Esteemed Comrades:
It is with great apprehension that we read certain articles submitted to the quasi-official Voz de Aztlan that indicate to us that a definite counterinsurgent tendency is at work.
We were concerned when commentary was submitted "defending the purity of the race" (?), which is, of course, a concept completely alien and hostile to us; however, our concern deepened considerably when we read a series of articles with a definite anti-Semetic and homophobic slant.
We do understand that Zionism is a fundamentally flawed system of oppression of Palestinians; we do not support it in any way, and join in the criticism of those who do. However, anti-semitism is in fact a tool of Zionism which helps to continue to bind Jews to the Zionist cause: Witness the publication of the "Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion," which did indeed originate in Russia: it was written by an agent of the Tsarist Okhrana (secret police) as a justification of pogroms; fell into the hands of the Nazis; and subsequently found its way into a certain Arab political current, which has generated considerable controversy among supporters of the Palestinian cause.
We absolutely condemn homophobia, as does the Zapatista National Liberation Army and Front: Witness the following letter:
To the gay, lesbian, transgendered and bisexual community:
We are thankful that the opportunity occurs to say our word in this 21st March of Lesbian, Gay, Transgendered, and Bisexual Pride, which evokes something of the best of sexual diversity in Mexico.
Receive every woman, every man, and those that are neither woman nor man, the greeting of the zapatistas in this day of fighting for the dignity and the respect of difference.
For a long time, the homosexuals, lesbians, transgendered and bisexuals had to live and to die hiding to their difference, supporting in silence persecution, scorn, humiliation, extorsion, blackmail, insults, blows and murders.
The different had to support being reduced in its human quality by the simple fact of not being according to a nonexistent sexual normality, but false and turned into a flag of intolerance and segregation.
Victims in all the social levels, object of jokes, pranks, insults and death, the different ones in their sexual preference closeted one of the oldest injustices in history.
No more.
From all the social sectors, from all the corners of the country, all the centers of work, study, fight and life, a human exigency rises: respect and recognition of the rights of the lesbian, gay, transgendered and bisexual community.
Today is the recognition of sexual diversity in visible form that, fed up with hiding their being different, have with valor and militancy in the heart and the countenence participated in this day.
No longer is it necessary to hide.
Neither sexual preference nor the rage because of impotence before the lack of understanding of a government and a sector of society that thinks everything that is not as they are is abnormal and grotesque.
Of what have lesbians, homosexuals, transgendered and bisexuals to be ashamed?
Shame on those who rob and kill with impunity: the government!
Shame on those who persecute the different!
But you not only participate in this day of struggle who can be made seen and heard.
Many women and many men must hide themselves sometimes - of themselves -, but for that reason they do not resign to a right that is of all human beings: the one of the respect to your dignity, without concerning your color of skin, your languages, your economic condition, your cultures, your religious belief, your political ideologies, your weight, your stature or your sexual preference.
For those who are present in this mobilization, our admiration of your valor and boldness to be made seen and heard, by your enough already! proud, worthy and legitimate.
Our greeting to your organized existence.
Our support to your fight and your demands.
For those who are not but they are, our greeting and hope of which someday it is possible to be and to be without pain, shame, fear.
And the zapatistas, and who are neither nor, but are zapatistas, we salute the lesbian, gay, transgendered and bisexual dignity.
Long live its militancy and a different morning, that is to say, more just and human, for all the different ones.
Vale.
Health and hopefully someday silence does not have a corner to hide in.
From mountains of the Mexican Southeast, (Signed) Insurgent Subcomandante Marcos, Zapatista Army of National Liberation.
It should be clear from the above that any homophobia is incompatibile with support of the EZLN/FZLN, and it is our hope that the opinions expressed in Voice of Aztlan do not reflect the thinking of the Provisional Government or Revolutionary Council of Aztlan, which would be rendered inauthentic as part of the Mexican National Liberation Movement if these antisemetic (which is not to say critical of Zionism, which we are), and homophobic views were yours. We wear brown uniforms as Mexicans, never as Nazis, and will never join those who would force people to wear the yellow Star of David or pink triangle!
Not surprisingly, we also detect a tacit endorsement of the openly counterrevolutionary PAN in some of the articles, which would be incompatible with Zapatismo... but not incompatable with antisemitism and homophobia. The defenders of the Mexican Revolution, including ourselves, will never yield to reactionary currents...we hope your Provisional Government and Revolutionary Council do not represent part of that current, as it would render further support of you by Zapatistas and Villistas impossible.
! Liberty! Justice! Democracy! Human Rights! From the Mexican Northwest, Insurgent Subcommander Angeles, Branch of Liaison, Communications, and Investigations, Clandestine Commando "Division of the North" (Villista National Liberation Front).
© 1997 villista@iname.com
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