Lowest Common Denominators in Ethnicity

Let's look at Cinco de Mayo, the Spanish for the Fifth of May. On May 5, 1862, 4,000 brave Mexicans faced more than 6,000 French troops that were better trained and better equipped. The French wanted to make Mexico part of its empire. However, having just lost much of its land to the United States, the Mexicans would not hear of it. Despite their disadvantages, they fought off the French troops.

So how do we celebrate this cultural, epochal event? Why, join the mariachi, mix up the Margaritas, and make it a drinking holiday, of course!

Really, why do we let the charlatans of commerce trivialize our holy days and holidays? Partially due to practice, lots of it. We've abdicated Christmas long ago, and Easter has less to do with the resurrection of the center point of Christianity than it has to do with creating a springtime gift-giving season. Having exhausted European, Christian, Jewish and other religious opportunities, the Mexicans get their turn. In a terrific editorial by Yolanda Chavez Leyva, who teaches history at the University of Texas in El Paso, she notes, "Sadly, almost a century an a half later, we have all but forgotten the Zacapoaxtlan people and their courage and their sacrifices. Instead, big business has replaced those memories and erased history with promises of beer and nachos. This year, ...let's put the beer bottle down, say no to wearing a sombrero and take history back."

Let's think of this as communicators. Let's take care not to trivialize the cultures of others, or even ourselves. (As an Italian-American, I am tired of my brethren who capitalize on "mafia" jokes.) We need not be wet blankets to suggest to others that we need to put "Christ" back in Christmas. While we're at it, let's remind our audiences that courageous Mexicans did not fight on May 5, 1862, to defend our right to get plastered.