Good Monday morning to you all. Hopefully some of you have this week off and can enjoy a little time unwinding from the busy year. Bandit Week continues here on OPOD with this picture of Emiliano Zapata and his men. Zapata was one of the most famous of the Mexican Bandits/Revolutionaries/Rebels/Freedom Fighters. He is pictured seated in the middle. Zapata and his men were part of the 1910 Mexican Revolution against President Diaz. Zapata was in charge of the Army of the South, and Pancho Villa was responsible for the Army of the North. So, initially Zapata, Madero, and Pancho Villa were united in their efforts to overthrow President Diaz. They were successful, and then Madero was put in charge. However, Zapata became unhappy with the lack of reform instituted by Madero, and Zapata then turned against him. Zapata led the revolutionary movement in the south for several years very successfully. Then he was betrayed and ambushed by two Mexican Generals and was killed. Zapata is most remembered for his motto, "It is better to die on your feet than live on your knees".
I really like the picture above. First I like the blatant display of firepower, as you would expect in a picture of Bandits. Second, I really like the traditional Bandit hats adorned by the men. I am concerned that one man is attending the Bandit meeting in a Bowler hat. I mean, lets say that the Federales raided the Bandit meeting. Who would you naturally suspect had tipped them off . . . the man with the big sombrero, or the man in the bowler hat? I suggest that if you attend a bandit meeting, proper headgear is a must.
Ah, a classic photo of the quintessential Mexican Bandit, Emiliano Zapata.
Ah, a classic photo of the quintessential Mexican Bandit, Emiliano Zapata.
