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An Post

Che stamp hypocrisy 'A centre-right government selling us the iconography of leftists'

It is a few steps backwards from Bertie Ahern calling himself a socialist, writes Odrán Waldron.

WE ALL KNOW the image. We’ve seen it everywhere, from college apartments to dog tags to Rage Against the Machine hoodies.

Jim Fitzpatrick’s portrait of Che Guevara has been a countercultural icon since its creation in 1968. One place that nobody, not even the most optimistic members of left blocs worldwide, could have expected to see Che’s black eyes peering out from is the top corner of an envelope. It has an official An Post watermark, the sign that this had been signed off on by an Irish government.

It makes sense for us to honour Che

Before the left versus right arguments, it must be pointed out that it makes sense for Ireland to honour Che Guevara. First, there is the commonality between the people of Cuba and Ireland. Both are inhabitants of island nations historically beholden to their imperial neighbours who achieved independence through guerrilla warfare.

Secondly, there is the obvious connection of the world famous portrait having been done by an Irish artist. Lastly, there is the oft-acknowledged “blood of Irish rebels” in Guevara’s veins. Many cite the above quote from Guevara’s father when tying him to Ireland, but few realise how accurate it is.

Che was the great-great-great-great grandson of Patrick Lynch, of the Lynch tribe – one of Galway’s fourteen tribes – who fled Ireland in 1740 after a downturn in family fortunes following defeats against the Cromwellian and Orange forces. Ireland has long honoured members of its diaspora, no matter how distant. The country is sworn to neutrality in matters of international relations, so if we can honour John F Kennedy, which we do, we can honour one of his opponents in the Cuban Missile Crisis.

A Fine Gael cabinet paying homage to a Marxist-Leninist revolutionary

The stamp’s first print run was sold out within a week, news of which was gleefully spread online by the Irish left. It was predictably supported by the mainstream faces of the left, from Adams to Murphy, and opposed by those on the right such as Senator Neale Richmond of Fine Gael, who called Guevara a “barbaric murderer” on RTÉ’s Six One News.

Yet, what concerns me isn’t the content of a postal stamp, but rather the people selling it. It is, as Fitzpatrick said, “spectacularly interesting” that a Fine Gael cabinet, so diametrically opposed to the politics of Guevara, would approve an official government product paying homage to the Marxist-Leninist revolutionary.

It is reminiscent of last year’s centenary celebrations for the Easter Rising, when Fine Gael sold us stamps bearing the face of James Connolly, a Marxist.

Jay Z’s tone-deaf appropriation of Occupy springs to mind

It is expected that normal companies and business people will latch onto radical movements and sell them back to us – Jay-Z’s tone-deaf appropriation of Occupy Wall Street springs to mind – but there is something more cynical to it when a government does it.

A centre-right government selling us the iconography of leftists seems to me an attempt to own both sides of the debate, an attempt to nullify criticism by way of hinting at sympathy with those who are against them. It is a few steps backwards from Bertie Ahern calling himself a socialist.

Nobody will begrudge Jim Fitzpatrick, who avoided the temptation to copyright his artwork until 2011 in order to put a stop to its “crass commercial” use by others, for selling his work to the government. The life of an artist is precarious and Fitzpatrick has made the image available for free download for personal use. His is an intent that is pure, as his eloquent defence of Guevara on RTÉ showed. I don’t believe the same can be said of the government.

It is fitting that the stamp was released during the same week as the Budget. People can criticise the violent means of both Guevara and Connolly, but it is certain that neither would have responded to a housing crisis with thirty-one new housing units, nor would they have planned to ban public worker strikes.

The one-two punch of stamp and budget showed us that Fine Gael can give us the picture, but they can’t give us the man.

Odrán Waldron is a freelance journalist and fiction writer from Kilkenny. He is a host on the podcast Central Access Scheme.

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    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gerry with a J
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 5:49 PM

    Famous faces?

    320
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    Mute Pádraig Ó Raghaill
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 6:40 PM

    Yea I wondered that too.

    Also, the stupid councils put so many town events on today, that most were down on numbers, as they were all competing, for legs on the street. Care factor and communication displayed, zero.

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    Mute Tweety McTweeter
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 6:49 PM

    Linda Martin and some geezer from Tallaghtfornia, the paparazzi must have been swarming the place

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    Mute Paul Furey
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 6:55 PM

    What’s a tallaghtfornia?

    111
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    Mute Pádraig Ó Raghaill
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 7:01 PM

    Cheers Paul, was just going to ask that

    48
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    Mute Chris Kirk
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 7:06 PM

    The council is great on events and short termism, but haven’t a clue when it comes to inner citty homelessness.

