Cinco De Mayo: the Machete Warriors
(I know this isn’t my typical letter BUT it does have an important message for our community: honor indigenous peoples, work for freedom, fight through adversity, like the native fighters in Puebla, who we honor on Cinco De Mayo. Lord knows, many of us are fighting through adversity right now.)
The Adversity of today, is not the same as yesterday. Yet, here we all are, and what will we do?
Cinco de Mayo is an odd holiday for United States citizens to appropriate, and steal. It is the unlikely story of a country, and people winning a military and moral victory against a mighty European colonizer (France).
Given “Americans” (people from the USA) often characterize Mexicans with popular dominant culture imagery (think sombrero, lazy, broken English), celebrating a Mexican holiday honoring the heroics of indigenous, gritty fighters doesn’t seem like the right holiday to commandeer.
Mexican culture expressed in United States’ textbooks and creative arts is a cheap caricature of the rich culture and ethnic identity of Mexicans. These mythologies allow racist ideologies and oppressive systems to thrive. And so, Cinco de Mayo is sacrificed in honor of the United States’ gods of consumerism and greed – purposefully mistaken as Mexico’s Independence Day.
In actuality, Mexico celebrates independence from its colonizers on September 16th, 1810. For Mexico, September 16th was the start of the battle for independence: “El Grito de Independencia”. Or, in English, a “cry,” or “scream.”
But, what independence? England, France, and Spain held significant debts for the Mexican Republic. Freedom isn’t really freedom when “freed” peoples are required to pay their oppressors mountains of money. Mexicans were paying money to European Powers who had murdered, raped, enslaved, and stolen from native Mexican lands.
I wonder, “Who owes who the debt?”
In 1861, Mexico declared a moratorium on foreign debts. They weren’t asking for a free ride – Mexicans needed a break. (Yes, in the middle of a quarantine, let’s listen to these brave Mexican leaders. We need a break.)
“Too bad,” said their oppressors. I dislike their response, and more than dislike that these debts existed.
President Benito Juarez arranged an agreement with England and Spain, but France had other intentions. The French wanted more than money – they wanted land, power, and influence in the Americas. Already spread across the globe, prideful French commanders didn’t respect Mexico or Mexicans. Why prepare with cannons and weaponry for their weak opponent?
Their lust for power blinded them, and their idols deceived them.
(Think, I Timothy 6:9-10 states: “9 But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction.”)
The French marched into Puebla.
The native Zapotec and Mexican fighters didn’t know they would survive the onslaught. Zapotec and Mexican heroes were fighting for the land under their feet — saying no to wealthy French landowners financing an unjust war — liberating their bodies from foreign domination.
They were poorly armed, yet fiercely passionate. They were fighting with antiquated guns and machetes. They beat back one of, if not the best army in the world.
Machetes, stones and antiquated guns.
(Likewise, the United States’ lust for power, thirst for riches – has blinded me, my friends, and my communities from repentance of allegiance to our gods. And, those of us who have eyes to see, must see. We must act.)
A gathering of natives, fighting an impossible power means something.
Maybe there is hope for us, too.
I may not influence the President of the United States, or speak to large crowds.
But, I do have a pen (a keyboard connected to a laptop).
I talk with friends,
My friends speak with others.
My children speak.
My family speaks.
My communities are thoughtful.
Beliefs, feelings and ways I embody justice give me hope, even if I lose this battle.
Mexico didn’t win all of the subsequent battles against the French. The war dragged on. Victories, even the momentary ones against evil and greed are significant.
Let’s stop, and remember Cinco de Mayo.
Cinco De Mayo is …
The day to stand, united.
So, pull out your pens. Write your lawmakers.
Repent of idol worship.
Stand with the marginalized.
Be fully present in their suffering.
DO SOMETHING.
BE A FREEDOM FIGHTER.
Celebrate indigenous fighters, fighting the oppressor and their systems.
Call a moratorium on debts owed to the systems enslaving those impoverished.
And how to celebrate?
Raise a glass of beer to toast the freedom fighters with machetes in Puebla.
Toast freedom fighters with pen and voice, today.
Eat tacos to honor the goodness of provision.
Salsa reminds me of the mixture of living well and the grit it takes to get there.
But more, talk with your family, loved ones, connect.
This is how my family will celebrate Cinco De Mayo.