto also got a pair of pants. He was always one up from Alberto, rather he was always one up from everyone. That was just the way he wanted it. He flirted with power, and he became absorbed in himself without notice it seemed. It is however uncertain as to if he chose to become who he became or if he changed because he had to.

Ernesto never seemed to follow anyone, he never wanted to watch people live their lives, instead he wanted to live his own life and have everyone else follow him. He became a leader by choice and by destiny. His purpose was clear and he lead with strength and motivation.

He also became a Hero, his followers saw his as the man that led them to victory. He was in reality a normal person who lived a normal life, and was given an abnormal opportunity to rise above his possible preordained destiny. It is probable that he set out to do something extraordinary, but it seems as if who he became was not that of who he was in actuality.

Chile

(page 70)
After Che suffered from the flu, and then recovered he returned for a follow up appointment to ensure good health. He met a women who made a living as a waitress until she became consumed with asthma and a terrible heart condition due to unhealthy living conditions. He reflected upon the circumstances such as hers in which doctors feel worthless and incapable of helping the person. Che came to many realizations in this passage that would shape him, and remind him of the struggle that makes us all human... later on when his character takes an opposite direction. "It is there, in the final moments, for people whose farthest horizon has always been tomorrow, that one comprehends the profound tragedy circumscribing the life of the proletariat the world over. (pg70)" Che and Alberto's experience on the road gave them understanding that would have a great effect on their lives, that would come only with experience, penetrate deep into their character. Their morals became momentous and with meeting this woman Che realized that the proletariat's of the world, those that work hard to make a living also are the ones that struggle. They were able to see that life is not just a site seeing motorcycle adventure, its a journey full of struggle and a strive to make your way. This set a goal for the boys to not only see the world, but to "see" all that it really entails behind the scenery and people..to see life as it truly is.

Six Word Memoir

With tragedy, comes hope for change.

Apples to Apples

The American Special Forces Army is coming into Pakistan and providing them with new combat tactics to fight off the Al Qaeda and the Taliban in the Country. This article is similar to what Che started in Bolivia in that they both involved military forces secretly helping in creating a military revolution. This revolution began by another individual/country on behalf of another.

Argentina

“These lips can only describe what these eyes actually see.” This quotation goes to show that he is open minded, and willing to find truth in what he encounters. The reader can hear a voice of understanding and hope. From this we can tell that Che is a hopeful man, who was able to see things so clearly and abstractly finding meaning in certain things that we push aside and do not consider. The use of “describe” and “actually” set a tone of thought and certainty.

"Hearing the end when in reality we have just begun." This shows that Che is aware of what is around him, and where he stands. He realizes that there is a future for him, in which he will soon embark upon. Yet again we can tell that Che is hopeful. He seems to not believe that there are ever endings in his life, rather several beginnings that act as catalysts to his future. The words "hearing" and "just" create a voice of question. Reading it we too consider if we are "just" beginning our lives, and if we can "hear" an end to it.

Hemingway

"For Sale. Baby Shoes. Never Worn."

Punctuation is key with this, this could be seen as positive or negative also. It can be seen as negative for it could be telling a story of a baby that did not make it to birth, and the purchased baby shoes are what remain of the beautiful life that had turned into lost hope. In attempt to move on from the sorrowful event they sell the unworn baby shoes to someone that was more fortunate then they. It is positive in maybe a young couple had conceived a baby too soon and carelessly. They had experienced the tangled and stressful journey of teenage irresponsibility, and as a stroke of fate(in their case) the baby had not made it to birth and instead resulted in a miscarriage. Those shoes were left as a reminder to the two, and with the lesson learned they no longer needed something material to remind them.

Who am I?

Who do I want to become, and what impact do I want to have on the world around me?

This question is one in which I have been trying to figure out all of my life. Although I have not reached a (simple) answer, I have a more complex view on the question. I want to become the person that I am supposed to be, with the belief that we all have a purpose to fulfil and a role to play. I realize that I have lost track at times of who I am, and drifted along with others. I am influenced by everyone around me, and the experiences I am faced with. Each new event in my life shapes me, and redefines me over and over again, until I am able to see which person I am not. I wish like many to make a positive impact on the world around me. I never want to be forgotten, but I do not want to live in the spotlight. I am what you see, and so much more.

