Compañeros y compañeras, everybody,
To the few and bold followers of this blog, I hope that you all are well. Perhaps this post will answer some questions for you, particularly on why I haven't been publishing anything recently.
I'm currently in Chiapas, Mexico. At the turn of the year I will attend the Intergalactico, an international encounter put on by the Zapatistas. I'm hoping to learn from and with global contingent of adherents to the Zapatista cause--against the grinding machinery of neoliberalism and for a "world in which fit many worlds". This is propagandistic at best, in my words, by the idea is to learn about a model of resistence that has worked and continues to work with an oppressed population.
I stopped blogging, more or less, in August. Since then I've spent a few weeks with No More Deaths in Tucson and Arivaca. I returned to the desert to talk with Minutemen and ranch owners. I made my way to El Paso and Juarez not once but twice for the Border Social Forum (Foro fronterizo social) and a stop with the Other Campaign, a listening tour by Zapatista spokesman Subcomandante Insurgente Marcos a.k.a. Delegado Zero. From there, I followed the Subcomandante through northern Mexico, made my way to Mexico City, visited friends in a Nahuatl-speaking community in Guerrero and found myself here. For the next few months I will be writing, revisiting and slowing making my way up north. From there, as always, we'll see what happens.
I've started writing the book. The working title is "Border 101", to no surprise. It will include 100 "voices"--transcribed and translated conversations--from the border and below. The 101st will be my own. I also write as a "zero voice" to accompany the different "chapters" or groups of voices in my life on the border.
Right now I have what we call in Spanish a "rompecabezas"--a "head burster". Photos, video, audio, you name it. In the future, I'll be able to sit down and put it all on this site. For now, however, I've convinced myself to become content with learning and living, rather than being overtly and excessively productive. The way I figure it, I have to develop a voice before I use it. For me, this means relative separation from internet cafes, web publishing software and, unfortunately for some, blogging. Know that I am putting my mind and soul to good use, however. You'll just have to be patient to see what comes out of this.
I appreciate all your support and guidance over these last few months, now years. I plan to be done with everything by the end of this upcoming summer. I love you all more than space here allows for me to say. Take care of yourselves and eachother. I'll write more in the future. I will need help. Know that I will do whatever I can for you.
Peace and rebeldía,
Ryan
