7 Revolutionary Icons Being Used to Pimp Capitalist Excess, War and Vanilla Ice Cream

[Donnachaidh]

http://www.alternet.org/world/151116/7_revolutionary_icons_being_used_to_pimp_capitalist_excess,_war_and_vanilla_ice_cream/


It’s a sad, but predictable cycle: an outspoken person of color captures the world’s attention with a powerful call for justice—sometimes offering his or her life to the cause—and years later winds up on some well-meaning kid’s t-shirt. Or on the walls of your local Apple Store. And now, on the side of a Navy cargo ship. Over the past four decades, it seems that nothing sells better than revolution.

We’ve rounded up just a handful of the most laughable examples of revolutionaries who, in their death or retirement, have been used to represent the sorts of things they spent their lives opposing.

Revolutionary: Cesar Chavez

Re-branded: A U.S. Navy ship

More at the link --

[izquierdista]

1. I can't wait for Chairman Mao's Szechuan sushi!

Available at fine grocery stores nationwide!

[socialist_n_TN]

2. The ONLY saving grace is MAYBE some kid

who doesn't actually KNOW about Che Guevera or Cesar Chavez might look them up and find out what they REALLY stood for. Or maybe be told about them by their elders.

The rebranding has always gone on, but in the past it happened after that generation was safely dead. Now it happens within the lifetime of the people who knew about these heroes. That means they can try, but they can't really totally erase the revolutionary legacy.

[Lifelong Protester]

3. K & R, interesting article

I don't know why I had not figured out the military/Native American thing before, but wow.

[sufrommich]

4. Bobby Seale seems an odd choice as he certainly does

encourage capitalist gains for himself.