Galway city has been warned a proposed statue of revolutionary Che Guevara will be a deep insult to many Americans by the influential head of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen of Florida.
“Whether or not the city council of Galway, Ireland, constructs a much-discussed monument to Che Guevara, the possibility that it might occur ought to insult all of us who care about the cause of democracy and historical accuracy," Ros-Lehtinen wrote in NJ.com the online arm of the Star-Ledger newspaper, the largest publication in New Jersey.
Ros-Lehinten wrote that the upcoming Galway Arts Festival will be damaged by the proposed statue.
“Galway’s beautiful beaches and vibrant arts festival will be marred with a memorial to a man who wished to end their way of life and violently replace it with tyranny.”
Che, full name Ernesto Guevara Lynch, had Irish links. A festival in his honor was arranged for nearby County Clare earlier this year.
Che’s father, Ernest Guevara Lynch, said "The first thing to note is that in my son's veins flowed the blood of the Irish rebels," in a 1969 interview.
He went on: "Che inherited some of the features of our restless ancestors. There was something in his nature which drew him to distant wandering, dangerous adventures and new ideas."
Guevara's Irish links have been traced to Galway, and one Patricio Lynch, the founder of the Argentine branch of his family, was said to have been born in Galway in 1715. From there he spent some time in Spain before eventually settling in Argentina.
Galway City Council agreed to erect a statue in his honor but it has proven a highly controversial move.
American politicians, especially those of Cuban descent have strongly objected.
“The romanticized reputation of Ernesto “Che” Guevara as a liberator and freedom fighter is nothing more than a myth of the Cuban revolution. In reality, Guevara was a mass murderer and a bigot.” Ros-Lehtinen wrote.
“Che Guevara embodied hatred. Using his own words, he exulted 'hatred as an element of the struggle' to transform a person into a 'violent, selective and cold killing machine.'" Ros-Lehinten wrote.
“During the Cuban missile crisis of 1962, Guevara expressed support for unleashing nuclear war with the United States and was reportedly furious when the Soviet Union withdrew the offensive weapons later that autumn after the crisis was defused.”
The iconic image of Guevera worn by youth worldwide was created by Dublin artist Jim FitzPatrick.
"Celebrating Che Guevara glorifies oppressors and weakens democracies around the world. ... The democratically-elected council in Galway can ignore the objections of a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, but it cannot ignore the truth of history. The planned monument only spreads the myth of Guevara, and rewrites a disturbing history that must not be forgotten.” she concluded.
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.plynch1036 | May 06, 2013, 07:37 PM EDT
ask anyone outside of her district if they know who she is...she's a complete unknown and she's probably going to stay that way ...I'm going to Galway in the near future and I'll be sure to visit the memorial of the doctor who turned revolutionary because he found a disease that was very curable... injustice
Stiofain | Jul 06, 2012, 08:50 PM EDT
Greendays: Che Guevara family (grandmother) came from Co. Galway. His full name is Ernesto Guevara y Lynch. Congresswoman Illeana Ros-Lehtinen is from Cuba, hyphenated her husbands last name is Ros (also rep. from Florida. Different districts?!)
Greendays | Jul 06, 2012, 02:51 PM EDT
Two questions? What kind of name is Illeana Ros-Lehtinen anyway? And why would anybody in Ireland errect a statue of Che? I'm sure there must be a titilating story behind it.
Stiofain | Jul 06, 2012, 12:59 AM EDT
indiana jones: There is gleem of truth in your words. Bring another dram of "Red Breast",please. Yah,yes...better to see now...what must be done, none the least, done. No Valor in it, must be done,the last act of war,the last act of attribution.Someone must do it.Or worse will come.Who is it to be Commandant?Who is it to be? Yes, We understand (Salute).
