Masterworks Series: Zapatistas

Hope and Death

How strong the pull

And how vibrant the song

That calls us, men and women alike,

To come forth

From our fields of labor.

We must claim our rights

As people from the earth

To share in earth’s bounty.

We celebrate the power

Proven in our bodies

That gardens

Fountains

Towns and villages

All come from the work of our own hands.

How long must our lives be drained?

How long will we weary ourselves

For some distant landlord?

Today we rise

To lay claim to ourselves.

Some lives are taken

In the struggle for freedom –

Better so than to have our lives slowly extinguished

Without hope of

Dancing in our own square

Reaping from our own field

Drinking from our own cup

And resting in our own bed.

They can take our lives to fill their coffers

Or we can show them that

Our lives are worth more than that.

We give our lives

For our freedom

So they will not take our lives

For their own small vanity.

                                                    ~ CK

__________________________

Image: "Zapatistas,"from the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City
Artist: José Clemente Orozco (Mexican, 1883–1949)
Date:1931

Medium:Oil on canvas

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Suddenly Wisconsin

There is something inspiring about seeing the people gathering together and their voice being heard. As the story unfolded in Egypt this month, there was a sense of thrill and excitement, but also of trepidation. What if chaos reigns and violence explodes? Then we saw jubilation in those crowds when peaceful protests (without guns and bombs) along with that democratic facilitator of the people – electronic communication – brought an end to 30 years of oppression. I had a similar feeling of exultation years ago when the people of The Philippines gathered en masse to protest the sham elections under Ferdinand Marcos. I’m not sure how much difference that peaceful overthrow made in the ensuing years to the Philippine people, but it showed the world what the voice of the people can do. How things play out in Egypt will be another story (and is yet to be seen).

We have seen, however, the effects of letting that genie out of the bottle: other despotic regimes in the Middle East are in danger of teetering (will twittering lead to more teetering?). Just as the printing press gave more power to the people at the time of our own American Revolution, electronic media may be exponentially increasing the influence of the masses. Whether for good or ill (probably some of both) electronic communications will be shaking up the political landscape.

Now we see the people of Wisconsin coming out en masse to protest attempts by the few (funded by large corporate money) to undo the good of the many. Those union workers, teachers, firemen, and servants of the public are letting their voice be heard. And hear it we must, lest we forget that it was the unions who facilitated child labor laws, safe work environments, the 40-hour work week, pensions and benefits for the working people. The only ones who would benefit by breaking the unions are the corporations who live for profit, not for the people. Their goal is market shares rather than justice and equity.

How will it all play out? Usually political events bring a mixed bag. Most often, when there is progress it will be three steps forward, two steps back. The most important thing may be for all people to realize that they do have a voice, and like so many things in history, that new awareness has come out of Egypt.



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