Letter from Robert J. Zani

Frank:

          I received DB 107 and it was excellent as usual. Lynn Olson was right on the money. I could not have said it better myself even though I am very familiar with the Hutterites, sort of home territory for me, in a way. The only flaw to/on Olson's point/part, and it is minor but significant, is that Olson is not up to snuff on Hutterites 2001. Each colony is its own entity, there is a vast difference between Old Order Hutterites and modern Hutterites, and a few do work outside the colony for wages, maintain their own funds, etc. However, Olson does accurately describe the norm. Additionally, there are several Hutterite colonies around the country that do not identify themselves but are Hutterite. Various variations of anabaptism. A substantial portion of Montana's agricultural production is Hutterite. Overall Olson's point accurate and well taken, as a matter of practical fact, not theory. And that should settle the issue-but I doubt that it will! As stalwart Anabaptists Hutterites have close to 500 years of existence; and as I wrote to you previously I do believe that Marx borrowed from Jakob Hutter who in one form or another did not believe in wages, the state, or class. And their common language was German, like Marx's. Nowadays a modern Hutterite may or may not vote, as his conscience dictates, but I understand that most shun politicas.. I do know for a fact that some did vote for Nader/La Duke in 2000.

          Enclosed is a flyer about a new and thoroughly provocative anti-death penalty book, Choosing Mercy. It is published by Orbis, which has long been involved in publishing liberation theology works. It is the only anti-death penalty book I know of that carries-on the back cover-the glowing endorsement/recommendation of an American Cardinal: Francis Cardinal George in Chicago. However the book is dedicated to to an innocent Texas prisoner, who is also a DB subscriber! Indeed. And here it comes-on page 88 in stark and unvarnished terms, the enemy is named in a word: "Capitalism." I was quite surprised. I was quite surprised by the Cardinal's enthusiastic endorsement and recommendation. And by the excellent Washington Post book review by Coleman McCarthy. Very interesting. The book has some searing parts. Also, I was glad to have a bit part in the book, de facto describing the Catholic Worker position vis-a-vis the death penalty and the horrendous criminal "justice" system, drawing on my extensive experience and court testimony. I was sure thinking of you and the DB when I was unloading on page 88! A great book.

          Superficially I agree with your incomprehension of the "anarchist fascination with the Zapatistas." But it is a classic case of what Luard Churchill has described repeatedly. During the first 20 years of the last century the Mexican government practiced a determined genocide on Indians in Southern Mexico, particularly in Yucat`an, Quintana Roo, and Chiapas. Very Brutal. Thousands who could fled to British Honduras, now Belize. I spoke with the descendants of these families in 1979, in Belize. The hatred of these Indians was unbounded. And those in Mexico wanted nothing whatsoever to do with the Mexican government or Mexican people.

          And much the same was true in Guatemala. It is not about a lot of theory and practice; it is about keeping the Mexican government and Mexican people OUT - or at least at long arm's length. Put simply they just want to be left alone. (Anarchism?) Mexican people who come to the U.S. and cry about racism - which exists to be sure - need to go to such areas in Mexico and listen to how they themselves are described! "Ladrones" - thieves - is the most polite word I heard. I call it constructive anarchism. Really they want a strong democratic reservation system which they somewhat had with the Ejido system, but which that SOB President Salinas abolished. The Mexican government is unwilling to give them a protected, separate reservation system because there are so many Indians and so much has been stolen from them. Marcos, who has switched Ideologies is a media hog; BUT he has brought worldwide attention to a 500 year festering sore, which no one else has been able to help them do. If I had not had an in-law in the areas I visited, I would not have stayed the night. There were parts of Quintana Roo where no Mexican would dare go - and if they did and tried to stay the night, they would not wake up. Mexican police would not enter, and Federal troops -ejercito Federal -only went in during daylight and an emergency. Anarchism? If you defined raw hatred of the government from your life in a gaol, then yes. And Marcos is astute. He understands most Mexicans know their government has been hopelessly corrupt and run by thieves (like America) and that most Mexicans are mestizos. So for a Mexican to deny Indians is to deny their own blood. Personally I would call it a Marxist influenced anarchist revolt, led by people who will say and do whatever it takes to maintain publicity and keep the heat on. If Marcos is a Maoist, you're Jeb Bush, I'm Neil Bush, and our brother is President.

          In January 2001 The People put out their best edition ever. Bar none. For anyone who wants to share/proselytize, the January 20001 issue is the one. Not a weak spot. Prescient. On page 1 is the big article about Chernobyl. And? Five month's later Beelzebub Bush is desperately trying to revive nuclear power in America! The whole issue is like that, one way or another. The Catholic Church in Rome has been swamped over the issue of Pope Pius XII , etc. A one of a kind proselytizing tool.

Excellent Dr. Who unity article in DB.

Do the write thing. Write on.

Robert J. Zani, No 328938, Michael Unit, P.O. Box 4500,
Tennessee Colony, TX 75886