“Sound the alarm, order the attack, Selassie-I soldier beat Babylon back…..“
Matt Hindman
2 months ago
I always had a respect for the Zapatistas. In a world where leftist revolutionary movements were always wanting to remake the world by any means necessary all they wanted to do was protect the little guy. They also held themselves to higher standards. Emiliano Zapata was a fascinating man himself.
“I’d rather die on my feet, than live on my knees.”
What I found interesting about Zapata is he could have seized all the power for himself. He could have been a dictator like many revolutionaries proved to be in the end but he refused. Maybe that is why he is so beloved in Mexico? He and Villa whatever you may think of them, never pretended to be anything other than what they were.
Martin Layfield
2 months ago
I become aware of the Zapatistas because the rap metal band Rage Against The Machine used to bang on about them incessantly. RATM basically promoted almost every fetishised leftist cause.
While the Zapatistas had fully embraced non-violence as a political strategy — a position that was most evident during their march upon Mexico City in March 2001 — the previous year’s protests in Seattle at the WTO convention, and in Prague against the IMF and World Bank showed how some Western anti-globalists were willing to engage in violent confrontation.
The Zapatistas announced their presence on the stage with an armed uprising in 1994. Marcos was rarely seen in public without a weapon, and the EZLN were always armed, even though they only resorted to violence as a last resort. The ‘Western anti-globalists’ meanwhile, were never armed: though the police they confronted often were. I was one of them in Prague. There was no ‘violent confrontation’ outside of a tiny few morons. This account turns the facts on their heads in the service of the author’s argument.
Just curious. I can see who was being protested. But what was the specific objective of the protest that you were in?
Lesley van Reenen
2 months ago
I was in San Cristobal de las Casas during a Zapatista protest on New Year’s Eve. It must have been in the 90s sometime. The army rumbled through the streets to quell the uprising. As a South African, I remembered us being very interested but not panicked. I remember going for supper round the corner.
I was there in San Cristobal on New Year’s Eve and Day, 1993 into 1994. Woke up to find armed, balaclava-clad figures on the street corners, and posters everywhere explaining what they were doing (Hoy decimos: ¡Basta!). It took the Mexican airforce several days of bombing to bring the area under control. The military seemed to have been taken totally by surprise.
You are perhaps talking about a previous year?
We spent two nights effectively trapped in our hotel, where there were some young people from Mexico City in the same boat. They phoned their parents, who had no idea anything was afoot –national news blackout.
R Wright
2 months ago
I am glad at least someone appears to remember that there was a left opposition to globalism once upon a time.
R F
2 months ago
Why the hell would you evoke Che Geuvara; Fidel’s chief torturer and executioner? Just because the left, worldwide, had romanticized him, he is nothing more than a vicious murderer. You lost me at that mom not.
I guess little marxists want to grow up to be as handsome and dashing as his promos.
glyn harries
2 months ago
This is bizarre. The first few paragraphs show, over and over again, exactly how unique and important the Zapatistas were, and while fetishing anything is problematic, it happens and in this case pretty much deservedly.
Alan Gore
2 months ago
How exactly did NAFTA nullify naive rights in Mexico? There was no such effect in the US.
I forget the details, but it had something to do with, in the event of a dispute about environmental laws or land use or the like, the NAFTA appointed tribunal would have jurisdiction and greater authority than the usual courts of the country.
My memory was that the problem was the abolishment of ejidos (?) which guaranteed a price for corns and beans in Mexico and provided an income for peasant small holders. This was eliminated leading to lower food prices for Mexicans but impoverishing the peasants. This may have not been disastrous if Mexico had industrialized faster but they were swamped by the entry of China.
I know what you mean about the Zapatistas having been fetishised. Subcommandante Marcos is even on the cover of a Thievery Corporation album.
“Sound the alarm, order the attack, Selassie-I soldier beat Babylon back…..“
I always had a respect for the Zapatistas. In a world where leftist revolutionary movements were always wanting to remake the world by any means necessary all they wanted to do was protect the little guy. They also held themselves to higher standards. Emiliano Zapata was a fascinating man himself.
Emiliano Zapata was a fascinating man himself. Great moustache too.
“I’d rather die on my feet, than live on my knees.”
What I found interesting about Zapata is he could have seized all the power for himself. He could have been a dictator like many revolutionaries proved to be in the end but he refused. Maybe that is why he is so beloved in Mexico? He and Villa whatever you may think of them, never pretended to be anything other than what they were.
I become aware of the Zapatistas because the rap metal band Rage Against The Machine used to bang on about them incessantly. RATM basically promoted almost every fetishised leftist cause.
It enabled them to sell a lot of records.
Leftist communal narcissism 101!
The Zapatistas announced their presence on the stage with an armed uprising in 1994. Marcos was rarely seen in public without a weapon, and the EZLN were always armed, even though they only resorted to violence as a last resort. The ‘Western anti-globalists’ meanwhile, were never armed: though the police they confronted often were. I was one of them in Prague. There was no ‘violent confrontation’ outside of a tiny few morons. This account turns the facts on their heads in the service of the author’s argument.
Just curious. I can see who was being protested. But what was the specific objective of the protest that you were in?
I was in San Cristobal de las Casas during a Zapatista protest on New Year’s Eve. It must have been in the 90s sometime. The army rumbled through the streets to quell the uprising. As a South African, I remembered us being very interested but not panicked. I remember going for supper round the corner.
I was there in San Cristobal on New Year’s Eve and Day, 1993 into 1994. Woke up to find armed, balaclava-clad figures on the street corners, and posters everywhere explaining what they were doing (Hoy decimos: ¡Basta!). It took the Mexican airforce several days of bombing to bring the area under control. The military seemed to have been taken totally by surprise.
You are perhaps talking about a previous year?
We spent two nights effectively trapped in our hotel, where there were some young people from Mexico City in the same boat. They phoned their parents, who had no idea anything was afoot –national news blackout.
I am glad at least someone appears to remember that there was a left opposition to globalism once upon a time.
Why the hell would you evoke Che Geuvara; Fidel’s chief torturer and executioner? Just because the left, worldwide, had romanticized him, he is nothing more than a vicious murderer. You lost me at that mom not.
And a coward. “Don’t shoot! I’m Che! I’m worth more to you alive than dead!”
I guess little marxists want to grow up to be as handsome and dashing as his promos.
This is bizarre. The first few paragraphs show, over and over again, exactly how unique and important the Zapatistas were, and while fetishing anything is problematic, it happens and in this case pretty much deservedly.
How exactly did NAFTA nullify naive rights in Mexico? There was no such effect in the US.
I forget the details, but it had something to do with, in the event of a dispute about environmental laws or land use or the like, the NAFTA appointed tribunal would have jurisdiction and greater authority than the usual courts of the country.
My memory was that the problem was the abolishment of ejidos (?) which guaranteed a price for corns and beans in Mexico and provided an income for peasant small holders. This was eliminated leading to lower food prices for Mexicans but impoverishing the peasants. This may have not been disastrous if Mexico had industrialized faster but they were swamped by the entry of China.
Thanks. Nice piece