indiana jones | Jul 05, 2012, 08:37 AM EDT
I THINK THAT WOMAN ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEM IS A TOTAL MORON....SHE WAS THE ONE THAT OPPOSED TO CUBA GOING TO THE "CUMBRE DE LAS AMÉRICAS" IN CARTAGENA, COLOMBIA....SHE HAS THE NERVE TO CALL CHÉ GUEVARA A "BIGOT" WHEN SHE IS THE IMPERSONATION OF BIGOTRY HERSELF....AS FOR THOSE CUBANS EXILED IN MIAMI, THEY ARE A BUNCH OF RESENTED INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE CAUSED FELLOW CUBANS,AT THE ISLAND, A LOT OF MISERY BY INSISTING THE USA KEEP UP AN ABSURD BOYCOT ON CUBA....CHÉ GUEVARA CAME FROM AM ARGENTINIAN MIDDLE CLASS FAMILY AND HE BECAME A DOCTOR IN MEDICINE....RIGHT OR WRONG, HE HAD THE COURAGE TO FIGHT FOR HIS DREAMS AND IDEALS....WHEN CAPTURED, HE DID NOT BETRAY THE REVOLUTION, AND ACCEPTED HIS FATE BRAVELY....A CUBAN EX-CIA TRAINEE THAT PARTICIPATED IN HIS CAPTURE,IN BOLIVIA, TELLS IN A BOOK HE WROTE ABOUT CHÉ GUEVARA, THAT "EL CHÉ" SAID HE PREFERRED TO DIE BECAUSE HE SHOULD HAVE NOT ALLOWED HIMSELF TO BE TAKEN PRISONER....THAT SAME CUBAN EX-CIA EMPLOYEE CALLED CHÉ GUEVARA "AN ASSASSIN"....JA! FUNNY THING TO SAY COMING FROM A CIA COLLABORATOR! AS FAR AS I KNOW, THE CIA IS NOT PRECISELY KNOWN FOR BEING KIND-HEARTED WITH THE ENEMY....CHÉ GUEVARA WAS A REVOLUTIONARY, A "GUERRILLERO", AND -OF COURSE- HAD TO FIGHT IN ORDER TO SURVIVE....I THINK ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEM MUST CLEAN HER OWN BACKYARD BEFORE TRYING TO CLEAN THE NEIGHBOUR'S....SHE HAS A LOT OF TRASH TO CLEAN UP AT HOME....CERTAINLY SHE HAS NO MORAL RIGHT TO JUDGE A MAN LIKE CHÉ GUEVARA! ONE MORE THING, "EL CHÉ" WAS SO DAMNED GOOD LOOKING AND MANLY THAT -FOR THAT REASON ALONE- HE DESERVES TO HAVE A STATUE MADE IN HIS HONOR! THEY SAY THAT ART IS BEAUTY....WELL THEN,"EL CHÉ" WAS CERTAINLY BEAUTIFUL! ¡VIVA EL CHÉ!
seanomelb | Jul 03, 2012, 11:26 PM EDT
Scrivner is spot on roryobrien.Don't spend the rest of your life in denial.
Stiofain | Jul 03, 2012, 08:57 PM EDT
BrainO: Sorry didn't mean any character assassination,I thought I left that to someone else. But, the GOP is trying to take away voters rights, FACT! And there was a LOT more then the liberal media, and lefty students that brought the end to the South East Asia conflict...like the Vietnamese people.
seanomelb | Jul 03, 2012, 07:21 PM EDT
Scrivner you're in denial you got your ass whipped in Vietnam,just accept the truth and it will set you free. The Americans went cap in hand to the Paris peace talks to try and save some face.
roryobrien | Jul 03, 2012, 03:38 PM EDT
What do I think?? I'd like to kick Scrivner's ridiculous insulting blindfolded arse very, very hard. I had a good friend, Tommy Entwistle (RIP)a US marine who did not 1 but 2 tours of duty in Vietnam and was at Da Nang. Tommy fought bravely and defended his buddies but he would always agree "Charlie" had the upper hand because the land belonged to him and US ideology of the kind Scrivner espouses meant nothing to the Vietnamese, the vast majority of whom didn't know Jack S T about Marxism but knew what it was to fight for their country. So STFU!!!
WoundedKnee | Jul 03, 2012, 02:50 AM EDT
Spazmo ---If you indeed know these jerks, and if your account is true, maybe next time you see them you'd tell them that I'd like to do with them what they did to Padraic O Conaire.
BrianO | Jul 02, 2012, 11:19 PM EDT
Stiofain, check your facts before you make accusations, try a different page of sal's book the demean your opponents is growing old and boring.
sirpeter | Jul 02, 2012, 09:25 PM EDT
edmundburke.Sorry in Cork we only put up statues of Corkmen.Irish by birth.Corkmen/women by the grace of God.
Stiofain | Jul 02, 2012, 07:51 PM EDT
Rep Ros-Lehinteh should keep her nose in Florida, where their trying to take voter rights away, like her party (GOP) is trying to every where. And Scrivner you are simply wrong!
edmundburke | Jul 02, 2012, 07:09 PM EDT
I think the Che statue should be moved next to the Mother Jones memorial in Cork. Space should also be reserved there for the future statues of Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness. It could be called Cork's Communist Corner!
