The Zapatista Rebellion, like OWS, is a leaderless movement.

[Zorra]

and has other similarities to OWS:

The Zapatista movement in Mexico has turned all conventional notions of a mass movement on their head, and in doing so has proved itself truly to be a movement for our times, probably the most significant challenge to the monster of globalisation.

The roots of its unconventional approach can be traced to its beginnings as told by Subcomandante Marcos. He went among the peasants of Chiapas - Mayan Indians - filled with revolutionary rhetoric and certainty. He says that he told the people that the workers of the world must unite, and the Mayans just stared at him. They were not workers, they said, and anyway land wasn't property but the heart of their community. After some frustrating months, Marcos realized that he had got it wrong, and rather than trying to teach the Mayans, set about learning from them.

It was out of this process that the Zapatista rebellion emerged. It refuses to be tied down to any conventional structure of how a revolution must be brought about. For example, it is not dependent on any charismatic leader - it is not for nothing that Marcos always appears masked and that all those in the movement say, 'We are all Marcos!' It is not for nothing that Marcos is very pointedly Subcomandante, not a supreme leader - a concept that is anathema to the Zapatistas.

It is due to this attitude that despite the efforts of the mainstream media (which loves a charismatic leader it can focus on, to the exclusion of the real content of a movement), the movement has not got personalised. Probably the most famous quote on this subject is, 'Marcos is gay in San Francisco, black in South Africa, an Asian in Europe, a Chicano in San Ysidro, an anarchist in Spain, a Palestinian in Israel, a Mayan Indian in the streets of San Cristobal, a Jew in Germany, a Gypsy in Poland, a Mohawk in Quebec, a pacifist in Bosnia, a single woman on the Metro at 10 p.m., a peasant without land, a gang member in the slums, an unemployed worker, an unhappy student and, of course, a Zapatista in the mountains.'

http://infochangeindia.org/other/world-social-forum/seven-loose-pieces-of-the-global-jigsaw-puzzle-subcomandante-marcos.html

If you know your history,
Then you would know where you coming from,
Then you wouldnt have to ask me,
Who the heck do you think I am.
Bob Marley

[Cirque du So-What]

1. Everyone is a leader

Let everyone with the inclination to lead, lead!

[Zorra]

2. Another similarity between the Zapatistas and OWS:

Another key element of the Zapatista ideology is their aspiration to do politics in a new, participatory way, from the "bottom-up" instead of "top-down." The Zapatistas consider the contemporary political system of Mexico inherently flawed due to what they consider its purely representative nature and obvious disconnection from the people and their needs. Instead, the EZLN claims to reinforce the idea of participatory democracy or radical democracy by limiting public servants' terms to only two weeks, not using visible organization leaders, and constantly referring to the people they are governing for major decisions, strategies and conceptual visions. As Marcos has reiterated, "my real commander is the people". In accordance with this principle, the Zapatistas are not a political party: they do not seek office throughout the state, because that would perpetuate the political system by attempting to gain power within its ranks. Instead, they wish to reconceptualize the entire system.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zapatista_Army_of_National_Liberation

[gratuitous]

3. I was in San Cristobal in 2002

The Zapatistas were gathering there for their march north to Mexico City, and I was at the zoccolo (sp?) that night on a Christian Peacemaker Teams delegation. I have to tell you, watching as thousands of people from all over the place came into town on foot, on horseback, riding in every kind of vehicle you can imagine, at the same time was humbling. We can't even get our 30-member congregation together for a meeting without someone screwing up the day or the time!

The gathering was electric, with the crowd chanting and singing, speakers alternately revving them up and informing them. There was an upscale restaurant just off the square, and the patrons were studiously avoiding looking out the windows at this incredible scene. Marcos didn't speak until towards the end, making a public show of disarming himself, and saying that others would be leading this march since it was a political gathering, not a military or revolutionary one, and his authority, such as it was, would not be in evidence.

A permanent CPT observer and I were at the square when we were approached by someone who identified himself as being with Voice of America, and wanted to know what we thought. My companion did all the talking, and after Mr. VOA left, told me that talking to him was really talking to the worst aspects of the U.S. government. He didn't say not to talk with folks like that, but be careful what you said.

The next day, I read the account of the gathering in the New York Times, and less than two paragraphs in, it was clear the reporter hadn't been within a hundred miles of San Cristobal. It was shocking on one level to see the self-appointed Newspaper of Record get the details as wrong as it did; on another level, it simply confirmed many of my worst suspicions about the popular media.

[XemaSab]

4. I loved San Cristobal!

I was also in Oaxaca this March, and there was a demonstration with 80,000++ people singing the Internationale.

It would not surprise me to see a serious socialist movement come out of the south of Mexico.

[Zorra]

6. I used to

live in the state of Oaxaca, and still go down there for a month in winter or two whenever I can, and plan to retire there.

I totally agree with you about the south of Mexico, lots of folks with different perspectives there.

And San Cristobal is a gorgeous little city. I love the little Zapatista souvenirs the locals sell.

[nadinbrzezinski]

5. Actually I take issue with this

There was a leader, still is, Commandante Marcos.

[Zorra]

7. Marcos would disagree, and I believe would tell you that his actions are based on la Consulta.

La Consulta is everyone over the age of 12. Action is dictated upon consensus of La Consulta.

Las Consultas meet in local meetings much like our General Assemblies, and make the decisions for the movement.

How Marcos has been portrayed by the leader oriented MSM is out of his control. They still can't get a handle on a leaderless movement.

Marcos has been very visible and his wisdom is highly respected, but he is not a leader, he has no desire to lead, and I'm sure he would be very, very upset with you for referring to him as a leader.

He is a messenger and servant of the "Zapatista 99% La Consulta/General Assemblies.