A prática da mística e a luta pela terra no MST

Abstract

The Movimento dos Trabalhadores Rurais Sem Terra – MST (Landless Worker Movement) has been a research aim in the most varied knowledge fields, hence evidencing its wealth and action amplitude among society. This movement has emerged in the first half of the eighties, mainly owing to the social, political and economical reality of the time, not to mention the fundamental support from the religious agents connected with the CPT. Therefore, the movement has resisted over twenty-six years in the Brazilian setting and it is known as a movement in motion whose history is in its coming-to-be. Since its creation, and among many activities and actions, its organization has developed one practice called mystic. In this perspective, this work has as its aim the discussion of how the MST had thought and has been systematizing the practice of the mystic in its organization. So as to write this narrative, a varied set of sources was analyzed, highlighting the several printed materials, images as well as oral sources published by the MST. This temporal cutting delimited between the decade of 1980 and the year of 2009 characterizes the work into something that may be denominated as present time story. The mystic was developed by the religious agents who advised the Movement. These advisors were very popular among the workers. Thus, the MST has grasped such practice and has re-meant it for its struggle, investing in their own mystic, or even better, in a new doing. Investing in creating the mystic is something intense for the Movement, so it must be developed in the most distinct spaces and circumstances. The mystic might be performed in a very diverse and plural way, taking into consideration the context and the reality of the group. Its making is in a theatrical way, by having music, poetry and many symbols. As a cultural and political practice, this is a moment in which the Movement is able to communicate effectively with the subjects, producing representations concerning everything that composes the way of being of the landless worker. The mystic has become essential and strategical in the organization of the MST, and it is gifted with power, id est, it brings about memory, representation and political action. In both camping sites Madre Cristina and Estrela da Ilha, the subjects have experienced with this practice, resulting in meanings and senses in their lives. The mystic was developed in the settlement according to the context and the quotidian of the people. While in the settlements, the subjects did not perform the mystic, evidencing that this practice also has its own limits, not being able to extend its effects for all the areas in which the participants of the MST are.