DaddyMac22 | Jul 02, 2012, 06:01 PM EDT
I can't wait until it is up, to go pay homage to a great visionary man.
GregShox | Jul 02, 2012, 05:43 PM EDT
Scrivner -- What part of the United States did those Vietnamese commies attack when you were defending your homeland?
GregShox | Jul 02, 2012, 05:40 PM EDT
Scrivner - damn those Vietnamese Commies for invading the USA. And full credit to you for defending your country against them.
Scrivner | Jul 02, 2012, 04:15 PM EDT
Byhthebay, I can't let that false idea go unchallenged: the US military did not lose in Viet Nam, the conflict was lost in the US media and in state colleges. Every major battle, from the Delta to I Corps, including the Tet Offensive, US Army, Marines and ARVN won. US Navy and Air Force pilots ruled the sky and coastal shipping was monitored. Like any war, there were friendly fire situations and rogue elements (MyLai), but compared to VC and NVA terror tactics US forces were definitely the "good guys." Meanwhile, back home, the media types were growing bored with a war of attrition and a clumsy gov't line, and the old left, which had been suppressed in the 1950's, was worming its way back into academia and media. They helped whip up public anger at German Nazi's and Japanese Imperialists, but when it came to standing up to communist tyranny, they easily decided to fight against liberty and freedom. When US forces finally left and Uncle Ho's minions herded thousands into "re-education" camps more than two million refugees voted with their feet rather than welcome a regime that wanted to enslave them.
GregShox | Jul 02, 2012, 02:08 PM EDT
Micksr -- At least you saved America from becoming a German-speaking country, apart from Pennsylvania of course. And Indiana. Pesky Amish troublemakers.
Joe Kelsall | Jul 02, 2012, 01:58 PM EDT
Michael McGrath - The best staue in the WORLD of John Lennon is in the John Lennon Park, Havana. It was unveiled by Fidel Castro and is worth travelling to see. John was a 'Che' who used music as his weapon. Hence his assassination.
GregShox | Jul 02, 2012, 01:54 PM EDT
He probably means German rugby and cricket.
Bythebay | Jul 02, 2012, 12:47 PM EDT
micksr, no doubt you don't know American, eg. US children play rugby and cricket and the US has rugby and cricket teams. Shocking to you I'm sure.
Bythebay | Jul 02, 2012, 12:38 PM EDT
micksr, the Irish (Ireland) Rugby team is well known around the world, apparently not in the US. They soundly defeated the England team in a spectacular match at Croke Park on October 30, 2007. It was an incredible match including the singing of God Save the Queen. Ireland's cricket team have been in the World Cup and European Cup and have done well.
Spazmo | Jul 02, 2012, 12:20 PM EDT
It was neither an English stag party nor a bunch of boys with hammers who took the head of the statue. It was some boys from Armagh down for the weekend drinking and one of them done a flying kick to the statue and the head fell off. They tried to take the head back with them on the bus but an alert Garda seen them struggling with the bag and nabbed them. I know two of them personally, that's the real story.
WoundedKnee | Jul 02, 2012, 11:44 AM EDT
You're a liar, ciaradexy, the ones who smashed the O Conaire statue were Irish. Why can't you ever tell the truth?
GregShox | Jul 02, 2012, 11:14 AM EDT
Micksr -- In my town, Limerick, rugby is a hugely popular sport. Our local Munster team have won the European Rugby Cup twice. I'm surprised that, as an Irish-American, you wouldn't know how widely rugby is played in Ireland. As a matter of interest, how did you think America would have saved Irish children from cricket and rugby?
Bythebay | Jul 02, 2012, 10:04 AM EDT
micksr, people in Ireland and Irish children play cricket and rubgy. You apparently never kept up with real Irish history in the US. As for your service in Viet Nam, the US pillaged, robbed and murdered innocent civilians there and lost the war which they started. Your attitude wouldn't be welcome in Galway or elsewhere in Ireland.
Fearbruscar | Jul 02, 2012, 10:04 AM EDT
Che Guevara lorg an scrios núicléach de mo thír. Ní ba mhaith liom a bheith compordach ag tabhairt cuairte ar chathair go onóracha Che Guevara. Is breá liom cathrach na Gaillimhe agus ba chóir go mbraitheann gan fáilte rompu seo dealbh a thógáil.
AnPiobaire | Jul 02, 2012, 10:03 AM EDT
When the strongly warned citizens of Galway write back to the Representative to tell her to F-off, I hope they don't rely on Irish Central for the spelling of her name.......
