This Week in Mexifornia – Thousands Gather to Celebrate… Mexico’s Independence From Spain?

Three Fingers of Politics ^ | 09/16/10 | SkinnieMinnie

[Erin Brown]

In 1810, Mexico gained its independence from Spain and 200 years later, thousands of Mexican Americans flocked to the steps of the state capitol building in California to celebrate this occasion.

Wait, what? Mexico declares its independence from Spain 200 years ago, and California citizens celebrate? According to Mexican Consul General Carlos González Gutiérrez in the Sacramento Bee, celebrating the bicentennial was “an opportunity not only to celebrate the cultural identity of California’s 11 million Mexican Americans, but our partnership with California. We have been together for 200 years, and we will be together for many more.” Gutiérrez let out the famous “grito” cry from the Capitol steps at 7:58pm, the words that marked the beginning of Mexico’s 11-year war with Spain.

[AuntB]

From Bill Glenn, USBP {Ret}:

16 September 2010

Dear México Lindo,

Feliz cumpliaños. This year you reach the 200th anniversary of your independence from Spain. It’s hardly a success story. You won a battle once against the French on 5 May 1862 and now Cinco de Mayo is celebrated in many parts of the United States. No wonder. It’s the only success we can identify in your history. The rest has been fraught with your internal power struggles, armed rebellions, assassinations of national leaders, subjugation of the poor and indigenous, political corruption throughout all departments of government and, simply, failure as a nation.

Today, you petulantly attempt to shift the blame for your dismal status onto us, the imperialist gringo, a nasty little word, full of hate and anger akin to our own ethnic slurs. The difference is that you use the word regularly in your news editorials and opinion columns to convey contempt while routinely accusing my country of being racist. Mexico, if you’re seeking racism, look no further than your own boundaries. Reflect on your treatment of migrants from other Latin American countries and even of your own indigenous people. It’s hardly commendable.

The chaotic conditions you find yourself in today require you to focus your attention on external affairs because you obviously recognize there is little hope of help from within. This is sadly ironic since you’ve always been such a patriotically fierce defender of your sovereignty. The blame for your failures cannot honestly be placed on us. We’ve only been at this independence game 34 years longer than you. No, your problems likely stem from the seed of despotic corruption planted by Spain when you replaced their royalty with your own. The ensuing temptations of that legacy have been just too bountiful for your politicians to resist.

Now we are facing controversial immigration issues for which both our countries can equally share the blame; you failed to provide for your people and chose to neglect our immigration laws, each for greed and politics. “Poor Mexico, so far from God, so close to the United States,” as the saying goes. As a result, we have allowed you to develop a de facto dependency on us.

You and your neighbors to the south obviously share contempt for my country. Is it because we are successful as a nation? Is it that you really believe we took land that belonged to you? If you still occupied all that territory that you yourselves took from the original people, would Mexico today be a shining example of success?

On this, your bicentennial as a nation, may you begin to exchange your baseless pride for a measure of national responsibility. When the day comes that you no longer stoop to the exportation of your own citizens as a commodity, you may then have something for which to be proud. Until then, que le vaya bien.

Bill G

Entre los individuos, como entre las naciones, el respeto al derecho ajeno es la paz, “Among individuals, as among nations, respect for the rights of others is peace.” Benito Juarez.

[PGalt]

Thanks for the ping; post; thread. Internal enemies/education BUMP!

[blackie]

Good stuff!