Forty years ago today, Che Guevara was killed by CIA-backed Bolivian soldiers, and the anniversary has prompted gatherings around the Latin world—Bolivian President Evo Morales, fresh off a visit to The Daily Show, choppered in for an event near the site where Che was killed. Predictably, media outlets have published a slew of stories about the man, the myth, the travelers on the “Che Trail” and the iconic image.
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Today’s Los Angeles Times features a fascinating front page story about efforts in Bolivia and beyond to transform Che Guevara historical sites into major tourist attractions. The article also touches on Che-related commercial absurdity beyond Latin America, noting: “The Republica Trading Co. collection—available at retail outlets such as Bloomingdale’s and Fred Segal—includes a $98 Che cashmere sweater. When Johnny Depp posed for the cover of GQ magazine last year, he wore a Che medallion.” Ugh.