Bythebay | Jul 02, 2012, 09:53 AM EDT
This is another Irish Central Much Ado About Nothing. Her statement was made in February. Galway City Council said they never voted for a statue. The column is a repeat one, another filler column on Irish Central which apparently can't afford to find real news.
redhand32 | Jul 02, 2012, 09:52 AM EDT
I am a US Citizen. However, I deeply resent some right wing nut Congressperson lecturing any foreign nation what monuments it should or should not construct. Moreover, I believe the decades long sanctions against the Cuban economy are designed not just to cripple the Regime (which it has greatly),. But, the real agenda is to make sure there is no successful nation (communist or not) closeby that provides a successful social service model that dramatically improves literacy, universal healthcare, etc. contary to the American Capitalist Social Darwinist model that permits the families of the poor, and unemployed to die because the right wing does not anything like "redistribution of wealth" necessary to address the hyper-inequality of Capitalist Amerika. Che and other leaders of the Revolution knew and died for this. I am proud that he is being honored in Galway, if the city can "grow a pair" long enough to resist outside interference by Reactionaries.
oonafitz | Jul 02, 2012, 09:48 AM EDT
I think that only her constituency and a small number of older Americans who remember the Cold war will be upset over this. I'm from Massachusetts, and I doubt it will be brought up in campaigns at all, unless one of our Congress members votes to reduce funding to Ireland, which I doubt will happen. And what does she mean that the beaches will be ruined? Where is the statue to be? In the middle of a beach? As far as her mention of historical accuracy, it's rare that someone close to the situation can be relied on to be historically accurate; there are too many emotional components involved. If the statement had been made by a Congress member of Scandinavian descent from the midwest, i might be worried that there is more widespread agreement.
micksr | Jul 02, 2012, 09:43 AM EDT
First of all Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen is well qualified to speak regarding Che...she was born in Havana and her father was a die hard anti-Castroite. I am Irish-American, former chairman of a GAA club, US Marine veteran of Viet Nam and if that statue is erected I will never set foot in Galway, again. If I recall my history, if it wasn't for America, Irish children would be playing cricket and rugby. Not to mention the fact that Ireland would probably be a German speaking country, as well.
ciaradexy | Jul 02, 2012, 09:36 AM EDT
'Connemara' girl, the statue was vandalised by a group of English lads visiting Galway for a stag weeked and not Irish people like George keeps telling you.
mamaginnty | Jul 02, 2012, 09:32 AM EDT
She cares about democracy and historical accuracy, what a load of bull.... cowboy's and Indians comes to mind, of course the true American was the bad guy. If she spent her time trying to get into the secret service files on all the so called liberation wars that America has been involved in she would never find one accurate/truthful word. The real oppressors are on her own doorstep, and most Americans are catching on to that fact.
trlahey | Jul 02, 2012, 08:36 AM EDT
The good congresswoman tells the Irish who they should and shouldn't celebrate yet the United States celebrates Columbus Day every year. Talk about a mass murderer.Clean up yer own house before you go preaching to others.
eiriamach | Jul 02, 2012, 07:37 AM EDT
People who think they can protect democracy by censoring opinions they don't like or by removing anti-capitalist symbols from the public square make themselves laughable. Who has the right to dictate what is acceptable art to lovers of democracy?
IrelandNorth | Jul 02, 2012, 05:50 AM EDT
One woman's tyrant is another man's liberationist! It isn't good doplomacy to dic[k]tate to other countries what monumnents they should erect and what diaspora they should honour. The Irish aren't into controlling and manipulative relations, which is why they struggle/d against British imperialism for so long. Ernesto 'Che' Guevara Ó Loinsigh was an Argentinian Fenian, criticism of whom is proportionate to the threat of egalitarianism to the over privileged. Would a statue to Batista please her more. connemaragirl! A little birdie told me that Padraig Ó Connaire's statue is noe in the Playa del Mayo in Buenos Aires. Bogsidebunny! Are you referring to Ulster/Northern Ireland.
Scotchtommy | Jul 02, 2012, 03:55 AM EDT
What a bunch of eejits.If Hitler had an Irish great ,great ,aunt they'd put up a statue to him.After all,being part Irish he wasn't such a bad fella.
