RAFT 1 2/25/11

Dear Che,

I am writing to tell you to tell you about the important lessons you learned and the ones you could have learned from the time Ernesto spent in Chile. While there, you saw the angry face of adversity and oppression shown by the communist couple simply looking for work. The simple struggle to survive certainly had its effect on you, and for the first time you saw the suffering proletariat. But what you should have learned as well was to not take things for granted. Along the long, winding road through Chile, you acted like some kind of celebrity by staying in strangers’ houses and taking their food without payment. Your cover of being an expert in leprosy allowed you to do this, but really you were just taking from the people and not giving anything back. This goes against the communistic views you showed later in life; you were not pulling your weight. You did not pay any heed to the kindness with which you were being showed, and when a man wanted some payment for using his shelter, you denied him and when on your way. Certainly, taking and giving nothing back to society is not the message you wish to pass on. Although you did learn some valuable lessons, more important ones were there to be learned.

Sincerely,

Ryan