"We had to rebuild the path of life that those from above had broken and continue to break – the path not only of indigenous communities but also of workers, students, teachers, youngsters, and peasants."From the last words of Subcomadante Marcos, "leader" of the Zapatista movement in Chiapis, Mexico.

"We had to rebuild the path of life that those from above had broken and

continue to break – the path not only of indigenous communities but also of

workers, students, teachers, youngsters, and peasants. On top of the fact

that differences exist both above and below, these differences are

persecuted and punished. We had to either sacrifice our blood for the path

to power led by others or turn our hearts and eyes to the people who we are

– the indigenous people who protect the Earth and the memory [of those

lost].

Our dilemma wasn’t between negotiating and fighting, but between dying and living.

We chose to build life, but in the middle of a war – one that was no less

lethal because it was muffled.

The dead are all here, but now to live.

There are no doubt those who think we made a mistake by making that choice –

that an army cannot and should not try to forge peace. In many ways, that

assumption is correct, but the main reason for our choice was and is

because, by fighting, we would end up disappearing. Maybe we made a mistake by choosing to cultivate life instead of praising death.

But we made that choice by looking at each other and listening to each other– being the total collective that we are. We chose rebellion. In other words, we chose life.

We knew and we know that death is necessary so there can be life, and that,in order to live, we die.”

From the last words of Subcomadante Marcos, "leader" of the Zapatista movement in Chiapis, Mexico.