WoundedKnee | Jul 02, 2012, 02:50 AM EDT
connemaragirl: "What I want to know is what happened to Padraig O'CONNAIRE'S STATUE IN THE SQUARE ?" Haven't you heard? A few years back a couple of drunk Irishmen decided it would be a good idea to attack the statue with hammers and smash it to pieces.
bogsidebunny | Jul 02, 2012, 02:20 AM EDT
Ms. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen better get her act together and do some "on-site" research. A huge majority of the Irish believe in Socialism over capitalism and Ole Che represents the poor, oppressed peasants, which must rise up and destroy all those greedy, evil capitalists. I have no doubts the statue will be erected and her request be not only ignored but laughed at. The irish like american DOLLARS, not the blue rinse bregade nor the troops who transit through Shannon. They do, however, like the money spent at Shannon by the military. Most Americans have this "starry-eyed" idea the Irish are like them. Nothing could be further from the truth. I invite Americans who are avid "Irish-Americans" to come on over and hang out for a year or two. Then make an assessment as to the attitudes on the ground here. Reading articles or taking a 10-day bus tour doesn't allow the person to absorb the true flavour of Irish begrudgery of American's spirit of individuality as opposed to their adoration of the Welfare State.
Baggie68 | Jul 02, 2012, 02:13 AM EDT
Can't wait for the memorial to Che - what does this politician want? A memorial to the evil that was Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Panarma, Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Chile, Korea, Yeman.
BrianO | Jul 02, 2012, 01:17 AM EDT
Oh geez, do not we all remember when this subject was first introduced, just a rehash of old news. I still think we can make a take away restaurant at the O'CHE take away, kinda catchy don't you think.
seanomelb | Jul 01, 2012, 11:50 PM EDT
having a fit Fitz.
seagreen | Jul 01, 2012, 11:16 PM EDT
Che Guevara was a punk compared to tha assination squads of Fulgencio Batista and his cohorts. American gangsters were running Havana. People were disappearing on a regular basis. Guevara was a physician that became fed up with the brutal regime in Cuba. Castro came to America first, and asked for help trying to clean up the corruption and brutality. He was ignored, and relegated to a hotel in Harlem. The deaths attributed to Guevara are fewer than digits on ones hand. His failure to pardon prisioners were attributed to him. The revolution moved westward from the mountains of Oriente Province, Not in Havana.
connemaragirl | Jul 01, 2012, 10:44 PM EDT
What I want to know is what happened to Padraig O'CONNAIRE'S STATUE IN THE SQUARE ?
GeeFitz | Jul 01, 2012, 09:30 PM EDT
The man was a murderer,, period! The leftist leaning posters on this site might as well support Joseph O''Stalin. Why not erect tribute to the devil. Are out you your *#%£&¥* minds? I might as well visit Havana before I'd return to Galway you fn morons!
jamthecat | Jul 01, 2012, 09:15 PM EDT
Once again, an American politician thinks its their right to tell the rest of the world what it can think, say, and do. Talk about arrogance on the part of Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. Much as I'd like to believe that ignoring her will make her go away, I'm finding the opposite is proving to be true -- so I say build it just to show the b***h up.
edurkin821 | Jul 01, 2012, 08:39 PM EDT
This is another example of how the Cuban Mafia who got kicked out of Cuba by Castro still controls the Miami area of USA. As others said, Batista and the Mafia treated Cuban people like slaves except for the special few. Castro was not even a member of the Communist Party when he kicked them out. Our CIA forced him to go to the Russians for help. One last note - I voted for Obama, but his policies for Central and South America means I have NO one to vote for this fall.
diego17 | Jul 01, 2012, 08:18 PM EDT
She is ridiculous! I am an American, and I think That a tribute to Che is no big deal. There might be three rich Cubans in Miami who care the other of Americans could care less. Hopefully we all will be able to help the people of Cuba by opening up the country up to trade.
seanomelb | Jul 01, 2012, 07:46 PM EDT
edmundburke comparing a rose with a bunch of thorns.
brianmack | Jul 01, 2012, 07:32 PM EDT
This Congresswoman is such an embarrassment to the USA. Let me think, which she perhaps doesn't want you to do, Chairman Mao, Josef Stalin, Vietnamese (I think the USA lost over 55,000 young folk) and she's bitching about Che? I see Chairman Mao in many, many places. Stalin, to some, he's a hero. Oh, Vietnam, a trading partner with the USA. Cuba, well if you're an American, you can't exercise the right to travel. I won't even mention her name.
