Blog #6: Zapatistas and their continued role in Mexico

Zapatistas and Their Continued Role in Mexico

The introduction in this course to the Zapatista rebels is interesting because it is a relatively new group of rebels that is idealistic in the simplest form.  The Zapatistas are one of the more interesting pieces of Mexican history because it denounces the historical division in the nation based on indigenous peoples and the continuous upheaval in government and from intervention from other sovereign nations.  According to the Zapatistas it is not their concern what religious denomination, ethnic group, or sexual orientation anyone is as long as they are production members of society who abides by the simplest of human laws it is each individuals right to choose for themselves what their life should look like.  

It was especially intriguing to me to hear the tolerance that the Zapatistas showed in terms of gay and lesbian sexual orientations.  Coming from a country where sexual orientation is still grounds for discrimination at the governmental level, it is refreshing to hear of a group solely interested in the freedom of expression for all people in all walks of life.  Because I am a person who is exposed to the constant ignorance and discrimination that everyday people of different races, ethnicities, and sexual orientations I am very impressed by the Zapatistas position and their following through in written statements released, specifically the one we read to the Committee of Sexual Diversity.  In this letter the Zapatistas recognize the struggle that the gay, lesbian, and transsexual community must endure to live in hiding so as not to bring the scorn of the community down on themselves.  In the letter the Zapatistas write “we Zapatistas, men, women, and other, but still Zapatistas, greet lesbian, gay, transsexual and bisexual dignity.  Long life to your fighting spirit, and a different tomorrow, that is, one that is more just and human, for all those who are different.” (Zapatista Letter pg. 2)  If this sentiment were prevalent in any society, that society would grow in diversity and prosper through their ability to create a system apart from the human distrust and disgust with things that are different.

However, the Zapatistas have yet to gain any real attention other than initial military actions from an international perspective, yet it has not stopped their continuous push for equality and justice not just in a political sense, but also in a personal one on one context.  That is what separates the Zapatista nation from most of the political groups in the United States, who focus mainly on the political aspect of the fight for equality; they push for equality in terms of the law.  Zapatistas would argue that equality under the law is just the beginning of the fight, and that the mission is not accomplished until there is equality in the minds of the people as well because no one is truly equal until they are free from discrimination.  As the Zapatistas put it in their letter “life, health, and may, one day, there not be even a corner for silence to hide in.” (Zapatista Letter pg. 2)

The Zapatistas are proof to me that there are groups that share my ideals in terms of people’s rights as individuals.  The most disheartening thing about this group whose mantra is one of peace and respect, is that they are seen as a militant rebellious group and are not accepted as mainstream philosophy.  Thankfully, there is a group that sets the standard in terms of acceptance of others, and that group is personified by the ski mask wearing man who embodies the group and not themselves as individuals.