Posted on 05/05/2009 10:06:49 AM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer
SEATTLE -- With mariachis, tequila and parades, Cinco De Mayo will be celebrated this week in parties across the nation, kicking off a commemoration of Mexican heritage in the United States as a pseudo-holiday that has been adopted by the general population.
But for Dagoberto Reyes, a Salvadorian immigrant living in Los Angeles, May 5 is more a reminder of the dominance Mexican culture has in a country that is home to immigrants from many Latin American countries. His prime example: Los Angeles-area public schools.
"Our kids go to this school system, and the school system is more preoccupied with Mexico's history, and not the rest of Latin America's, much less El Salvador's," said Reyes, director of Casa de la Cultura, a Salvadorian community center. "They came back celebrating Cinco De Mayo. That holiday means nothing to us." [snip]
It's often as simple as commanding the dominant slang - for example, a jacket for Central Americans is "chaqueta," but for Mexicans it is "chamarra" - but it can range to more overt hostility or competition in the work force, and it can spark worries of losing cultural identity.
Ignorance and apathy by Americans adds to the mix.
(Excerpt) Read more at sacbee.com ...
“I am from Guatemala, NOT Mexico!!”
I got the same reaction from a couple of Guatemalans who I worked with.
However they added,....” Mexico is sh!t” to their response.
Annhueser-Busch is owned by “InBev” ... a Belgian (multinational) brewing company.
I see they did away with the swine flu just in time for Cinco de Mayo.
LOL, Bud’s still suffering from the 4 point drop in market share they had when I quit drinking 20 years ago. ;)
Don’t get your Bohemian (American) beer mixed up with Bohemia (Mexican) beer.
That's the kind of guys we are...
:)
Ping!
LOL, my head is exploding!
Do you think Mexican illegals are the problem or something about Mexican culture that makes all other Hispanics deny their relation to them? This seems to be a convoluted subject no one of Hispanic/Latino descent seems willing to address.
Re: “lots of white boys drinking coronas and dos equis all night celebrating the mexican “fourth of july” LOL”
and...
“Obama voters for sure!”
***********
I’m not so sure they all voted for zero — young adults here in L.A., of all persuasions, have loved Cinco de Mayo for decades and it has nothing to do with fifth of May. It’s all about the partying.
I remember once having a big time at a ‘disco’ and being thrilled to get a tee-shirt free signifying the event. That was around 1980. Over time the whole illegal scenario has gotten worse but trust me, So. Cal. has always had problems.
Re: “Do you think Mexican illegals are the problem or something about Mexican culture that makes all other Hispanics deny their relation to them? This seems to be a convoluted subject no one of Hispanic/Latino descent seems willing to address.”
************
I think here in So Cal it’s the massive numbers of Mexicans that so upsets and daunts other latino groups — and everyone else.
They feel pushed aside by them, run out of their neighborhoods, rother latinos resent being mistaken for them, and are annoyed by brazen “I can do what I want” behaviors exhibited, plus that constant flying of the Mexican flag that we see so often.
The dynamic is similar to what blacks felt some years ago when (mostly) Mexicans were spreading around the city of L.A. and blacks felt compelled to move to far reaching suburbs, which they did in great numbers. The old ‘south-central’ is now about 90% latino/Mexican. The school district, LAUSD, is about 80% Mexican, at least.
It’s almost funny how blacks and whites, when out in public in groups that include vociferous latinos (Mexicans), will roll their eyes at each other and mutter things like “Can’t they speak English?”
I have to tell you, it’s pretty funny because if ONLY blacks and whites were out in public, the two groups would almost certainly be avoiding each other for the most part. In this little ‘war’ against masses of Mexicans here, blacks and whites do tend to come together at times.
In Los Angeles we have this same situation in a lesser way involving Russians and/or Armenians who have taken over such ‘towns’ as Glendale and various other neighborhoods. I have known American ‘whites’ who have actually moved elsewhere to get away from them.
Then there are the various other middle-easterners who populate certain areas and are considered by some to be extremely overbearing.
Bottom line is that So. Cal. is a melting pot to the nth degree and sometimes you really don’t know you are in the USA at all. Sad, I’m glad I’m getting old...............
Give us a good drinking holiday associated with your country and we’ll celebrate that too.
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