The plan for today was to talk about the Plan de Ayala, Indigenous communities, and the EZLN Zapatistas. Firstly, in regards to the Plan de Ayala, I wanted the class to have read it and been able to outline some of the key things Emiliano Zapata mentions such as denouncing Francisco Madero, asking him to step down, explaining why the Mexican system is not working, and land reform. Then I wanted to leave with some questions such as whether or not Zapata’s dream of land reform was successfully achieved, why or why not, or to what extent? Also, I wanted to see how we can relate the Revolution to this notion of indigenismo. What indigenismo is and what role it played in the Revolution. Overall, I wanted the class to get a good understanding of the Plan de Ayala so that I could address more important and current themes such as the EZLN, forms of representation such as murals, and finally the symbolic or personal meaning land has to the indigenous culture, and also identity.
The murals that I showed in class are meant to show that beyond words written in books or spoken orally, the Revolution was imagined and brought to life in different forms such as art and music, all having a lot of symbolic and personal meaning to many Mexicans. Even the fact that some of the murals are currently in the Presidential palace in Mexico is indicative of its impact on forming a part of Mexican history and identity
I was happy that everyone in class already knew who the EZLN were. We know that they are a movement, depending on whose perspective, some say a guerrilla movement, others say indigenous movement. Regardless, they became public when they took over several villages in the southern state of Chiapas, Mexico. More significantly, on New Year’s Day, after the signing of this free trade agreement called NAFTA. They saw NAFTA as a threat to Mexican sovereignty, where Mexicans would suffer under yet another wave of capitalism, ultimately leading to greater inequality. Their 6th Declaration of the Selva Lacandona mentions the problems of capitalism and the exploitative process it carries along with it. They also mention how they want to have more representation or voice in the government, and more access to basic services such as health, and education. Land was once again brought up and the EZLN in fact took its name from Emiliano Zapata. Aja mentioned this in class, and I was also going to ask, but what reason could we think of, that would make them use Zapata’s name as part of this movement? Was it simply continuing on this myth or iconic figure of Zapata, was it about land, or was it something more deep? I also found very interesting the symbolic meaning behind the masks they wore to cover their faces. Some would consider it defiance, others as form of identity protection, and at a deeper level, signifying their “facelessness” in the eyes of the Mexican government. The EZLN also make murals of them and which I think is fascinating and something that could be discussed more as there are probably lots of deeper meanings in them.
Lastly, we’ve been talking about land and land reform and how the Mexican people want it given back. But I would like to address the more personal or symbolic meaning behind land. We did not have time in class to discuss this. The Mexican people don’t just want the land given back to them, just because it’s their home. There is much more. For example, these people for many years have built a relationship with the land, working on it, caring for it, receiving from it. It builds this certain bond. Mexicans also come to think of themselves tied with the land, something that is part of their identity. This is not just the case with Zapata, Pancho Villa, or other campesinos, the fact is, Mexico, throughout its history, has actually lost a lot of its land to others. First Spain during colonialism, then the US where they lost Texas, Arizona, Southern California, and New Mexico. And now with globalism, they see their land being sold to business men around the world. So land is strongly associated with Mexican identity and history. And up to this day they keep on fighting for it.
Has the Revolution ended? What are its legacies? The answers to these questions depend on what side of the story you take. The spirit of Zapatismo, I argue, still exists, and that is a legacy. And the Revolution, if based on land reform, is yes still on, and has never ended.