“A people without a past can have no future.”

“Our Word is Our Weapon” resonates with me personally since it touches on the country my family calls home. I appreciate Marcos’ words as it has enlightened on the subject of the Zapatista movement in Chiapas, Mexico, offering a firsthand account of resistance and resilience. His mixed approach in writing does an excellent job in underlying the dynamics of power and resistance. Almost effortlessly, does he weave together anecdotes, poetry, and revolutionary rhetoric to paint a vivid portrait of struggle and solidarity.

I had never really thought about storytelling as a form of resistance but Marcos eloquently articulates this in his bringing together myths, legends, and lived experiences to forge a collective narrative of resistance. Through storytelling, the Zapatistas transcend the confines of space and time, forging connections with allies across the globe and inspiring solidarity movements far beyond the borders of Chiapas. I understand that storytelling goes beyond engagement in a culture but is actually a means of preserving it. Many times in history have we seen power structures deliberately try to minimize or erase the struggles of marginalized groups.  In navigating this text, readers are confronted with the idea of language being a tool towards social change. Words in fact do have power, as Marcos argues. In a landscape marred by injustice and inequality, our words become a weapon—a tool of liberation wielded in the pursuit of a more just and equitable society. 

I also appreciate how Marcos also acknowledges the limitations of language, recognizing that words alone cannot dismantle systems of oppression. He understands that this is just one part of the puzzle towards enacting change. Words can only take you so far as we have seen in the empty promises of political leaders who promise to bring about change. Therefore what Marcos has to say about praxis —the fusion of theory and practice—is absolutely vital in effecting meaningful change. Through grassroots organizing, direct action, and community-building, the Zapatistas embody the spirit of praxis, translating words into tangible acts of resistance and solidarity.

Last year, I read a book by John Holloway called “Zapatista!: Reinventing Revolution in Mexico.” The book also speaks to the Zapatista movement and gives a historical background on its origins, ideology and  revolution. The author breaks down the Zaptistas’ strategies of resistance and their role in shaping contemporary social movements. A theme that I found in both Marcos’ text and Holloway’s was a critique of neoliberalism. They contextualize the Zapatista movement within the broader framework of neoliberal capitalism. They critique the neoliberal policies that have marginalized indigenous communities and exacerbated social inequalities in Mexico. Both authors emphasize the Zapatistas’ rejection of neoliberalism and their pursuit of alternative forms of social organization based on autonomy and collective decision-making.

However, I also wonder how this can be applied on a global scale. Throughout the text Marcos underscores the vitality in building solidarity across borders. I am curious about how the Zapatistas cultivate international support for their cause. How does this fit within the context of international documents such the United Nations Declaration of Indigenous rights. I think it is important to consider how one indigenous struggle does not always directly apply to other but lessons can nonetheless be taken from each one to form some sort of global solidarity