Sometimes Men of Action are not always obvious. Sometimes they can be found in the shadows, making an impact in their own, unique way. The Wild Geese Irish Whiskey is celebrating one of these Men of Action - Alberto Granado, who passed away last week.
Granado accompanied the iconic Che Guevara – who was of Irish descent - across South America in the early 1950s - a trip that transformed them. Travelling through Argentina, Peru, Chile, and Venezuela, the pair encountered the harsh conditions of the poor and recognised a universal inequality. In a mesmerising interview with BBC news in May 2005, Granado explained, "the most important thing was to realise that we had a common sensibility for the things that were wrong and unjust".
But the two friends went their separate ways, taking different paths in order to make a change.
Ernesto - who would later be known as Che - fought for revolution across South America. Che was one of 80 million Irish descendants. His father identified his Irish roots in his revolutionary activities, "the first thing to note is that in my son's veins flowed the blood of the Irish rebels". Uncompromising. Just as The Wild Geese were.
Granado described him as a "doctor of the people" and fought against the cause of suffering. Granado, however, continued his medical career, by helping to improve the lives of those who suffered.
Their story serves as a reminder of how much a journey can affect a person's life, and change their perspectives. Faced with the injustices on their doorsteps, these 'Wild Geese' could not simply drive past on their motorcycles and instead chose to make a difference in the world.
No comments:
Post a Comment