This weekend in Rosario, the city celebrated the 80^th birthday of its most famous native son, Ernesto “Che” Guevara, by erecting a statue of him made from the bronze keys of thousands of Argentines. There were also free films, plays, and exhibitions of Guevara’s life for residents and visitors alike to enjoy. Surprisingly, the statue of Guevara, now standing in the newly built Ernesto “Che” Guevara Plaza, is the first such monument to Guevara in his homeland. During the military dictatorship, such a public homage to a communist hero would have been unthinkable. On Saturday, thousands of students, left wing activists, and residents of Rosario marched to see the statue and pay their respect to a figure that the city council says is now more “historical” than “controversial.”

VIA The Scotsman