Posted on 09/04/2010 2:52:28 PM PDT by AuntB
BEAVERTON, Ore. -- The City of Beaverton has expanded the scope of a celebration that started out as a party for Mexico's Independence Day.
The city on Friday announced they were broadening the festival to recognize National Hispanic Heritage Month for the "Year of the Bicentennial" in the Americas as Argentina, Chile, Colombia, and Mexico all marking 200 years of independence over the month.
It was scheduled for September 16 at 6 p.m. at Beaverton's City Park.
Earlier this week, controversy erupted when radio commentator Lars Larson interviewed Beaverton City Commissioner Betty Bode to ask why the city was officially celebrating Mexican Independence Day, but had no official celebration for American Independence Day.
According to the U.S. Census, Beaverton is the most diverse city in the state. Twenty percent is "non-white," 16 percent is classified as Hispanic. Larson argued that fact did not necessarily mean of Mexican descent.
A request for the event was taken from the Mexican consulate, Bode said. Bode said the aim of the celebration was to allow people of Mexican heritage into closer ties with the community at large.
Beaverton's Mayor Denny Doyle was set to speak at the event, along with performances by a Mexican folk ballet, maricachi bands and food. The cost to put on the event was $6,000 The festival is free to attend.
But critics call it ridiculous, when the city doesn't even have a taxpayer-funded Fourth of July Celebration.
"It's completely inadequate, " said Larson, "It doesn't do the right thing and simply renames the wrong thing."
Larson had Beaverton City Councilwoman Betty Bode on his show Thursday, and asked her why the city would sponsor a foreign celebration and not an American one.
September 16 marks the 200th anniversary of Mexican independence movement from Spain and November 20 marks the 100th anniversary of the Mexican revolution.
Events in September will be taking place in Oregon (Independence, Woodburn, Portland, Eugene and Hillsboro) and around the country.
Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates Hispanic heritage starting in 1968 after Hispanic Heritage Week was approved by President Lyndon Johnson. It was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period starting on September 15 and ending on October 15. It was enacted into law on August 17, 1988.
"Its an honor to recognize events like these that are so special to many members of this community," Doyle said.
Betty Bode, Beaverton City Council interview
http://larslarson.com/pg/jsp/charts/streamingAudioMaster.jsp;jsessionid=D3AF22BD01293209BCE569E06A473A4E?dispid=310&headerDest=L3BnL2pzcC9tZWRpYS9mbGFzaHdlbGNvbWUuanNwP3BpZD0xODQxNyZwbGF5bGlzdD10cnVlJmNoYXJ0dHlwZT1jaGFydCZjaGFydElEPTMxMCZwbGF5bGlzdFNpemU9MzA=
Beaverton WILL NOT celebrate our 4th of July...can't afford it, they say, BUT $6000 of this nonsense is ok!
Please vote in the poll!
http://www.kgw.com/news/local/Controversy-over-Beavertons-Mexican-Independence-fest-102170434.html
Do you agree with Beaverton's decision to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month?
Thank you for voting!
Yes, with public funds 12.4% (160 votes) Yes, but not with public funds 33.5% (433 votes) No 54.1% (700 votes) Total Votes: 1,293
http://www.kgw.com/news/local/Controversy-over-Beavertons-Mexican-Independence-fest-102170434.html
Cultural suicide.
Why are we celebrating Mexican Independence in the USA? If they are so proud of Mexico, why don’t they want to live there?
The Mexican government is behind most of this nonsense throughout the country in order to somehow try and make illegals more acceptable to the American public at large.
How does celebrating OTHER countries’ independence days help these immigrants assimilate into our culture?
“Why are we celebrating Mexican Independence in the USA? If they are so proud of Mexico, why dont they want to live there?”
Those were exactly the questions Lars Larson asked the city council woman (you’ll love her double talking pandering!)
He about lost it when she refuses to have a 4th of July celebration.
Interview worth the listen!
Hey B! Long time no see! Hope you are well.
Yeah, NW Oregon and N Washington have both sold out to the Commies.
“How does celebrating OTHER countries independence days help these immigrants assimilate into our culture?”
How does keeping them speaking 2nd grade Spanish help??
Or any of the nonsense we do???
It DOESN’T...THAT is the idea.
Divide and conquer...the oldest tactic around, and we’re all falling for it.
Ain’t they sweet...
Dang! I’ll put you on my ping list...I was using ‘other’ computers half the time and wiped it out!!
Argentina, Chile, Colombia, and Mexico all marking 200 years of independence over the month.
Independence from what.....Not the United States, they seem to depend on the US for lots. Just my opinion.
What recession? We still have plenty of money for our pet projects. :)
The whisper campaign should take care of attendance at the celebration.
MEXICO: The country so great, no one wants to live there.
yah...you don’t get much more politically tone deaf than the Mayor of Beanerton and most of City Council. He has a rather large Mexican National contingent over there and Hizzonor is obviously shopping for votes.
If you want an excellent analysis of just how dim-witted the City Fathers of Beaverton Oregon are, do a Google search on “The Round at Beaverton”. It was hyped as a model community and the perfect fusion of loot rail and condo living...and it is the biggest and longest lasting rolling train wreck you can imagine.
Mexicans are conquering our country without having to fire a shot.
Link keeps giving me an error reading.
“Link (Lars Larson interview) keeps giving me an error reading.”
Hmmm?????
Try this:
Scroll down on the right to ‘First Amendment Friday” and click on Betty Bode - Beaverton City Council
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