Dialogue Journal Response:
Basta!

How does the work of George Collier shatter the images of the indigenous peoples of the Chiapas as either “noble savages” holding out against the ravages of capitalism or backwards Indians holding back economic development?

Does he, in your opinion, effectively expose the “myth of the insular community, cut off from the outside world”?

The Zapatistas want to have a government that allows them to govern themselves as they see fit. They want their own land without having to worry about whether or not it will be taken from them and then being “relocated”. As well as other reasons for resistance, however this image gave form more than others I read. George Collier’s writing of Basta! had a voice that seemed to me as though the Zapatistas were backwards Indians holding back the economic development rather than holding out against capitalism. They’re not savages, as someone oblivious to the restrictions the Mexican government laid upon them, but rather they are people who cannot change their living situations by how they live currently.

The struggle between the government and the Zapatistas has been going on for years, with little change. One of the causes is the aggressive evangelism of the Chiapas by religious groups that have distributed copies of the Bible in the indigenous languages. With communication and education comes cultural power and identity. The Zapatistas have a strong sense of community and resist efforts by the Mexican government to pull them into the mainstream of Mexican society. This strong identity gives rise to a pride, while at the same time, causes isolationism and poverty.

Perhaps they don’t want to change their course of life, but do want the respect of the government. In my opinion, Collier does expose the “myth of the insular community, cut off from the outside world”. The people have a very narrow viewpoint and outlook towards other places, and therefore they have a parochial opinion about how they believe Chiapas should be. Although, they are geographically and physically isolated from the rest of Mexico, they have chosen to be culturally separate.

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