GregShox | Jul 01, 2012, 07:24 PM EDT
Edmundburke -- I'm guessing you regard me as a pro-statue sycophant. Can you confirm whether that's correct?
edmundburke | Jul 01, 2012, 06:45 PM EDT
If the Galway notables, and the pro-statue sycophants on this site, get their way and erect this statue to this Communist and international criminal, then perhaps the best response is to erect statues of Oliver Cromwell at the Massacre of Drogheda and memorials to the Black and Tans right next to the Irish Famine Memorial in NYC and the Annie Moore Statue at Ellis Island. (Cromwell was an inspiration for American Democracy, and the Tans had fought alongside US Doughboys in WWI -- worthy of honoring, no?) Then we could see whether the Che statue supporters would think they have done the right thing.
BrianO | Jul 01, 2012, 06:25 PM EDT
O'che take away to open in Galway, small portions served slowly.
seanomelb | Jul 01, 2012, 06:13 PM EDT
LLeana would do well to remember the plight of the Cuban people under the Fascist right wing dictator Batista He was America's and the Mafia's puppet and a murderer to boot.Mind your own business LLeana you have a nerve talking about democracy you sh#thead
GregShox | Jul 01, 2012, 05:53 PM EDT
Dublinborn --"Ireland contribution to liberating the oppressed is ZERO." What's the relevance of that comment? Are you drunk?
aloistmartin | Jul 01, 2012, 05:34 PM EDT
William of Orange, Queen Victoria; Maximilien Robespierre, Micheal Collins, Che Guevara... What`s the Difference @!..?
Brnmar1 | Jul 01, 2012, 02:40 PM EDT
She is not a top politician in America. She is a congresswoman who represents a small minority of mostly Cuban-Americans in Florida. She and the mental midgets whom she represent in Congress are consumed by hatred of Fidel Castro and Che Guevara. Ignore them and they will go away.
seagreen | Jul 01, 2012, 02:33 PM EDT
'BUILD IT AND THEY WILL COME'
mreinhar2001 | Jul 01, 2012, 02:21 PM EDT
tomgallagher and Liam3494: How about all countires just mind their own business, not just their "fricking business" and "F&&&ing business." "F&&&ing business" and "fricking business" is really quite limiting and other matters might, also, be of concern.
mreinhar2001 | Jul 01, 2012, 02:11 PM EDT
Michael83: In the U.S., right now, the liberals are the left wing. Is it different in Ireland. I mean are the liberals te right wing there? (It was more like that durng the Vietnam War in the US.)
mreinhar2001 | Jul 01, 2012, 02:06 PM EDT
The holes in this story are laughable. Dear Irishmen, do not worry. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen is not powerful, nor has anybody in most of America even ever heard of her. She is the chairperson of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. All they do is decide which bills regarding foreign powers and potentates get sent to the House of Representatives for voting. Even if something passes a vote, it still has to go to the US Senate for a vote and make it to the President's desk to have power or meaning. Also, she is writing in something called NJ.com. Have you ever read NJ.com? I haven't and do not have the time to waste to go find it. Maybe a few folks in the tiny, tony state of New Jersey saw it. If New Jersey shuns Galway, you don't have much to worry about. Maybe Snooky of Jersey Shore will not come for a visit, but that is okay. She will be too busy with motherhood to be much of a conversationalist with you in Galway. Finally, what is this Ros-Lehtinen woman doing writing in a publication outside of her own district in Florida, hundreds of miles away? It seems that there is a problem with the respect of states' rights when she does that. I wonder if she was hoping that Mitt Romney of Massachusetts (a much closer state) would see it, so she could be considered as a vice-presidential candidate running with him. Perhaps the Irish Central article should have called her a "wanna-be" top American politician.
adrienrain | Jul 01, 2012, 01:51 PM EDT
Can't imagine what business it is of hers - or of any American, for that matter.
GregShox | Jul 01, 2012, 01:45 PM EDT
Well, Slainte9, that's thing about foreign armies in other people's countries. They do tend to get shot at.
KevinKehoe | Jul 01, 2012, 01:43 PM EDT
Looking forward to it, next time I'm down Galway way maybe even get a few photos standing beside Che, one of the men who kicked ass and rid Cuba of murdering Fascism gangsters.
Bythebay | Jul 01, 2012, 01:29 PM EDT
Rerun of the story from March?? Sounds the same, just a different date.
Michael83 | Jul 01, 2012, 01:27 PM EDT
This statue will be used as a profit making tool by Galway. It will cost money to have a picture taking beside it. I'm not sure of the exact method how this will work but that is what is envisaged. So the liberals want to use State power and coercion to stop this while the left-wing want to use Guevara's symbol for profit! Am I missing something??
