The Banana Republics

Me every time I watch this video: "Oh Eisenhower!" Set volume to 50%

My mom and grandma grew up in Guatemala and i remember my grandma telling me their president died over bananas i was very confused

Fun fact: the Chiquita Banana company tried to assassinate my Abuelo when he advocated for worker's unionization and rights in Honduras during the 20th century! So not only did they kill leaders, they didn't hesitate to kill anyone who even considered talking back! My Abuelo eventually immigrated to the US for asylum, and continued to advocate for unionization where they couldn't kill him as easily, haha.

one of the wildest parts of my childhood was going to the children's museum and playing in the part where you could pretend to be a labourer in a banana plantation only for my grandpa to start spouting war stories his father told him about the actual banana plantations

United Fruit Co. literally has a gun in their logo, not exactly subtle guys..

Step 1: Grow Banana Step 2: Sell Banana Step 3: Kick out the entire governement using an army of hired mercenaries

Colombian here! Because of the United fruit company, a lot of people here died just because they wanted basic human rights, in our History classes we called it "La masacre de las bananeras" the translation is something like "Banana Massacre"

"The nanners must flow" is an incredibly apt reference. Well done.

Fun fact: Dole was also partly responsible for the coup the overthrew the Hawai'ian monarchy and annexing into America. This time for pineapples

Nations are temporary, Potassium is forever. -Sun Tzu, The Art of War

Nothing on YouTube really summarizes the Red Scare era of American history better than 4:33

In Colombia, there's a similar story. In 1928, workers of the banana plantations were protesting against the terrible working conditions. After weeks with no agreement due to the United Fruit Company refusing to negotiate, the conservative Colombian government sent the army to kill the protesting workers. They were compelled to work in the company's interests because they didn't want them to cut off the Colombian banana trade from major powers. This is now known as "La masacre de las bananeras" or the Banana Massacre. This is even referenced in One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez. Just like during the Cold War, US officials in Colombia and United Fruit Co. representatives portrayed them as communist in telegrams sent to then Secretary of State Frank B. Kellogg

I can just a imagine Sam screaming into his mic “COMIEEEEE REEEEEEEEEEEEEE”

TRADE OFFER! I receive: Banana. You receive: Military dictatorship

I get that this is supposed to be humorous but hearing about the Banana Republics is just sad and anger-inducing no matter how it was retold.

2 comments: 1: That eisenhower scene was about as hilarious as the time the Garfield Show did a spoof of "who let the dogs out". In other words, 10/10. 2. This sort of stuff is why megacorporations are actually really horrifying, and also why I reckon that the seperation between corporation and state should be about as important as the seperation of church and state... oh wait, i forgot; the latter is simply a broader version of the former lol

Guatemalan president: Introduces basic human rights Banana industry: "So you have chosen death"

"Dirty" turns down volume "stinkin" turns down volume "commie" still didnt turn down volume enough

Dwight D. Eisenhower losing it at the word 'Commie' is actually historically accurate

“Red fear and yellow love” is the most clever thing ever and I hate you for it