First published in Rebeldía, November 17, 2002.
“Durito says that life is like an apple.
He also says that there are those who eat them green, those who eat them rotten, and those who eat them ripe.
Durito says that there are some, very few, who can choose how they eat an apple: either in a beautiful fruit arrangement, pureed, in one of those odious (to Durito) apple sodas, in juice, in cake, in cookies, or in whatever their gastronomy dictates.
Durito says that the indigenous people feel obligated to eat the rotten apple, that the consumption of green apples is imposed upon youth, that children are promised a beautiful apple all the while it’s poisoned with worms of deceit, and that women are told they will be given an apple but only get half an orange.
Durito says that life is like an apple.
He also says that when a Zapatista is faced with an apple, he stands vigilant with his blade ready, and with a skillful slice, he cuts the apple in half.
Durito says that the Zapatista neither intends to eat the apple, nor is he interested in whether the apple is ripe, rotten, or green.
Durito says that while the heart of the apple is exposed, the Zapatista, with great care, removes the seeds, then tills a parcel of land and plants the seeds.
Next, says Durito, the Zapatista waters the little plant with his tears and blood, and guards its growth.
Durito says that the Zapatista will not even see the apple tree blossom,much less the fruit it will give.
Durito says that the Zapatista planted the apple tree so that one day, when he is not here, just about anyone would be able to cut a ripe apple and be free to eatit, either in a fruit arrangement, pureed, as juice, in a pie, or in one of those odious (to Durito) apple sodas.
Durito says that the Zapatista’s problem is this: to plant the seed and guard its growth. Durito says that the problem for everyone else is to struggle to be free to choose how to eat the apple that will come.
Durito says that this is the difference between the Zapatistas and the rest of humanity: where everyone sees an apple, the Zapatista sees a seed, goes and cultivates the land, plants the seed, and guards it.
Outside of that, says Durito, we Zapatistas are like the kid next door. If anything, we’re uglier, says Durito, while watching from the corner of his eye as I take off my ski mask.
Subcomandante Insurgente Marcos
From some dawn in the 21st century”
