Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Cinco de Mayo 2008

Ever wonder about Cinco de Mayo? No it's not Mexican Independence Day. But it should be a North American holiday because it was the last time that Mexico, the United States, or Canada had to defend itself against an invasion by the European colonial powers. 4,000 Mexican soldiers smashed the French and traitor Mexican army of 8,000 at Puebla, Mexico, 100 miles east of Mexico City on the morning of May 5, 1862. That is why Cinco de Mayo is a huge holiday.

So last night we celebrated Cinco de Mayo with some friends. I couldn't remember the name of the battle--but I promised myself to look it up this morning and share it. I wonder why as I think about my schooling that it took until adulthood for me to figure out that Mexico was struggling for its sovereignty just at about the same time that the U.S. was in the middle of a bloody Civil War. If you want to read more about Cinco de Mayo, click on the name. Each of the sites are different and provide a different view of the day. It is important to note that it is very possible the Mexican victory and ensuing struggle probably helped keep the French from supporting the South during the U.S. Civil War and may have significantly shortened that tragic and bloody chapter of U.S. history.

Happy Cinco de Mayo and North American freedom from colonial interference.

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