TMD Introduction

There is noting lonelier than adventure…
We seek, but loose our way
The path is uncertain, but we find certainty in what we don’t know
Our steps penetrate the new ground
The masterpiece before us is like a blank canvas ready to be painted
The strokes uneasy, yet encouraged by the excitement within me

Ideology

There are many things in my life, foundations, ideals, that I value immensely and would defend when offended. Although with all those things there is an extent in which I would/could defend them. This is not because I am selfish and think only of myself, but because maybe I just have yet to find something that I truly value. Like much of life we learn more about ourselves as our lives continue, and things such as values inevitably change. What seemed to matter before may not matter (or not as much) anymore.

Reactions to first showing of movie

After watching the segment from El Che a single thought lingered in my mind. Why is it that Hitler has gone down in history for being a malicious killer, unstable/insane, and a dictator that could not be beaten, yet Che seems to hide only in shadows despite killing numerous amounts more and inflicting more chaos than Hitler. Why is it that Che has gotten away with so much? Is it because in the eyes of the people Che has been created into a Hollywood icon instead of a killer? How can a man act in such a way yet we seem to condone it?

Like the Rough Riders, Che hopped on his motorcycle for the journey of a lifetime. Che began his journey on a single idea, but early in his journey he was faced with much more than he probably expected. He experienced Marxism, Capitalism, Das Kapital, and Karl Marx.

Compairing Other Books

Our summer reading book, "Into The Wild," could have been considered a travel diary. "Into The Wild" was a detailed summary of Chris's life, and his journey from boyhood to adulthood. What stuck out in that book was the emotions and thoughts were detailed and able to be felt. It was as if I was on the journey alongside the main character. The style was inviting and louring, descriptive, and creative. I expect that "The Motorcycle Diaries" will be similar in style and the idea of "search for self" in terms of the main characters struggle. Although, it will be different because the main characters seem to have a much different journey and motivation for travel. In comparison to the two other books that we have read we will not be looking for a deeper meaning or symbolism. Instead, we will be reading about a bigger picture that will be a one-sided perspective.

Preface Comparison

I found that learning using the poems and stories such as "Flying Home" as comparisons were great resources while reading. The poems were interpretive so we were able to make realizations that reflected ourselves. We spent a much time learning about the author and I feel that that information we have learned helped hold and justify the plot. In Ellison's speech he described the reasons behind the novel, and what made it different from every other "black novel." Reading/hearing Ellison's story allowed me to "believe" the book because it was more so true and based on Ellison's reality. His life was reflected in the novel, and after being educated on his life I could understand the book better.

Epiphany

An epiphany is an occurrence that happens when we are not expecting it, but with the occurrence comes understanding. It is a realization that you make on life. They bring meaning to the surface of something we had not understood before but has in that moment become so clear and purposeful. It is a revelation that will impact the way you think about things, the way you perceive the world, and the way you see things. It may even change your life.

Che: The Anti-Hero

The speaker speaks extremely sarcastically and accusingly of Che. He suggested that Che's image is contradictory. He is a communist, yet a capitalists. Also, he questions the reasons behind Che's image being imprinted upon t-shirts, and children are supporting him by wearing the shirts. The speaker questions the new fad, he suggests that children are wearing the "Stalin/Hitler" shirts without even a clue as to what they are supporting through wearing such a shirt. He speaks in a biased voice with a harsh and joking tone. He is straight forward with the topic, and his stance on Che can be offensive to many.
The message that the video is sending the viewer is a bit alarming. Sometimes we wear clothing that seems to fit a fad, and often we question why it is stylish, but we go along with it anyway because other people are. If we stop and think about what our clothes may protest or suggest about ourselves we may be surprised. We idolize certain people, but are our reasons feasible or logical. After seeing this clip we must realize how much we make our own opinions and ideas, and how much we are actually persuaded into thinking a certain way.
In the speakers views Che was the "Chief Executioner" and a horrible killer. Yet, everyone is praising him as if he is a hero. How he justified this was through the media brainwashing the public.