Cozumel's 4th of July Celebration is ON!

[deborahdelamar]

 

[cardzard]

I'm sure SB Invasion crew members will be there. Can't wait

 

[cvchief]

Cardzard,

I think they are collecting donation in CZM to help fund the celebration. Didn't know if you had heard. Be a cool thing for the invasion to help with?

 

[deborahdelamar]

Yes, CVChief is correct. The cost of this celebration won't be paid from the city's treasury this year. The organizers have asked for donations & volunteers. See contact info in this week's Cozumel 4 You newsletter, Cozumel 4 You - 06.28.2012

 

[ggunn]

Why would there be a July 4th celebration in Mexico?

 

[deborahdelamar]

Another excuse to party!

 

[cvchief]

Why would there be a July 4th celebration in Mexico?

Why would there be Cinco de Mayo celebration in the US?

Sell beer?

 

[Brules]

And sell the beer they do!

 

[DandyDon]

Why would there be a July 4th celebration in Mexico?

Because there are enough Americans on the island to make it good for business.

Why would there be Cinco de Mayo celebration in the US?

Sell beer?

The origin is deeper than that you know. It's celebrated in one Mexican state I think, where the battle happened, but was immediately more popular in the US with the Union side. From Cinco de Mayo - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Some historians have argued that France's real goal was to help break up the American Union, at the time in the midst of a civil war, by helping the southern Confederacy: "The Mexicans had won a great victory that kept Napoleon III from supplying the confederate rebels for another year, allowing the United States to build a powerful army. This grand army smashed the Confederates at Vicksburg and Gettysburg just 14 months after the battle of Puebla, essentially ending the Civil War." The consequence of Cinco de Mayo to the United States has been thus recognized: "The defeat of the French army had consequences for America as well...the French defeat denied Napoleon III the opportunity to resupply the Confederate rebels for another year."

Donald W. Miles adds, "At the time, there were fears in the United States that the French would use Mexico as a base to back the Confederacy, so President Lincoln and his Secretary of State went out of their way to appear 'neutral' in the Mexican situation. They did not want to take on the French and the Confederates at the same time". Dr. Miles goes on to explain that "Napoleon III had hesitated to take on the United States directly, but now the news of the Civil War changed everything". It meant that the Americans would be occupied with their conflict between North and South for some time. Upon hearing the Spaniards and the British had sailed off to grab the customs house in Veracruz to start collecting their duties, Napoleon decided he would not only send the French navy, but would also start looking for someone to place as emperor in Mexico. He would then use Mexico as a base to help the Confederates win their war against the United States. Napoleon saw this as an opportunity not to be missed. Dr. Miles then concludes, "The Emperor of France ordered his generals to spend a few months taking over Mexico and then - using Mexico as a 'base' - help the Confederates win their war against the United States! What if they had succeeded? The United States would never become the significant world power that it is today...the Mexicans not only took their nation back, but influenced the outcome of the U.S. Civil War."

Historian Justo Sierra has written in his Political Evolution of the Mexican People, that had Mexico not defeated the French in Puebla on May 5, 1862, France would have gone to the aid of the South in the U.S. Civil War and the United States' destiny could have been very different.

Over a hundred years later, US beer companies promote it more than anyone else. Just a reason to push beer sales.

 

[cvchief]

Wow. DD. I was using irony.

Setting aside the corporate influences, one of the answers, and perhaps best answer to why we have Cinco De Mayo celebrations in the States is because it has, to some degree, become an opportunity for those of Mexican descent in the US to celebrate the culture and traditions of Mexico. Using the Socratic method, I was answering the Gun, as that same answer applies to J4 in Cozumel. Hence, I think, it is much deeper than beer sales.

And much like St. Patty's, once the party is called, everyone wants to come. I personally am willing to respect and participate in ANYONE'S non-exclusionary celebration of their own culture's specific customs and traditions.


(Of course only if there is beer...)