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An Post

Some Cubans are outraged with Ireland's 'offensive' Che Guevara stamp

The 50th anniversary of the Cuban revolutionary’s death has been honoured with a commemorative stamp today.

THE GOVERNMENT AND An Post are coming under fire for a commemorative stamp of Cuban revolutionary Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara.

The stamp, which features the famous artwork of Guevara by Irish artist Jim Fitzpatrick, is released today on the 50th anniversary of Guevara’s death.

Guevara assisted Fidel Castro in overturning the Cuban government in the late 1950s, and then held key political offices during Castro’s regime.

Although supporters see Guevara as an example of nationalism, revolution and self-sacrifice, his critics have labelled him a brutal and cruel killer.

Speaking on Morning Ireland today, Cuban-American journalist Ninoska Perez said that many Cubans who contacted her radio show on Miami 710 AM were incensed by the “offensive” stamp design.

“It doesn’t matter that it’s an image created by an artist, it’s the image of a murderer,” she said.

And to me it’s really shameful that Ireland would put the image of someone who was a foreigner, went to Cuba to kill… was a failure in everything he did. So I don’t know what’s there to honour about Che Guevara.

Lately there has been an increased awareness of how nations remember figures from the past, most famously in Charlottesville, where statues of Confederate leaders were removed, which in turn led to protests and counter-protests.

Three weeks ago, an image of Che Guevara was removed from a Miami Airport poster that celebrated famous figures with Irish ancestry. According to Perez, the poster was removed because “it was offensive to the families of so many victims of Che Guevara”.

Every time that I see someone with a t-shirt or that I see a country put his face on a stamp, I think what did he do to deserve this? What have been his achievements?

She said that the idea of Che Guevara as an iconic figure of freedom and nationalism was “just a propaganda myth that has been created by communism”.

I would love to see that stamp abolished… What does Ireland think it is doing by putting Che Guevara on a stamp?

According to the Irish Times, Fine Gael Senator Neale Richmond has written to Minister for Communications Denis Naughten asking for an explanation as to why the stamp was commissioned.

The Department of Communications told RTÉ that the “subject matter for stamp designs are presented to government in advance. This particular subject matter was submitted and approved in December 2015 as per normal procedures.

Read: An Post marks Che Guevara’s 50th anniversary with new commemorative stamp

Read: An Post stamp marks 50th anniversary of free secondary education

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    Mute Brian Waldron
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    Jun 7th 2020, 10:44 AM

    Tracy I also do career coaching and I think you have offered some very useful tips for people in your article. I wish you well in your new venture which I’m sure will be a great success.

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    Mute Shazam37
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    Jun 7th 2020, 11:50 AM

    @Brian Waldron: i admire the energy and self belief to start a new venture and believe many can benefit from career coaching. Kids should taught a lot of this in school.

    But the advice in this article is facile and uninteresting. Dress for an interview? Take three deep breaths?

    At the end of it all there are a handful of pretty self evident interview tips (which I wouldn’t consider strictly speaking to be career advice) and three dull unhelpful tips on starting your own business.

    This was a huge opportunity to get her brand and business in front of a readership. Opportunity wasted.

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    Mute Brian Waldron
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    Jun 7th 2020, 12:02 PM

    @Shazam37: unfortunately the school system in general is bereft of many key life skills, such as preparing for the work environment, communication skills, handling adversity, developing resilience and generally building character and confidence. Whilst parents can only do so much, there is a gap.

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    Mute David Corrigan
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    Jun 7th 2020, 12:02 PM

    @Shazam37: How can people get paid for offering such bland and uninspiring advice?
    Why would anyone pay for “career coaching” when one can read good interview tips straight off HR based websites for FREE?

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    Mute David Corrigan
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    Jun 7th 2020, 12:03 PM

    @Brian Waldron: Those gaps are filled in with a thing called “experience” Brian.

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    Mute Shazam37
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    Jun 7th 2020, 1:00 PM

    @David Corrigan: well I’m assuming the advice is better when she’s doing a session.

    Lazy effort here Though

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    Mute Joe
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    Jun 7th 2020, 1:22 PM

    @David Corrigan: she’s hardly going to destroy her business by giving all of her best tips out here for free.

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    Mute David Corrigan
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    Jun 7th 2020, 1:57 PM

    @Joe: I didn’t ask the lady to do that. I am just surprised that people pay for something that one can get for free. You always seem to get bogged down in little irrelevant things Joe.

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    Mute Shimo Tbay
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    Jun 7th 2020, 11:02 AM

    If you have a complete “C U next tuesday” for a boss there is no coaching that can fix that. People don’t leave bad jobs they leave bad bosses. Do yourself a favour don’t be miserable, move on.

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    Mute Fr Romeo sensini.
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    Jun 7th 2020, 11:35 AM

    @Shimo Tbay: Well they do leave bad jobs but I totally get what your saying.

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    Mute Mark Johnson
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    Jun 7th 2020, 1:06 PM

    @Shimo Tbay: Female bosses (usually single and childless) in their 40s, 50s, are the worst in my experience of bully bosses.

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    Mute Paul Quirke
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    Jun 7th 2020, 6:24 PM

    @Shimo Tbay: I have a really sound boss in my job which I started 7 months ago. It’s the first time after 20 odd years working that I find myself in this case where I really respect the person that Is my manager. It’s life changing.

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    Mute Dara O'Brien
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    Jun 7th 2020, 10:43 AM

    Career coach?

    Really?

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    Mute Joe
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    Jun 7th 2020, 11:26 AM

    @Dara O’Brien: yeah it’s for people who want to push on to the next level and increase their worth!

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    Mute JimmyMc
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    Jun 7th 2020, 11:38 AM

    @Joe: if you need a career coach to get to the next level then maybe you’re already at the level you should be at

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    Mute Shazam37
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    Jun 7th 2020, 11:44 AM

    @JimmyMc: or perhaps something less idiotic Jimmy?

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    Mute Joe
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    Jun 7th 2020, 1:28 PM

    @JimmyMc: “we hope to give them options they didn’t realise they have”.
    It’s about opening your mind and not getting stuck in a rut. Sometimes to move on and progress you need an independent voice to help you take that leap. If you can’t see that I would suggest it’s you who has reached their level.
    The ones with the open minds and flexibility will move onwards and upwards leaving you in their dust trail.

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    Mute Greg Dalton
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    Jun 7th 2020, 2:19 PM

    Tracy,
    I too have been a career coach for some 15 years. You offer some good tips. People often ask me why we need a ‘career coach’? If you liken it to a sports coach; a career coach looks at the years ahead and develops a strategy with their clients where they achieve their career targets and goals using a challenging and rewarding approach, similar to those of an athletic or team focusing on seasons or competitions ahead.
    Best wishes for your career.
    Greg Dalton

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    Mute Earth Traveller
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    Jun 7th 2020, 12:20 PM

    Does Tracey have any advice on how to deal with the discriminatory recruitment practices that are used by employers?

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    Mute levente
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    Jun 7th 2020, 3:12 PM

    Great Article !I would love to add you on LinkedIn. Do not listen to the these professional moaners , they are kind of bubble wrapped snobs . Good luck with your business ,we need more coaches like yourself, and a psychologist for the non believers !

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    Mute lisa duignan
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    Jun 7th 2020, 11:18 PM

    I think good career counselling is badly needed in secondary schools. Consider getting qualified for this. The pay is good and these jobs are very often filled by unsuitable people.

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