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The Reagan-Guevara debate
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by Peter Sielski
Wednesday, February 7, 2007
Despite the bitterly cold weather, the University of Wisconsin College Republicans met Tuesday night to hear about two national revolutionaries — Ronald Regan and Che Guevara.
The political organization invited Floyd Brown from the Young America's Foundation, to present "Who's the Bigger Revolutionary: Reagan or Guevara?"
Guevara was a controversial political figure in who led Cuban and international guerrillas.
"We wanted to do something different rather then get a politician to come in. YAF pitched the idea to me a couple of months ago," said Erica Christenson, chair of the College Republicans. "We wanted a lecture — I thought it was a unique idea."
In his speech, Brown presented both Reagan and Guevara as revolutionary icons in society. After establishing grounds for classifying as a revolutionary, Brown contrasted in depth the influential lives of both leaders.
Guevara was portrayed through facts and quotes — sometimes taken directly from his diaries — as a Marxist, a blood-thirsty murderer, a womanizer and a man who failed politically, economically and militarily.
Reagan, on the other hand, was shown as a man with a "different philosophy," according to Brown.
"Where Che's philosophy was, let's kill as many of them as we can, Ronald Reagan's philosophy was, 'Let's have strength, peace through strength, and once we are strong, let's extend the hand of friendship,'" Brown said.
Brown highlighted Reagan's economic policy, which added 40 million new jobs and increased the GDP by more than 70 percent.
According to Brown, Guevara was "the perfect icon for Marxism as … a failed ideology" and he contrasted with Reagan as "a perfect icon for modern conservatism."
Brown also spoke about the Guevara T-shirt craze among young people on campus.
"He's an icon to the left — look all over the campus; you will find people wearing shirts with him on it," Brown said. "You don't see them wearing shirts with Lennon, you don't see them wearing shirts with Bill Clinton — they are identifying with Che."
UW sophomore Andrew Wright said the meeting provided an opportunity to hear a unique perspective.
"I like to come to these meetings when I'm not working, and I have a good time," Wright said. "It's fun, and I'm interested in the different speakers they have."
The College Republicans also discussed the upcoming Associated Students of Madison student elections as well as the spring elections from the College Republicans.
Christenson said they will host mayoral candidate Ray Allen, who they recently endorsed, to speak at their next meeting in two weeks. The College Democrats endorsed Dave Cieslewicz last week.
"We don't have a specific plan for elections; we want to, however, get people into the habit of voting," Christenson said, "and [to] take advantage of the absentee ballots so that we can have a stronger voice on campus."
The general election is set for Apr. 3, which coincides with UW's spring break. The primary, which will narrow the field from four candidates to two, will be Feb. 20.
Anonymous (February 7, 2007 @ 10:54am):
I love seeing all those college kids walking around with the Reagan t-shirts. Oh, wait.
Anonymous (February 7, 2007 @ 12:04pm):
Guevara is not an icon to the left, you ignorant blow-hard. Guevara is an icon to hippy poser anarchists who want nothing to do with the American political system.
Reagan was great... at running up deficits. Indeed, the father of neo-conservatism.
Anonymous (February 7, 2007 @ 5:14pm):
wow. this guy should not be allowed to publicly talk about che. his misguided and biased conclusions about che's life and accomplishments are sickening. can someone please sue him?
Anonymous (February 7, 2007 @ 9:41pm):
ummm you cannot sue on the behalf of someone who is dead and if you were there you would see that Floyd merely cited statements out of Che's personal diaries.... yeah that's really misguided and biased you ignorant dope
Anonymous (June 17, 2008 @ 6:20pm):
Moron... Read this: http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=1120&full=1
Typical liberal... Thinks he actually knows something about economics.
Second moron... Che was a loser who didn't have a clue about what a real economic system was and how to unite that with a political system. But then again... Most Marxists fail to see the one thing about humanity that overcomes all others - the ability to try and better themselves.
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