I found this book rather interesting to read since I have never read anything to political before with such a call for action. It was also a little difficult for me to analyze since I’m unfamiliar with these sorts of texts.

While reading the first part of the book, I found it  a little similar to Guoman Poma text, when addressing certain issues they are laid out not quite in numeric form but start  with “First” and “Second”. The story is also comprised of multiple letters that Marcos has written addressing to certain people, similar to Guman Poma’s multiple chapters that compliment and are individual from another. He also argue strongly about why they fight and reasons for it, listing them (on page 79) about the what their fight is about. Most of the reasons are followed by the “bad government”.  Each of the fights lead to having better government and having a balance for the people in Mexico so they all can thrive as a country. A country in which the citizens and especially those of indigenous background can survive in without suffering and enduring the pain bestowed upon them by the political powers the govern them. He emphasizes Jan 1994 as a time when the people of Mexico’s voices will be heard, the day in which he and the Zapatistas revolted against the government.

I found it particularly interesting that he mentions specific countries that are in exporting relations with Mexico. “From there they are sent to different parts of the world the United States, Canada, Holland, Germany, Italy, Japan but all to fulfill one same destiny: to feed imperialism.”  He points out how these relations are exploring the country and in turn the people suffer. Aside from mentioning their tension with the US government, there are a few mentions of Italian influence and relations. This is first introduced with the conversation with Durito who mentions he dined with Italian playwriter/actor Dario Fo. Earlier in the editors note it also mentions that Marcos writing was falls into three writing styles, one of them being similar to Italo Calvino’s Italian Folktales. I am currently learning about Italian culture in another course, so with Italy having such an impression on him makes me wonder what exact aspect of the Italian perspective or opinions towards political power does Marcos find attractive?

I also I thought his points regarding “INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO BE NAMED MAN OF THE YEAR”,  was an interesting way of bringing up  these characteristics that make up the perfect candidate. He does this by using satire, in which the obvious points are what he does not believe in and mention in such a mocking way such as point 5, “Now open a store and hang a huge sign that says,”Mexico1994-2000:Huge End-of-the-Century Sale.”