The Speed of Dreams: Selected Writings, 2001-2006

by Subcomandante Marcos, Canek Peña-Vargas (Editor), Greg Ruggiero (Editor)

Since the publication of Our Word Is Our Weapon —which Publishers Weekly described as “strong as dignity and as subtle as love”—Mexico’s enigmatic Zapatista leader has written some of his most brilliant and complex works. From a retelling of indigenous myths and legends, to visions of the future of Mexico, from searing critiques of the US war in Iraq, to clandestine radio broadcasts from the jungles of Chiapas, here is an amazing selection of writing that gives voice to the literary and poetic genius of Latin America’s greatest living writer and rebel. Subcomandante Marcos is a spokesperson and strategist for the Zapatistas. "ABSURD! Thus the man known around the world as Subcomandante Marcos, soldier, revolutionary, poet, philosopher, and spokesman for the Ejército Zapatista de Liberación Nacional (EZLN), describes the political situations that exist in the world today. It is absurd that he lives in a country that has produced the world's most wealthy individual but in which over 40 percent of the population lives in dire poverty. . . . Marcos' book, The Speed of Dreams , is a collection of translated writings arranged in more or less chronological order by the editors. They include presentations that Marcos made at forums and during marches throughout Mexico and delightful philosophical musings that Marcos attributes to devils, children, and a hardshelled Lacandón beetle named Durito who rides a skateboard and calls the Sup 'used-underwear face.'"—Robert Joe Stout, New Politics "A bead of sweat is visible through the eyehole of his famous black balaclava. Latin America's most celebrated living rebel must be feeling the heat, but a glass of water would mean taking off the mask and that is out of the question. He makes do with a puff on his pipe, and a subject that is close to his heart . . . " —The Guardian "In November 2003, within the context of the 20th anniversary of the foundation of the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN) and the 10th anniversary of the indigenous insurrection that shook the world, the Mexican magazine Rebeldía coordinated the Campaign 20 and 10, The Fire and the Word. Within the framework of these two anniversaries, a series of materials was developed that gathered works created by painters, photographers, video makers, and musicians from around the world who have been influenced by Zapatista discourse and practice. Additionally, a book on the history of the EZLN, with the same title as the campaign, was presented together with the largest and most emblematic photographic exhibit in the history of Zapatismo, the most representative musical memory of this first decade of political struggle, and a video that, like the book, brings together pieces of that history."—Gloria Muñoz Ramírez "Nativity scenes are plentiful in San Cristóbal de las Casas, a colonial city in the highlands of Chiapas, Mexico. But the one that greets visitors at the entrance to the TierrAdentro cultural center has a local figurines on donkeys wear miniature ski masks and carry wooden guns. It is high season for 'Zapatourism,' the industry of international travelers that has sprung up around the indigenous uprising here, and TierrAdentro is ground zero."—Naomi Klein, The Nation "This volume collects writings by Mexican Zapatista insurgent Subcomandante Marcos made public following the publication of Our Word Is Our Weapon in 2001. Among the 40 writings collected are 'literary' allegorical, philosophical, and poetic texts, as well as shorter examples of historical or logistical communiqués that the editors feel 'reflect the poetics of praxis.'"— Book News Inc. "In Chiapas, these are complicated times, in an even more complicated place. The desire for knowledge refuses simple answers and instead offers itself in the form of new questions. To a visiting traveler, valuable insights drift elusively through the air. In moments like these, expect to be disoriented, because this is a place where disparate worlds meet, mingle, or collide."—Canek Peña-Vargas and Greg Ruggiero, ZNet

Genres: Indigenous, Politics

308 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2007

About the author

Subcomandante Marcos (date of birth unknown) is the spokesperson for the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN), a Mexican rebel movement. In January 1994, he led an army of Mayan farmers into the eastern parts of the Mexican state of Chiapas in protest of the Mexican government's treatment of indigenous peoples.

Marcos is an author, political poet, adroit humorist, and outspoken opponent of capitalism. Marcos has advocated having the Mexican constitution amended to recognize the rights of the country's indigenous inhabitants] The internationally known guerrillero has been described as a "new" and "postmodern" Che Guevara. He is only seen wearing a balaclava, and his true identity remains unknown.

Reviews

[Rachel Jackson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent collection of writing from zapatista history, with the ever quirky and colorful Subcomandante Marcos at its helm. I enjoyed Our Word is our Weapon much more in terms of both anecdotes, political essays, and magical realism in the form of lore and tales and a certain chivalrous knight beetle. But The Speed of Dreams was a decent follow-up to the work of the Zapatistas in the new millennium after their emergence from the Lacandon jungle in the 1990s. It's not a book for the recently acquainted zapatista; it's much better suited for someone who knows the history. But even so, many of Marcos' essays in this book are, as usual, inspiring and infuriating to continue the fight against neoliberalism and for those "below and to the left."

[June · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mostly short communiqués by the Zapatistas...consistently mentioning their "homosexual, lesbian and transgendered brothers and sisters!" Viva revolution!

[Andres Guzman · Rating 4 out of 5]

“You are in Rebel Zapatista Territory: here the people govern, and the government obeys"

The Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN) is a far left, indigenous-led group based in Chiapas, Mexico. They established an autonomous zone, launched an offensive against the neoliberal government, and appointed a mestizo named Subcomandante Marcos as their spokesperson.

Subcomandante Marcos aka El Sup specializes in philosophy and communications and it shows. This collection is a mix of writings, speeches, reports, storytelling and creation stories. He has an unorthodox way of communicating ideas through humor and satire.

This book is a continuation of “Our Word Is Our Weapon”, focusing on the Zapatistas in the 2000s. Here the Zapatistas initiate their Other Campaign to reject electoral politics, build with Mexico’s leftist movements and expand the fight for indigenous rights and recognition.

What started with the fire (armed military uprising) continues with the word (negotiations with Mexico and establishing contacts with national and international support). The Zapatistas continue building their autonomous municipalities by establishing schools, governing bodies, and health facilities, all while refusing state intervention.

The Zapatista way of governing is through
mandar obedeciendo (to rule by obeying). Their non-vanguardist approach to organizing is through decentralized, autonomous assemblies and non-hierarchical structures. The objective is to organize from below and from the left. Para todos todo, para nosotros nada (Everything for everyone, nothing for us).

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I took my time with this one. And annotated the shit out of it. Funny. Poignant. Enraging. Thoughtful. Illuminating. Hopeful. I recommend this to anyone wanting to learn more about the Zapatista movement and, particularly, about the enigma that is Subcomandante Marcos.

[keiko · Rating 5 out of 5]

flower of words