Wednesday, May 24, 2006


From medicine to socialism. Not that I approve of the latter, of course.

Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.

In the old days (and not many can say that and mean it in all of its metaphoric sense), when I was looking for an example to lean on -- some new propaganda to spout and new ideals to imitate -- I chanced upon a morning screening of the tv miniseries, Fidel, on the Hallmark.

It told the story of Fidel Castro and his group of Merrymen, and how they fought to give their people the independence they dreamed of, and the economic stability they needed.

And one of the Merrymen featured would have to be Ernesto 'Che' Guevara, the guy whose head, with the scruffy locks and mane, is now emblazoned on the bags on so many youngsters, who probably don't even know what sort of, ehm, association he belonged to.

Well, people, newsflash: He was a communist. Yes, the same sort of people who beheaded our nenek moyang. Or part of that gang, anyway.

In Fidel, he was portrayed by the very handsome, very versatile Gael Garcia Bernal. Coincidentally (or maybe not), he played Che in another movie as well, called The Motorcycle Diaries, based on a book written by the Che himself. The story consists of a narrative of the journey the young Ernesto, fresh out of med school, and his doctor friend, Alberto Granada took by motorcycle, from Argentine to Chile to Miami and back. It is said that it was this journey that led him upon the path to socialism, and his quest to the death in defending his people's liberty and rights.

Apparently, many Malaysians don't know much about Che, or there would be more of Notas de Viaje available in bookstores.

But when I got into Melbourne Uni, and I visited the ever-contemporary Rowden White Library in Union House (same level as the George Patton gallery, the Queer Lounge, and the place where people gather to play Magic -- I know how weird the environment is, okay?), I found that not only did they have a copy of the DVD, they also had a copy of the book.

However, both were in huge demand. As of now, I am currently the 13th in line for the movie.

But alhamdulillah, I got the book just as it was being checked in.

Still, 3 weeks have come and gone, and still, I have not even made the halfway mark yet. Just like his daughter, Aleida March mentions in the preface, I too have fallen for the young Ernesto's ideals and fancies -- his humour emblazons across the thin novel, and his lyrical yet self-deprecating style makes you feel as if you are watching him, from a close distance; he is your friend, and one that you would want by your side, to share your adventures and feel your pain. Tak ramai orang macam tu dah, tak payah nak kata lelaki atau tak.

Plus, the cover looks good, since they put Gael's face in front. :)

In all truth and honesty, I picked up the book because I was curious on seeing how his view on life changed in the process. Like him, I too am at my crossroads in life -- knowing that your life is meant to go in one direction, and then waking up to realize that there is that other road left to take. It just requires a bit of bravery, and a bit of gall-less bravado to accept the challenge. Both of which I hope Allah provides me with soon enough.

And like most of my friends and I, the Ernesto I read of was young and reckless and fazed by the world. He knew that there were things to be fixed, but it took him a trip around his tanah air for him to decide: Even if I do not know how to help my people, surely I will find the way.

I suppose, part of me wishes that I would be as brave as he was someday. I do not approve of what he did in the process, nor am I a great fan of socialism (I hold true to the shahadatain, insyaAllah). But I do know that much needs to be changed, maybe more now than before. Unlike Ernesto, though, I do not have to invent or adopt some complex social system of fairness and justice for all -- because Allah has already given it to me. All has been written, recited and applied before, in the Quran. So that part is clear with.

But strength. How does one call for strength within?

Since the book is due esok, and I have yet to find a copy of Notas de Viaje, let me leave you with my little memory of it:

"At night, after the exhausting games of canasta, we would look out over the immense sea, full of white-flecked and green reflections, the two of us leaning side by side on the railing, each of us far away, flying in his own aircraft to the stratospheric regions of his own dreams. There we understood that our vocation, our true vocation, was to move for eternity along the roads and seas of the world. Always curious, looking into everything that came before our eyes, sniffing out each corner but only ever faintly - not setting down roots in any land or staying long enough to see the substratum of things; the outer limits would suffice."

-- a passage from the entry, Polizones (Stowaways) by Ernesto Guevara.

Which reminded me of this here verse:

"Have they not travelled (sufficiently) in the land to have understanding hearts and listening ears? It is their hearts which are blind, not their eyes. "

--Surah al-Hajj (22:46)


Wassalamu'alaik.

this has been a rant by Syazwina Saw at 2:39 pm

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