Eschetic | Jul 01, 2012, 01:22 PM EDT
Speaking as a life-long, occasionally elected REPUBLICAN in my early 60's, I can only say that any politician Right Wing enough to make that stupid statement does *not* speak for most U.S. citizens - and certainly not those with enough interest in the rest of the world that they might explore the beauties of Ireland. It may be significant that she "represents" the state of Florida and may have been pandering to its large population of exiles from Castro's Cuba; otherwise it is the kind of idiocy which would only be spouted by one of the "Tea Party" radicals of my party. Sad to say, most Americans today only know of Che as one of the leads in Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's best musical.
Michael83 | Jul 01, 2012, 01:00 PM EDT
What I find extremely unsettling about this is the fact that American politicians, who espouse liberty and individualism, are using threats against another country to respect the notion of liberty. By doing so, they are eroding all their own beliefs.
MichaelMcGrath | Jul 01, 2012, 12:57 PM EDT
As one who takes an activist stance against Marxism in Ireland I actually support the erection of this statue to Che Guevara because he was of Irish ancestry, I would like to see a statue to John Lennon who was equally Irish too.
pilib04 | Jul 01, 2012, 12:50 PM EDT
How about a statue to John Roberts the chief justice of the SCOTUS.
SeamusMor | Jul 01, 2012, 12:47 PM EDT
If there is anything outrageous about this, it's that a member of the U.S. Congress is concerned about statues in Ireland!
pilib04 | Jul 01, 2012, 12:47 PM EDT
An extreme rightwing Cuban American politician is "warning" Galway. Who cares what she thinks? This is Galway not Miami!
Cranleigh | Jul 01, 2012, 12:25 PM EDT
We are not talking about a domestic American issue here but a difference of opinion between two friendly nations on a long dead figure in a third country. It's bizarre that Ros-Lehtinen would have the gall to say anything about it but that's how weird Congress has become. Republican 'thinking' on the Che spat is colonial and an extension of Monroe Doctrine - that Cuba is in America's sphere of influence and should take orders from Washington. Judging by the hectoring tone this woman took in these remarks, her opinion of Ireland is not much better.
Tooreenagrena | Jul 01, 2012, 12:25 PM EDT
Also this woman In 2011 introduced a bill to cut off US funding to any UN organization that recognises Palestinian statehood. She is a strong supporter of Scientology abd defender of right wing Cuban murderers.
Tooreenagrena | Jul 01, 2012, 12:19 PM EDT
i hope the Galway authorities ignore this, politically outdated US politician from sticking his nose in places they are not wanted. America's hands are very dirty when it comes to Cuban history.
staker42 | Jul 01, 2012, 12:18 PM EDT
I am an Irish born naturalized citizen and I thank God for America. If it was up to the Yank haters why could be living under the Fidel Castros' of the world. Every time Ireland is in trouble they come running to the States for help and that is true and for hundreds of years. Wake up Ireland and if you don't I only wish you pay the price.
maryosullivan | Jul 01, 2012, 12:15 PM EDT
Slainte9; Can it possibly be you have not read Robert McNamara's book where he acknowledges this war was also started under lies and falsehoods told and retold by the US? [Just like the recent forays of the US in the Middle East] Do you have knowledge that contradicts his statements?
maryosullivan | Jul 01, 2012, 12:09 PM EDT
Cuban history has also been romanticized by the likes Ileana Ros. It was one of the last to abandon slavery in the Americas. Many of the Cuban-Americans who hate Castro descend from such people. The US has to get over its obsession with Castro and the failed policies of a half century. Change is coming. Lets's make it peaceful as the last thing Florida needs is millions of refugees.
bushmanirish | Jul 01, 2012, 11:55 AM EDT
Interesting discussion. Many of us, Americans, feel our government is like a powerful motor launch with nobody at the wheel; for about 35 years now. I tend to side with those opposed to Che's actions but insofar as what Galway does, aren't we a bit hypocritical to say we fight for the freedom of the peoples of the world and yet at the first test of freedom we bristle whey they exercise that freedom?
slainte9 | Jul 01, 2012, 11:51 AM EDT
This frontline view is dedicated to the moron who thinks the US was responsible for the carnage in Vietnam: They walked the rounds in on us methodically adjusting the range just like we'd been trained to do TANKS! Sweet Mary, Mother of God! They have TANKS! * * * * * Mike Quinn had a snapshot that hit the back of the net in the blink of an eye from fifty feet out he didn't get to die upon the Sands of Iwo Jima some noble last words upon his lips he was blown to smithereens somewhere outside Da Nang by a rocket made in Kiev brought in by sea from Vladivostok and lugged down the Ho Chi Minh trail lashed to a bicycle seat the Marines buried him on a gray day near Charlestown and handed his mother an America flag for her trouble four years too late they mined Haiphong.
slainte9 | Jul 01, 2012, 11:41 AM EDT
Ros-Lehtinen, pogue mahone!