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    Mute Donal O'Brien
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 7:54 PM

    Was that the Tallafornia guy that was caught running his taxi with tractor diesel?

    60
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    Mute David Murphey
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    Jul 24th 2016, 12:49 AM

    Jayzuz, yiz are all very negative. I passed by and the kids seemed to be enjoying it.

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    Mute Uncle Monty
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 5:48 PM

    Thanks for the Linda Martin pictures. I’ll revisit them later when I need to keep the wolf from the door.

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    Mute EmmaQ@gmail.com
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 6:24 PM

    A radio station should not be allowed to shut down a busy city centre street for advertising

    140
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    Mute Alien8
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 6:43 PM

    i wouldn’t mind if it was open to all, but it seems to be only for listeners to one station. a bit unfair to the majority of Dubliners who don’t.

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    Mute John Campbell
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 6:10 PM

    If Linda (“I’m really only sixteen”) Martin and that other unknown are the famous people the rest of us might as well leave town!

    108
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    Mute Vinny Clare
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 6:42 PM

    Should’ve diverted it to the Liffey for some of those “celebrities”
    Honestly I’d do a better job with a roll of polythene on a hill with a garden hose. It looks rubbish

    98
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    Mute John Cusack
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 6:48 PM

    Why don’t you? Put your money where your mouth is.

    26
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    Mute Aural Abuse
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 7:44 PM

    Linda martin, all lubed up, sliding towards the camera with her legs up in the air…. That’s my appetite shot for at least a century.

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    Mute Karl Haycock
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 9:12 PM

    They should have put more vaseline on the lens…

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    Mute WJH
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 7:09 PM

    I pissed in it earlier.

    84
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    Mute Martin Sinnott
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 6:05 PM

    Animal cruelty having Linda Martin on it !

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    Mute Techbuzz Ireland
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 6:03 PM

    Famous. Hmmmmm. Ok.

    68
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    Mute Jeanniejampots
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 7:11 PM

    It’s was traffic chaos today, merrion square closed off and then this too. All for a radio Station.

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    Mute Dotrice Altrium Hollohatch
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 5:56 PM

    I went down it flying. It was MAGIC!!!

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    Mute Dave Murray
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 7:05 PM

    Flying? Sliding down was too fancy that you took to the air?

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    Mute Michael Kenny
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    Jul 24th 2016, 12:51 AM

    Did you hear any kids crying to be on it on your way down. It’s not fair only a select few allowed to be on it from a radio station.

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    Mute kelcia mcnamara
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 11:32 PM

    This was only open to celebrities and the rest of us plebs had to win a radio competition to partake?!?!! Should not have been allowed! Dublin City is for all, Shame !

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    Mute Apu Mohammed
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 7:47 PM

    They better reinforce that before the Irish heifer girls trundle down it

    38
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    Mute Eimear Dawson
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 9:34 PM

    Who are you who dares to make a sexist remark like that? Your name does not identify you as having any Irish connection.so I would like to tell you that we do not welcome such comments . People must be treated with respect.

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    Mute ocJBI3Df
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    Jul 24th 2016, 7:44 AM

    How do you get a fat bird into bed? Piece of cake

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    Mute james Goodyear
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 5:57 PM

    Fantastic Street festival for the kids in swords today also. I think it Might be there tomorrow too. Great fun!

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    Mute Dotrice Altrium Hollohatch
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 6:00 PM

    swords!

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    Mute Graham McNamara
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 6:24 PM

    Yeah ok but does it have a 260 foot slide where people have to paddle themselves down??

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    Mute Mark Ryan
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 11:08 PM

    What does snapchatter mean? Just someone off snapchat??

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    Mute Neal Ireland Hello
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    Jul 24th 2016, 10:03 AM

    No flies on you.

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    Mute theedgeproductions
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 5:57 PM

    260 foot ???
    Who even in the civilised world even uses illogical US measurements

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    Mute Uncle Monty
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 6:05 PM

    I know, yeah. It’s 43.33 fathoms ffs.

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    Mute Kizzi Yeates
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 8:23 PM

    Hope they sterilised it after that Linda Martin ….

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    Mute Aimoo
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    Jul 24th 2016, 12:07 AM

    No famous faces in article. Liar!!

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    Mute Jason Moody
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 9:22 PM

    Few bottles babyoil

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    Mute Barra O Brien
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    Jul 24th 2016, 10:05 AM

    98fm is utter rubbish, up there beside dermot and Dave in the annoyance factors. Bray air fest was a much better place to be.

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    Mute Declan Gibney
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    Jul 24th 2016, 9:10 AM

    Not to worry, it will be burned out or stolen by now.

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    Mute Alois Irlmaier
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    Jul 24th 2016, 1:46 PM

    They have the weather for it ;0)

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