War Within A Breath

Album: The Battle Of Los Angeles (1999)
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Songfacts®:

  • "It's land or death" is a phrase that emphasizes that land, for the agrarian cultures of Chiapas, Mexico, is life - sustained by relationships with supernatural forces, and nurtured in communal and familial rituals. Land is the essential part of being, and is worked, cared for, and ritualized in a cultural, symbolic, and matter-of-survival context. When the Mexican government "changed" article 27 of the Constitution, eliminating community property, they also eliminated the people, dividing them into pieces, families, or individuals, and privatizing the land. If the Zapatistas don't take arms and fight for land - they face death. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Tim - Pittsburgh, PA

Comments: 5

  • Ignatius from Saint Nazianz, WiI listened to this song during the last week of 2019 and during the first few days of 2020 some major, potentially world altering events are happening. Everything can change on a New Year's Day took on a new meaning for me and what Rage was making music about 20+ years ago may be more relevant than ever 20+ years later.
  • Jack from Nashville, Tn¡Ya Basta!
  • Cameron from Chicago, IlRock on, Rage! They've got the right idea about this government. It sucks, and we need something else, something better.
  • Sam from Cambridge, Ontario, CanadaThe rebellion in Chiapas began on January 1st, 1994. That is why he says "Everything can change on a new year's day".
  • Sam from Cambridge, Ontario, CanadaThe black flag and a red star is the symbol of the EZLN.
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