Summary of the third part of the Zapatista participation in the Meeting of Resistances and Rebellions.
Previously
After attending a meeting with our dead (part one) and severely criticizing the functioning and structure of the autonomous governments (part two), the Zapatista communities begin to analyze the positive contributions of those early initiatives. While highlighting the progress made in collective work, education, healthcare, and as women, among other advantages, the assembly receives an unexpected visitor: the future. Thus begins a terrible and wonderful exchange between today and tomorrow.
A multitude of eggs and sperm, referred to as “agüitas” in the play (don’t ask me why they were given that name), appear at the assembly and ask a series of questions. Not just about love and such things, though they do. Then the assembly explains what it’s all about.
They give them the example of making tamales. They describe the preparation of the land, the planting, the harvest, the grinding and cooking of the corn, and everything related to the preparation of the dough and what goes into the tamales. They explain that this takes time, that the tamale doesn’t suddenly appear on the table, but rather takes time, effort, and work. They tell them that they are going to place the tamale on a mountain, and that it has taken and will take entire generations to place it there. That each generation is replaced by the next. In other words, they detail the parts of the whole. And that these “agüitas” will have to discover and understand the task at hand. They recommend that they care for, love, and protect Mother Earth because she is life. To work with her and in her, in common and not as private property.
A Durito and a Durita! remain as witnesses who will see that the agüitas fulfill their part in the struggle. In other words, nature remains as a witness.
What is a tamale made of? Well, as I understand it, we’ll know that in more than 100 years. So it’s “chili, sweet, and buttery.”
Gossip: When the young people in the play acted out a couple’s argument, SubMoy told a coordinator that he didn’t remember that part from rehearsals. The coordinator replied that it wasn’t there; the actors improvised it at the time… and it turned out very well.
From the mountains of southeastern Mexico.
Original Spanish: https://enlacezapatista.ezln.org.mx/2025/08/19/resumen-de-la-tercera-parte-de-la-participacion-zapatista-en-el-encuentro-de-resistencias-y-rebeldias-previously/