Monday, June 25, 2007

Maoist kitsch is not groovy in Peru

Cameron Diaz recently caused a bit of a stir by carrying a shoulder bag imprinted with a Maoist slogan while visiting Machu Picchu in Peru.

Students of recent history will recall that Peru has only recently stamped out the remnants of Shining Path, a self-proclaimed Maoist rebel organization. The fighting with Shining Path was gruesome by any standard, and was responsible for the deaths of nearly 70,000 Peruvians in the 80s and 90s.

You know, I've NEVER understood the adoption of old Communist symbols as fashion. Whether its retro-Soviet track suits or Mao bags, I'm not sure what it is we're supposed to be recalling so fondly. The Cultural Revolution? Stalinist show-trials? The killing fields of Cambodia?

Someone PLEASE help me understand!

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