Feliz Cinco de Mayo!
Bienvenidos, hermano y hermana! Feliz Cinco de Mayo! Bravo Mexico!
El Cinco de Mayo has come once again, mi Amigos, and this year it shall carry with it a special patriotism that has been lacking in the decades past. For so many of us Norto Americanos, Conco de Mayo, the 5th of May, is viewed as a Mexican celebration of independence. Of course, that is wrong. For those of you who do not know the history of this significant Mexican date, I'll be so happy to enlighten you.
El Cinco de Mayo is a Mexican national celebration commemorating the victory of Mexico's military forces, led by the Grande Generale Ignacio Zaragozo, over Napolean's French expeditionary forces. This battle took place on 5 May 1862 near the Mexican city of Puebla. Fort Guadalupe, protecting the pass near Puebla, housed the Mexican force of Federales who would defeat three French attacks in the rainy season downpours that turned the ground to mud. Backed by local Indians, the Mexican troops counter-attacked, overran the French lines, and forced the French to withdrawal. (Typical Frenchies, right?) A year later, though, Napoleon sent in a massive 30,000 more troops, bypassed the city of Puebla and its fort, and marched on Mexico City. The city was taken and a puppet French regime ruled Mexico for four years. The French would soon be defeated once again, by the legitimate Mexican government's forces, aided by the post Civil War U.S. Military.
Cinco de Mayo has become the Mexican version of St. Patrick's Day here in the Great United States. Barbecues, fiestas, and parades celebrating this nation's Chicano heritage are recognized throughout the country by people of every race, color, and nationality. As with St. Patrick's Day, when everyone's a wee bit Lucky O'Irish, and Octoberfest, when we're all brat-eating, beer-gulping Germans, on Cinco de Mayo we are all Loco Chicano!
With the Latino-American population of these Great United States growning into the second largest ethnic group (behind German-Americans and ahead of African-Americans and Irish-Americans) it won't be long until the influences of our southern neighbors are felt outside of the fantastic foods. Latinos are stepping up into the leadership roles throughout America and the voices of the people have been heard loud and clear these past weeks. I for one welcome them all as hermanos y hermana, brothers and sisters, in building this great nation stronger with every passing day.
As with the immigrant Irish, who fled famine, or the immigrant Russians, who fled communism, and the immigrant Jews, who fled the holocaust, or the immigrant Cubans, who fled tyranny, the immigrant Mexicans come to us, fleeing poverty, and seeking a better future for themselves and their posterity. We should all welcome them with open arms and open hearts. It is the American Way, after all.
We are all immigrants. Everyone's roots are elsewhere in this world if you dig deep enough. Well, unless you are a Native American Indian, of course. To them, we are all illegal aliens! Hey, don't they have a celebration day? We need to find out and get it recognized the nation over. Every ethnic group should have it's day here in America, and they all should be celebrated by all of us.
Let's make it happen, my Zealots!
Until then, Feliz Cinco de Mayo! Buenos notches, muchachos y muchachas.
El Cinco de Mayo has come once again, mi Amigos, and this year it shall carry with it a special patriotism that has been lacking in the decades past. For so many of us Norto Americanos, Conco de Mayo, the 5th of May, is viewed as a Mexican celebration of independence. Of course, that is wrong. For those of you who do not know the history of this significant Mexican date, I'll be so happy to enlighten you.
El Cinco de Mayo is a Mexican national celebration commemorating the victory of Mexico's military forces, led by the Grande Generale Ignacio Zaragozo, over Napolean's French expeditionary forces. This battle took place on 5 May 1862 near the Mexican city of Puebla. Fort Guadalupe, protecting the pass near Puebla, housed the Mexican force of Federales who would defeat three French attacks in the rainy season downpours that turned the ground to mud. Backed by local Indians, the Mexican troops counter-attacked, overran the French lines, and forced the French to withdrawal. (Typical Frenchies, right?) A year later, though, Napoleon sent in a massive 30,000 more troops, bypassed the city of Puebla and its fort, and marched on Mexico City. The city was taken and a puppet French regime ruled Mexico for four years. The French would soon be defeated once again, by the legitimate Mexican government's forces, aided by the post Civil War U.S. Military.
Cinco de Mayo has become the Mexican version of St. Patrick's Day here in the Great United States. Barbecues, fiestas, and parades celebrating this nation's Chicano heritage are recognized throughout the country by people of every race, color, and nationality. As with St. Patrick's Day, when everyone's a wee bit Lucky O'Irish, and Octoberfest, when we're all brat-eating, beer-gulping Germans, on Cinco de Mayo we are all Loco Chicano!
With the Latino-American population of these Great United States growning into the second largest ethnic group (behind German-Americans and ahead of African-Americans and Irish-Americans) it won't be long until the influences of our southern neighbors are felt outside of the fantastic foods. Latinos are stepping up into the leadership roles throughout America and the voices of the people have been heard loud and clear these past weeks. I for one welcome them all as hermanos y hermana, brothers and sisters, in building this great nation stronger with every passing day.
As with the immigrant Irish, who fled famine, or the immigrant Russians, who fled communism, and the immigrant Jews, who fled the holocaust, or the immigrant Cubans, who fled tyranny, the immigrant Mexicans come to us, fleeing poverty, and seeking a better future for themselves and their posterity. We should all welcome them with open arms and open hearts. It is the American Way, after all.
We are all immigrants. Everyone's roots are elsewhere in this world if you dig deep enough. Well, unless you are a Native American Indian, of course. To them, we are all illegal aliens! Hey, don't they have a celebration day? We need to find out and get it recognized the nation over. Every ethnic group should have it's day here in America, and they all should be celebrated by all of us.
Let's make it happen, my Zealots!
Until then, Feliz Cinco de Mayo! Buenos notches, muchachos y muchachas.
posted by B.R.Dailey | 8:37 PM
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