Mexican Independence Day is, on Sept 16, celebrated by numerous. two centuries of freedom is celebrated with Mexico’s Independence Day 2010. A common misconception in the United States of America is that Mexico’s Independence Day is May 5: Cinco de Mayo. Cinco de Mayo is really recognized because of the Battle of Puebla which is why on May 5 we start listening to stories in the media about this. In September 16, 1810, Mexico’s 10 year war for freedom from Spain began which is why we commemorate Mexico’s Independence Day on September 16. In the last two centuries, a lot has changed. Mexico is a different place. Yet this year, the country has little to commemorate as it battles corruption, human rights issues and drug violence.
Celebration does not help with drug violence
President Felipe Calderon is celebrating Mexican Freedom Day Sept. 16 with a $40 million extravaganza in Mexico City. USA Today reports the two-day bicentennial bash features laser shows, fireworks and music. Many individuals are upset by the recession and war against narcoterrorists. This is why the government in Mexico has suggested the party should be done to raise spirits of many. The fear of a drug cartel attacking the festivities is a really real one, although there is a lot of security. The crowd suffered a couple of years ago as grenades were thrown into a crowd by narcoterrorists. This was during a Mexican Independence Day festival happening in Morelia. There were seven deaths from it. Not only that, however one more 132 individuals were injured. Since a military campaign on Mexican drug cartels started in December 2006, more than 22,000 individuals have perished in drug violence, according to the Reforma newspaper.
Bicentennial causes Mexicans to resign
Many historians, politicians and artists all think that Mexico, the country rejoicing with a traditional “grito,” or yell of “Viva Mexico,” is in serious trouble right now. Mexicans are nevertheless concerned after 72 illegal migrants from Central and South The United States which were killed in northern Mexico last month, says the Washington Post. The killings caused a job to be lost. Mexico’s top immigration official resigned as a result of what happened. Reforma published a poll stating that 67 percent of residents in Mexico City don’t even care about the bicentennial. Many think the money is being wasted on the celebration. 6 in 10 asked said this. E-mails are being spread anonymously too a great many Mexicans saying that participation in government-sponsored celebrations is a bad idea. Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, defeated by Calderon in a disputed 2006 election, will host his own celebration a couple of blocks away from Calderon’s. There have been less public events in cities more just lately. This is because narcoterrorism is something a great many hope to avoid.
There’s always good news also
Even though United States of America Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said last week that Mexico resembles the drug-racked Colombia of 20 years ago, the news is not all bad. As outlined by the Associated Press, Mexico has a murder rate of 14 per 100,000 individuals. This is good news if you know how bad it typically is in Latin America. Upper-middle class Mexicans are much like their American neighbors, with iPhones, modern apartments, higher education and smaller families. Seems like like things have changed a lot in the last 25 years. Strong grass-roots movements have worked with the things that would never have been expected before for instance crime, human rights and environment issues. Mexico’s government finances are actually stable throughout the worst recession since the 1930s. A Supreme Court has also been set up that really works.
USA Today
usatoday.com/news/world/2010-09-15-mexicobicentennial15_ST_N.htm
Washington Post
washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/14/AR2010091406672_2.html?wpisrc=nl_headline and sid=ST2010091406720
Associated Press
google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iyrGq2t_rHNPZAyOKqFdMrAad0yQD9I6Q4200
