I have always marveled at the number of young people who I see wearing the bereted head of the bearded author of The Motorcycle Diaries on their T-shirts. It has never surprised me that the young and stupid would idolize a failed communist. They’re stupid. For the stupid communism makes a lot of deeply felt sense. Also, with most educated Americans fully supportive of the Washington Politburo, just because it is farcically broken into a D-wing and an R-wing, and field talking hood ornaments that eloquently claim to not be what they are, who can blame the stupid youth for loving the memory of a dude that was played by Benecio Del Toro? What surprises me is that anyone slain in Bolivia could overcome such an ignominious end to gain celebrity status. Imagine if this dude had been killed in Long Beach? We'd be looking at his head bobbling from a million liberal dashboards!

In the video below the Canadian Socrates gives an excellent summary of the character who is among America’s most beloved counter culture icons.