Yesterday Howard Stern celebrated his one-year anniversary on Sirius. As a fan who’s listened for that year, I can say that the show’s never been better. Artie is hilarious now that he can be blue honest. Howard is relaxed, with no need to rant about the FCC. Although I enjoyed those rants, not needing them has made the few that did occur that much funnier. More targeted anger/comedy, if you will. And the J.D. song makes me smile every time Fred plays it. One year of the show is worth celebrating.
As a gift to the fans, Sirius replayed the first show, from January 9, 2006. I listened when it was live, but somehow I was either away from the radio or not paying close enough attention during one specific announcement. (Read by the awesome George Takei, written by ???.) The segment was meant to praise Howard, and the concept is reasonable to fans: A Salute to Great Revolutionary Men.
The list exaggerated Howard’s importance, of course, but that’s part of the humor. Still, the list made me angry for one particular inclusion. Can you spot it?
- George Washington
- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
- Ernesto “Che” Guevara
- Mahatma Gandhi
- Nelson Mandela
- Howard Stern
It’s blasphemous to include a communist thug murderer in that list of great revolutionary men. Justifiable revolutions free people from oppression. Che Guevara sought to oppress a nation. Unfortunately for much of Latin America, he succeeded. Including him in this list is appalling.
Che Guevara is proof that it takes more than being revolutionary to make someone great. Idolization by the popular, ignorant culture notwithstanding. Worse, I fear the number who actually agrees with Guevara’s ideas and methods. Shameful.
“Che Guevara is proof that it takes more than being revolutionary to make someone great. Idolization by the popular, ignorant culture notwithstanding.”
Wait. Che Guevara isn’t just famous for being a lead character in Evita???