Patriot not racist

I'm angry that American schoolchildren are obligated to celebrate "Cinco De Mayo." I feel it is un-american to celebrate another countries military victory. I'd be like asking Mexican children to celebrate our fourth of July. I think another holiday celebrating their culture, one without political ties, would be more appropriate for all Americans new and old.

[edit on 1/8/2005 by dollmonster]

Because a high percentage of the american people come from a Spain speaking country?

You know, what?..here in Germany, the politicans once disgussed about muslim holiday..yes but only when they celebrate a day in e.g. Iran for the German
reunion..lol

I know what you like to mention..

regards

dc

dollmonster, what do you really mean by "celebrating?"
Was it a day off of school, or a parade, or simply an awareness exercise? Please clarify. My child wasn't obligated to actually celebrate, not I mind as long as it helps his awareness of other cultures.

Can you give us some more information on this?

The battle which Cinco De Mayo celebrates was a colaboration. The US soldiers helped keep the French on the run in the end and in turn Mexican soldiers later crossed the border to help us after Pearl Harbor.

If Diaz hadn't defeated the French, Napolean could have really gotten up a head of steam. Since he didn't, the US had time to build up it's forces - not having to take on the French alone.

We fought together - why can't we celebrate together?

First question:

Celebration- as in party. Music food etc. My grammer school son reported 3 days of festivities, including assemblies in Spanish only.

Next:

I don't dispute your facts. I'm willing to bet most Mexicans aren't aware of American collaboration though. Actually when questioned, the Mexicans I work with didn't even know the orgins of "Cinco De Mayo" and thought it a sort of " Mexican Pride Day."

Frankly I find the the whole thing offensive. Cars sporting the Mexican flag blowing their horns for hours, fireworks, street parties, etc.

I live in San Pablo CA. The towns population has been usurped by Mexican immigrants and like it or not, the general attitude among these people is anti- american. Unless you too live and work amongst them here, as I do, you probably don't believe me.

If we are to celebrate culture, wonderful. But lets represent all peoples heritage. My Son's schools in Pinole and is more ethnically mixed then San Pablo's schools. Yet the Asian, East Indian etc. cultures are ignored.

Again I ponder, is this Mexico or America?

I think this whole thing goes right along with celebrating things like African-American month, and Asian-American month and To Broke to Care month. Why do we need this? Why celebrate anything, can't we just be happy? And why don't we have a Bjarni Day? Or a Northern-European-American Month??


Not to be inflammatory or rascist or any of that other crap.

I agree that the festivities should at least be conducted in English. This is the US. I wouldn't go to a foreign country without first learning their language.

However, San Pablo was founded by Mexicans. We drove the Indians off the land and gave the land to the Mexicans. A Mexican priest from Mission Dolores (also located in the US) named the area in the early or mid 1800's.

The area in which you live has always been a Mexican settlement.

I do agree that we should not ignore the other cultures present in the area though. Whether we like it or not, the US is the "great melting pot" and others have usually been welcomed.
I do think it is a great shame that the Mexican population in your area doesn't know what they are really celebrating. When one loses their history, they lose their roots. That is sad. There is an African proverb that says a tree without roots cannot grow. I am sure that this applies to cultures as well.

EDIT: spelling

[edit on 15-1-2005 by wellwhatnow]

Hello,

The situation is that there is no such thing as an American culture: the very nature of America has been complete open borders and multi-culturalism/multi-racialism. The Constitution even secures a type of radical individualism that blocks any form of cultural/ethnic homogeneity. As such, any claims of "someone not being American" is false, since there is no definition of "being American": everyone is different. Even the Neo-Conservative George W. Bush, when asked by Paleo-Conservatives to close the borders and maintain a European-derrived cultural homogeneity, replied "we are a multicultural nation."

Regards.

Originally posted by dollmonster
I'm angry that American schoolchildren are obligated to celebrate "Cinco De Mayo." I feel it is un-american to celebrate another countries military victory. I'd be like asking Mexican children to celebrate our fourth of July. I think another holiday celebrating their culture, one without political ties, would be more appropriate for all Americans new and old.

[edit on 1/8/2005 by dollmonster]

They shouldn't be recognizing a foreign holiday outside of a foreign language class or some type of appropriate history class.

you have the right to voice how you feel about celebrating other's country holidays.

Now you have to understand that our country is diverse, now you also know that the west of the US was under Mexican control in our humble beginnings.

It's not such thing as Mexicans taking over California, but migrants still coming into California, Mexican were in California long before we were here, remember Spanish founded the new world.

You have the right to not allowed your children to learn about other cultures but that will be a terrible thing to do to them after all we are as diverse as we can be.


[edit on 16-1-2005 by marg6043]

I am most curious as to what made you ask this question in early January?
I am assuming that Cinco de Mayo was celebrated in your area on the 5th of May. Why ask about it here and eight months later?

Why not ask in May and why not ask the school in question?

Interesting to know about that. I'm Mexican and I rarely celebrate it. Sure I know what happened and I know when it takes place but my family doesn't really make a big deal about that day.

If you are angry that schoolchildren are "obligated" maybe you should complain and see what happens.

Best case scenario: the school changes things around and invites the community to join in on the festivites and if it is a success they could open up more events for other cultures.

Worst case scenario: if you act alone no one will really care and say you are just discriminating or worse, say you also hate blacks, asain anyone else not "White American" If you can get enough people behind you the school will change things around. If they were to eliminate iy, the Mexicans would be outraged and more complaints would come in. This would make the school look bad and things would probably go in a cycle.

Just a thought