So, do you really know the history behind Cinco de Mayo?
I don't know all the details, myself, but I did spend some time last week reading up on it and if my understanding is correct, it went something like this:
Mexico won its independence in September 1821. As a young country it had challenges. In 1826 a lot of things happened. There was a Civil War between the conservative regime and the liberal one, that was lead by Benito Juarez. The conservatives wanted to set up a monarchy in Mexico; and France, under Napolean III, wanted to set up a satellite in the New World. So the two were in cahoots together, trying to own the libs.
Cinco de Mayo commemorates the first major battle between the concerned parties. The Battle of Puebla. The conservatives and Napolean the III's army lost. the Mexican leader responsible for the win was called Zaragoza. Viva Zaragoza! Would make a wonderful toasting cheer every Cinco de Mayo, but Zaragoza only lived a few more months passed that victory, dying from some illness or infection.
Soon after, Mexico would lose another decisive battle against Napolean III's army, but Mexico managed to avoid an autocratic government when Napolean III eventually withdrew his troops and support.
What I got from this: The desire for citizens of their own country trying to set government systems where they hold autocratic control is nothing new. But, somewhere along the line, American conservatives have managed to frame these takeovers as a purely socialist phenomena. So I don't understand, with all the woke historians we have in America, why we haven't been able to balance that out by telling the truth about countries that experimented with government by autocratic control.
And one last thing, Viva Zaragoza!
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