ProudCanadian | Jul 01, 2012, 11:24 AM EDT
Hey who give a rats ass what the Americans think. They have murdered more people than anyone in the world. Just talk to the Arabs or the Afgans or the Vietnemies or many of their own people they put to death every year. They won't be happy until the whole world thinks their way, soon as that happens I meeting my maker.
McNamara31 | Jul 01, 2012, 11:16 AM EDT
It's Galway's business.
WoundedKnee | Jul 01, 2012, 10:50 AM EDT
Good to see that O'Shea gets Che's Irish background right. When this matter came up a couple months back we had a lot of ignorant posters claiming that Che's grandma was Irish. Wrong by about ten generations. In any case, I wouldn't pay much heed to Ros-Lehinten's posturings about democracy. She's just a Cold Warrior stuck in the past, who fantasizes about the corrupt good old days in Latin America. A big fan of the Zionists too. An arch hypocrite, in other words. And by the way, I don't think Galway should put up a monument to Che, don't they have anyone of their own who ever did something worthwhile?
GregShox | Jul 01, 2012, 10:47 AM EDT
How about a statue to General Phlip Sheridan? Would that be ok?
Deise boy | Jul 01, 2012, 10:26 AM EDT
@DCViet Vet, Guevara was a humanitarian angel compared to the butchery US forces carried out in countries like Vietnam, especially in places like My Lai where US forces butchered women and children. US forces have recently carried out massacres in Iraq too e.g. at Haditha.
dickmac | Jul 01, 2012, 10:19 AM EDT
This man was directly responsible for deaths of MANY people. He is an avowed Communist and Anti Catholic. With this as part of his history he should be honoured. I do not agree in any way that this should happen.
hus4154 | Jul 01, 2012, 10:13 AM EDT
Read up on Che, how he lived and how he died. He was a gutless sack of crap. What are these people thinking? Thank goodness they're not my relatives. I'll just cross off Galway from the itinery when we come in September. No problem.
markday | Jul 01, 2012, 10:12 AM EDT
IF Ros-Lehinten had her way, she'd push for a statue of the Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista in the center of Galway. Now that guy WAS a murderous thug. Ros-Lehinten and Congressman Lincoln Ballart's families were close to Batista, and still want to fight the cold war until the end of time. Yes, there were some excesses on the part of the Cuban rebels. But don't forget, they had the might of the U.S. against them, and JFK's & the CIA's major screwup of the Bay of Pigs invasion strengthened their resolve to fight Cuba's self determination against the U.S. and their Quslings in Miami, led by people like Ros-Lehinten & company. They have been were plotting Castro's over throw since 1960s. Viva Che!
GregShox | Jul 01, 2012, 10:11 AM EDT
The US ought to send in a military task-force to topple the commie-lovers controlling Galway city council. Shock and awe should do it, along with a small bit of waterboarding to teach them a lesson. The troops will be in and out inside a month, with a new, friendly regime in place and peace restored to the world. Note to Galway city council: better get your minds right, boys, before the gunships arrive.
tomgallagher | Jul 01, 2012, 10:11 AM EDT
The United States should mind it's own fricking business.
Liam3494 | Jul 01, 2012, 10:09 AM EDT
Yanks(or those seeking votes from right wing cuban dissidents), Mind your own F&&&ing business.
dev4 | Jul 01, 2012, 10:04 AM EDT
what are those people smoking?
Portia777 | Jul 01, 2012, 09:56 AM EDT
"The romanticized reputation of Ernesto “Che” Guevara as a liberator and freedom fighter is nothing more than a myth of the Cuban revolution. In reality, Guevara was a mass murderer and a bigot.” Ros-Lehtinen wrote." And the white Europeans were not murderers I suppose for murdering the native American people?Perhaps this man is scared of the real Irish blood and how real truth of Irish sold as saves to USA.?Either way, this American is reacting to something unresolved inside himself and projecting it onto Irish. Just what business is it of his? Surely USA has her nose in enough countries to keep her busy till the end of time.
DCVietVet | Jul 01, 2012, 09:49 AM EDT
What in the FOCK are these people thinking???? Erecting a statue in honor of this murdering pig!!!!!!!!