First of all. Cinco de Mayo has nothing to do with Mexico gaining independence from Spain. Rather, the Cinco de Mayo continues to express a people's pride in world history, particularly a nation's right to defend its territorial soverignty from foreign intervention. Interestingly enough, this spirit of nationlistic pride in preserving Mexico's sovereignty from foreign incursions--among them Spain, France and the United States--still exists today. Perhaps in a round-about-way, Cinco de Mayo illustrates what can happen when a country fails to meet financial obligations to its debtors. Let me elaborate with the following historical background.

Decades of civil strife after the Revolution of 1810, contributed to Mexico's inability to pay off its external debt to Spain, France and England. In the midst of a civil war between conservatives and liberals and almost bankrupt, Mexico could not depend on outside help. coincidentally, a civil war raged then between the North and South (1861-65), making it impossible for the US to intervene on Mexico's behalf.

Thus an economic crisis and a civil war gave France a "window of opportunity" to try and recoup its losses by taking advantage of Mexico's weak situation. At the time, Benito Juarez had assumed the presidency, insisting that he could solve the country's dilemma in spite of the odds against him. Meanwhile, Napoleon III, Emperor of France and nephew of the great General Napoleon Bonaparte, had grandiose ideas of establishing a kingdom in Mexico. He chose Maximilian, the young brother of Austria's Emperor Franz Joseph.

Allowing a European power to invade Mexico and take over like the Spaniards, did not set well with Benito Juarez, who knew about this plot years before taking over as president (January 1861). Among the conservatives who represented the upper classes, the idea of favoring an imported kingdom meant that their privileges would return. Fortunately for Juarez, both Spain and England agreed to forego repayment although both did send military forces to the port of Veracruz as a threat, which they later recalled.

In the spring of 1862, Napoleon III sent an elite army of 6,000 troops into Mexico, to fight a ragged and weak army that Juarez had managed to keep together, in spite of a series of extremely trying circumstances up to then. In a letter to folks back home, the commander of the French forces bragged about his confidence in engaging his enemy: "We are so superior to the Mexicans in race, in organization, in discipline, in morality, and in elevation of feeling, that at the head of six thousand soldiers I am already master of Mexico." But amazingly, although greatly outnumbered, that small, ragged, poorly trained and ill-equipped army soundly defeated the French troops in a heroic battle in the city of Puebla, on the 5th of May.

The significance of this historic battle in my view, has more to do with tenacity, pride, honor respect, patriotism--cultural values that somehow have become diluted at different times in Mexico. I believe that we can attribute this in part to the tremendous influence the US has had on the history and development of Mexico. Sovereignty of instance, has always remained an issue of political debate among Mexican politionians who still distrust the US. We only need to refer to post-NAFTA and the Chiapas uprising by the Zapatistas, to understand why Mexicans consider territorial sovereignty an integral part of their daily lives.

No one, I maintain, likes to have a stranger--an outsider--meddle in their personal affairs. I know that I would not stand for it. So next time you hear someone ask, "Why the big fuss over Cinco de Mayo?" or, "Why should I care?", tell them that it has to do with respect, peace, honor and dignity. But before concluding with this cultural capsule, I want to take you back a few years so that you can get a glimpse of Cinco de Mayo, as I witnessed it.

I recall as a youngster, growing up in a predominantly Chicano community very close to the Mexican border in Southeast Arizona, enjoying numerous activities during the Cinco de Mayo. We lived next to the baseball park, where we (boys and girls) participated in foot and gunny sack races, pitching, batting and throwing contests. One unusual and messy event involved running with a raw egg in a spoon from a standing position to the finish line without dropping the egg. Weeks before, the town elected a queen--from the prettiest and most popular young ladies who wore their hair in thick braids and the traditional colorful China Poblana dress--to reign over the festivities.

Sometimes we even had horse races, with some of the boys and young men competing for prizes. Adults drank their beverages while the kids indulged in sodas, ice cream, orchata (a rice drink) and lemonade. Later that night (usually on a Saturday), residents from both sides of the border gathered at a designated place for a dance, where one could by food at little booths sponsored by civic organizations in town.

But for me, watching the "old timers" play baseball nextdoor meant more to me than anything else. I lived baseball as a kid, with dreams of playing professional baseball like my dad. Unfortunately, I never had a chance to see him play in his prime. But if what he did on the field in his 40s--charging and throwing the ball, as well as batting during those games--I can imagine what he could do 20 years earlier! He usually came home with numerous red ribbons on his old uniform, pinned on him by the queen for his outstanding performance.

I also remember that if we wanted, we would cross over into Mexico and walk around the little placita (town square) in the early evening, where municipal officials gathered to commemorate the Battle at Puebla, on Cinco de Mayo. One of the most interesting aspects of this gathering always struck me as unusual: boys and girls with arms around their waists, walking around the plaza in opposite directions. Years later, I would discover that this event served as a way for young boys and girls to acquire socialization skills. And of course, we could still buy food and drinks of all kinds and enjoy an evening out with the whole family. A simple, safe outing for everyone, on both sides of the international border.

Times have changed though, and today we see a big difference in the process of celebrating an historic event that really should reflect pride in out cultural heritage. Nevertheless, in many Latino communities all over the US, people still maintain that tradition of honoring the spirit of the Mexican people, who refused to relinuish their soverignty to an outsider. Finally, Benito Juarez had a lot to do with that spirit of nationalism, by challenging a formidable foe that meddled in the internal affairs of Mexico. He, much like Abraham Lincoln, believed in peace, unity and respect for the rights of others. His quote, "El respeto al derecho ajeno, es la paz" has given prominence to a direct comparison with President Lincoln, in suggesting that "peace is achieved when one respects the rights of others."

Written by Alfonso Valenzuela, President, Cross Currents, International, Cross-Cultural Marketing Communications, 295 N. Meyer, #2, Tucson, Arizona 85701 March 1996(c) Sources for this article: Out from Under: Benito Juarez and Mexico's struggle for Independence, by James D. Atwater and Ramon E. Ruiz, 1969. Doubleday & Company, Inc. Garden City, New York; Pequeno Laroursse Ilustrado.

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