On the table, a photograph accompanies me in the solitude of writing, between tears and pain, it gives me encouragement. Taken in 1991, it shows don Pablo giving a lecture in the summer courses of El Escorial. At times like this, his figure grows bigger. Don Pablo marks my thought and is present in the last 40 years of my life. Today, I want to thank him for his trust. First, as a friend, it was an affectionate relationship; the second as a teacher in the academy, his teachings have been an example of wisdom; and thirdly, as revolutionary: coherence and ethical integrity. He stripped political power, denounced injustice. Without a party, he militated in the noblest causes, those that leave traces and form consciences full of rebellion. He was a man of action. His work bears witness to this.
Don Pablo displayed an incisive humor. With unmistakable laughter, he had no folds. Years later, in his house in Peña Pobre, he confessed to me: Luckily I ignored those who came to warn me about you. However, we have worked together and I must say that it is not how it is painted, although it is better to have him as a friend than an enemy
. Her laughter filled the room. I appreciated the honesty. Unintentionally wanting she transmitted values. Betrayal could never be expected from him. He never lost hope. Without fear of thinking, he ventured into all disciplines. He went from the sciences to the humanities, he enjoyed art, painting, nothing was indifferent to him. In Madrid, we did not miss homework. First Goya, in El Prado, then the Guernica, at the Reina Sofía, and finally a good paella. It was customary to walk through recoletos. On one occasion we coincided with the Old and Second-hand Book Fair. There he found a photo of Jose Martí full of history, it had been taken on his trip to Madrid. We took a walk and he thought aloud, I have to go back, if I don’t buy it I’ll regret it for the rest of my life. Marti. Thus, the photo came to have a preferential place in his library in Tlalpan. He defended his principles with passion. In one of the many seminars that we organized, I was a direct witness. His friend Darcy Ribeiro intervened, after his conference, Mr. Pablo, measuring the times, took the floor and pointed out: Darcy, don’t fall in love with your ideas, you have to rethink them!
Don Pablo knew how to see the political importance of the theoretical struggle, hence his rigor and proposal for a democratic, plural, open university, without ties. With a university vocation, he called for continuous reflection. In recent years, he has synthesized his proposal: think to win. He never wrote an essay, a newspaper article or gave a lecture to please an audience. Rather the opposite, the rejection gestures of those who never understood the greatness and intellectual honesty that guided his criticism were notorious. Who would think of mentioning the experience of the Zapatista Army of National Liberation in an act as solemn as a doctorate? Honorary? In Madrid she did it. He didn’t like honors, but he accepted what he considered to be his job. He did not lose the north. Honest in his word, he denounced the blockade of Cuba, reaffirmed his defense of the Cuban revolution, and since the rebellion in Chiapas in 1994, he became a Zapatista. There he meets Don Pablo. Don’t look elsewhere. Integrity lesson. He was proud of his Zapatista militancy. His appointment as commander of the EZLN, under the name of Paul Contrerasfilled him with satisfaction.
He was not intimidated by the conservative times, nor the defections. He defended the popular causes in the five continents. He called things by his name. To exploitation, exploitation, to class struggle, class struggle, to imperialism, imperialism, to internal colonialism, internal colonialism, to fascism, fascism and to the traitors, traitors. Not a hint of surrender.
In the conversation, he encouraged them to continue persevering, to build an emancipatory project. His reflections ranged from climate change, artificial intelligence, the need to build networks, to articulate proposals, he questioned patriarchy and sought new ways of acting and thinking. Jealous of public funds, he fought corruption. I remember being in his office in Humanities Tower II, we were going to eat with his partner, Anne Bardin. When she arrived, he offered her a drink, and then reminded Conchita, his secretary, it’s not an academic visit and it’s not in the budget, I’m paying out of my pocket. Such a simple act, but full of ethical content, that was Don Pablo. Generous and a great friend.
He leaves us a legacy, follow his example. Together with Frantz Fanon, Hannah Arendt, Samir Amin, Wright Mills or Immanuel Wallerstein, he has forged a generation of rebellion. Latin America was always present, but it was also involved in the struggles in Asia, Africa, the United States, and Europe. The thought of him is patrimony of humanity. He was a revolutionary, an academic and an accomplice in friendship. His generosity places him as a great in the history of democratic struggles. His example will always be present.
