May the fifth of 1862, Mexican soldiers defend against French invasion at the battle of Puebla. Hence Cinco de Mayo, a festival held by locals of Puebla to commemorate those that defended them. A year later the French fully invaded. Then again many of our holydays are far distorted from the original intentions.
Buck Wilder, General Paranoia's roommate grumbles that white folks are always looking for an excuse to celebrate. He then points out the types of business's that honor Martin Luther King Day. A federal holiday when blacks aren't proportionately employed by the federal government. Low end jobs, especially the service industry, in which blacks are disproportionately employed don't consider it a paid holiday. White administrators and bankers get the day off while the black's, whose struggle against oppression they are celebrating, are stuck working the gas stations and grocery stores. Si Fallor Sum doesn't wonder if he's right. Not to aggravate Rachel Tensions, she's an unreasoning bitch, but this is the answer Si Fallor gets when asking Buck Wilder his thoughts on Cinco de Mayo.
As Hispanic America takes to the streets in celebration they are joined by a cross-section of the rest of America. (The rest of America. See the results of hyphenation.) Middle-American families wait for the parades. An older gentleman wanders the vendors proclaiming his love of tamales. College students buckle down to face the arduous task of another big bar night. All for a piece of land won and then lost again nearly two hundred years ago. In Mexico it's hardly noted. Perhaps none of us are ever close to the true reason of things. Holydays are simply ad campaigns staged by retailers anyway.
Unfortunately the laughter and upbeat music stirs Rachel Tensions from her nap. She hates parties. Too much oneness and fun. The celebration stirs the agitated. The ones always caught by immigration, the distracting dance of politicians in the face of more immediate concerns. Perhaps even the old man with his tamales joins the xenophobic dissent in an active of cognitive dissonance. Bring your food, leave your brother and culture behind. This is America. We practice American holidays. Of course if we had to give back those that came from elsewhere we'd have none left.
It's an immigration crisis. Of course we don't even know the real truths of our own celebrations. Mark Talks put together a great article on this crisis. Check out the link.
http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vYmxvZy5teXNwYWNlLmNvbS9pbmRleC5jZm0/ZnVzZWFjdGlvbj1ibG9nLnZpZXcmZnJpZW5kSUQ9MTI5OTYwNzU5JmJsb2dJRD0zNjU1Nzk1NTk=
It's not for or against, but it made Si Fallor realize the unspoken realities behind the situation. It also gave Si Fallor hope. When my grandparents stepped off the boat, it was in the middle of the old learn English or else mentality. One couldn't work or eat without talking the talk and walking the walk. Assimilate or face persecution. Somewhere along the line greed overpowered hatred. Targeting the millions of Spanish speakers. Now nearly every label has a Spanish translation. A huge market share few want to lose to competitors. General Paranoia says that this has simply removed the incentive to assimilate and learn English. Si Fallor wonders if maybe love of money will bring us all together and put an end to discrimination. Paranoia disagrees, claiming that classism is becoming the new racism.
Si Fallor Sum
Let's talk immigration. Throw your two cents in the comments or ague it in forum at
http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vcHViMTYuYnJhdmVuZXQuY29tL2ZvcnVtLzEzMDM1MjQ1ODYvc2hvdy84MDcxNjQ=
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