Our Word is Our Weapon
Selected Writings of Subcomandante Insurgente Marcos By Subcomandante Insurgente Marcos - Juana Ponce de León - The Zapatistas A powerful collection of literary - philosophical - and political writings of the enigmatic Zapatista spokesperson - Subcomandante Marcos. Introduced by Nobel Prize winner José Saramago - and illustrated with beautiful black and white photographs - Our Word is Our Weapon crystallizes ”the passion of a rebel - the poetry of a movement - and the literary genius of indigenous Mexico.” Marcos first captured world attention on January 1 - 1994 when he and an indigenous guerrilla group calling themselves ”Zapatistas” revolted against the Mexican government and seized key towns in Mexico’s southernmost state of Chiapas. In the six years that have passed since their uprising - Marcos has altered the course of Mexican politics and emerged an international symbol of grassroots movement-building - rebellion - and democracy. The prolific stream of poetic political writings - tales - and traditional myths which Marcos has penned since January 1 - 1994 fill more than four volumes. Our Word is Our Weapon presents the best of these writings - many of which have never been published before in English. Our Word Is Our Weapon is divided into three sections. Section one brings together his essential political essays and shows the evolution of Zapatista thinking as a movement both within and outside of Mexico. Section two presents Marcos’s philosophical thinking - personal reflections - and includes a humorous recollection of his first days as a guerrilla - as well as his letters to other writers. The third section features the many short stories - folk tales - and indigenous myths that Marcos has become known for - including his award winning The Story of the Colors. Throughout this remarkable book we hear the uncompromising voice of indigenous communities living in resistance - expressing through manifestos and myths the universal human urge for dignity - democracy - and liberation. It is the voice of a people refusing to be forgotten the voice of Mexico in transition - the voice of a people struggling for democracy by using their word as their only weapon. (512 pages - 2000) ”This is an extraordinary collection of writings - documenting one of the most important grassroots rebellions of our time. It conveys the mind and spirit of the Zapatista movement with eloquence and astonishing immediacy.”?Howard Zinn ”Marcos is the voice for many voices. This book hands us the necessary keys to begin deciphering the enigma of the collective movement he expresses. His words - fashioned from humor and poetry - reveal the deep roots and abundant branches of the Zapatista insurrection in Chiapas. It is an original language for an original movement that is transforming Mexico and is helping to change the world.”?Eduardo Galeano ”It is our fate to live in a country whose government repeatedly and deliberately wounds some of the most precious beings on earth. Beings who can teach us how to live long - faithfully and with gratitude on this planet - our only home. The Zapatistas - descendents of ancient indigenous people - are such beings. Our right relation would be to honor them. Revolt is the mirror in which greed is forced to see itself. Our Word is Our Weapon reflects the deep soul beauty and determined hearts of deliberately impoverished people as they stand up to the most insatiable giant the world has ever seen. Theirs is a stance of dignity - courage and self-respect. And that is what they inspire in us - even as they suffer.” ?Alice Walker ”Somewhere between the passionate analysis of Ricardo Flores Magon - and the poetic fury of Eduardo Galeano - lie these most powerful and essential communiques of the new Mexican Revolution. Possibly the most influential collection of writings upon my musical and political perspective.”?Zack de la Rocha - Rage Against the Machine ”Subcomandante Marcos is a poet-revolutionary in the tradition of José Martí and Roque Dalton. Our Word is Our Weapon crystallizes the passion of a rebel - the poetry of a movement - and the literary genius of indigenous Mexico. The flame that burns here is a light for literature and democracy - a dangerous fire for those in power.” ?Martín Espada ”Our Word is Our Weapon is a revolutionary?s work. Marcos has earned his indignation like few men alive.” ?Norman Mailer For more information - visit Global Exchange’s Mexico Campaign.