University honours Che Guevara 75th birthday

(14 Jun 2003) 1. Wide Che bas relief on building overlooking Revolutionary Square 2. Mid shot Che relief 3. Close up Che with slogan "Always until victory!" 4. Wide shot Revolutionary Square with tourists 5. Mid shot tourist taking picture of Che bas relief 6. Wide obelisk in Revolutionary Square 7. Close up Cuban Flag 8. Pan right interior of Che Museum 9. Close up bust of Che 10. Mid shot tourist looking at Che wax figure 11. Mid shot Che wax figure 12. Tilt up Che wax figure 13. Mid shot newspaper clippings on wall in museum 14. Close up newspaper clippings 15. Tilt up from Che beret to rifle 16. Mid shot Che daughter Aleida Guevara kissing well-wishers 17. Close up man holding honorary doctorate for Che 18. Che's second wife Aleida March talking with well-wisher 19. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Aleida Guevara, daughter of Che Guevara: "Papi was always a simple man, that's why I always say he might not have been in agreement with even half the things they have said about him. But I think we, his children agree with those things, and also his people." 20. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Alfredo Granados, friend of Che Guevara: "He was also consistent with his ideas - always next to Fidel, always next to Cuba's people and always with the revolution." 21. Mid shot posters on sale in market 22. Close up Che poster 23. Mid shot posters on sale 24. Close up posters 25. Close up Che poster 26. Wide shot tourists in market 27. Mid shot tourists looking at Che posters 28. Pan left from tourists to Che memorabilia on sale File -1961 29. Che at podium 30. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Che Guevara: "The hard days have not even remotely passed us by. They haven't passed us in the economic realm, and even less so concerning threats made against us by foreign aggressors." 31. Mid shot people filing by Che dead body 32. Close up Che's face 33. Mid shot people looking at Che lying dead on table STORYLINE: Che Guevara, the Argentine doctor turned Cuban revolutionary, would have celebrated his 75th birthday on Saturday. Like other historic figures who died before their time, many wonder what Che would have made of today's world had he survived. In Cuba, and around the world, Che has taken on mythic stature - according to his children and those who knew him, a stature far beyond what he would have wanted. His face looks down upon Havana's Revolution Square, where both he and Fidel gave landmark speeches following their victory after the 1959 overthrow of the Batista regime. A museum is dedicated to his memory in Havana's old city, displaying mementos and a wax figures of Che emerging from a jungle with revolutionary companion Camilo Cienfuegos. His beret and rifle are encased in a glass display case. Tourists, students and the curious from around the world flock to markets to buy t-shirts, posters, hats and coffee mugs bearing his likeness. Artists use his likeness in innumerable ways to create pop art. At a ceremony on Saturday he was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Science in Havana. His daughter, Aleida Guevara, who is a doctor herself, says Che would have been somewhat appalled by all the attention. She says her father was a simple man who would have shied away from so much adulation. But she says it's a natural result of the fascination the world holds for a man who died so young, yet had such a great impact on the world around him. Many Cubans feel that a speech Che gave shortly before he set off to start new revolutions throughout Latin America - and which culminated in his capture and execution - still resonates today. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...