As my first blog entry, I would like to share an experience I had last weekend that exemplifies the reason I became a conservative, which was mainly my refusal to be indoctrinated by my professors in college. The extent of the damage inflicted on the students who did embrace the liberal hypocrisy of their hippie professors was on full display at the “Rock the Bells” festival last weekend in New York City.

    Headlined by the reunited communist/anarchist/uneducated rockers, Rage against the Machine, Rock the Bells presented such other old timers as Public Enemy, Cypress Hill, and Wu-Tang Clan. While many may wonder why a staunch Conservative like me would subject themselves to such an aggravating experience, has never heard Rage against the Machine perform live. Their political views notwithstanding, I grew up loving their music, and they brought with them nostalgia of my youth a decade ago. When news of their reunion broke, I knew my presence was guaranteed, though I contemplated earplugs in anticipation of their communist ranting. Thankfully, front man Zach de la Rocha declined to elaborate on his politics during the Sunday festival, and instead kept with what he and Rage do best: put on a great show. Unfortunately, I cannot say the same for the other acts, who are now embarrassingly outdated.

    However, this entry is not about the music or even the band’s politics. It’s about the audience, the Che Guerva minions that I was forced to stand alongside for 9 grueling hours, all too stupid to not only understand who Che really was, but what it means to support him. Everywhere I turned there, was another middle class college kid wearing a Che T-shirt, symbolically raising his or her fists and screaming for revolution. What exactly was oppressing them was a mystery. The unfairness of being born to middle class parents? Growing up in the suburbs? Being given financial aid to attend a private college? Driving a non-hybrid vehicle to the concert? For that matter, did they really know anything about the man they wear on their shirt?

    The murderer Che Guerva not only fomented numerous violent Marxist revolutions across the globe but also advocated for the destruction of Western Civilization through a nuclear war. His violent uprisings have been contributed to the brutal militarism that resulted throughout Latin America. We should thank god “The Butcher of la Cabaña" wasn’t as successful in revolution, as he has been selling t-shirts. The man was driven by in his words, pure hate and once proclaimed, "if the nuclear missiles had remained (he) would have used them against the very heart of America, including New York City." I am quite sure we won’t be seeing that reference on a Che mug or hat anytime soon. Despite the irony of that quote and similar stances, given the concert’s location, should we really be surprised? With most college professors a product of the 1960’s, Che Propaganda is now as common on campuses as Economics 101. So are these liberals stupid? Ignorant? Both? Alternatively, do they ignore the truth to fit in with the ‘cool” crowd? With as many innocents murdered in the name of Che’s quest for power, does it even matter?

    I will be the first to admit however that the “Rock the Bells” Festival did have its entertaining and light-hearted moments. At one point, a group of rich black rappers took a break from encouraging President Bush’s assassination to speak about their struggle and urged the audience to break free from their oppression. To my amusement, on cue a sea of middle-class, white, liberals cheered in agreement.