Mexican Independence Day is Sept. 16. 200 years of freedom is celebrated with Mexico’s Independence Day 2010. Many Americans seem to think that Cinco de Mayo is Mexico’s Independence Day. This is false. On May 5, stories within the media abound, ranging from tequila recipes to the Battle of Puebla — the real reason Cinco de Mayo is recognized. In Sept 16, 1810, Mexico’s 10 year war for independence from Spain started which is why we celebrate Mexico’s Independence Day on September 16. Within the last two centuries, a lot has changed. Mexico is a different place. Yet in 2010, the country has little to commemorate as it battles corruption, human rights issues and drug violence.
Celebration within the shadow of drug violence
President Felipe Calderon is celebrating Mexican Independence Day Sept. 16 with a $40 million extravaganza in Mexico City. The party that will last two days is reported by USA Today to have fireworks, music and laser shows all in it. The reason the government is giving for the party is to help more individuals cheer up during the war against narcoterrorists and the economic recession. Security is tight amid fears that drug cartels will attack the festivities. 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, but one more 132 individuals were injured. Since a military campaign on Mexican drug cartels started in December 2006, more than 22,000 individuals have died in drug violence, as outlined by the Reforma newspaper.
Bicentennial encourages resignation from Mexicans
Mexico is getting ready to start shouting “Viva Mexico!” while also readying to say the traditional “grito.” At the really very same time, signs of trouble in Mexico are pointed out by historians, politicians and artists. The Washington Post reports that Mexicans are nevertheless reeling from the massacre of 72 illegal migrants from Central and South America in northern Mexico last month. The killings caused a job to be lost. Mexico’s top immigration official resigned as a result of what happened. In a poll published last week in Reforma, 67 percent of Mexico City residents said they felt little or no excitement about the bicentennial. Nearly six in 10 said the money spent is being wasted. E-mails are being spread anonymously too a great many Mexicans saying that participation in government-sponsored celebrations is a bad idea. In a 2006 election, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador was defeated by Calderon and says he plans to have, near Calderon’s celebration, his own little party. There are less public events in cities more just lately. This is because narcoterrorism is something many hope to avoid.
Better news now
Not all the news is bad, although Mexico supposedly resembles the drug-racked Colombia of 20 years ago if you ask United States Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. The Associated Press reports that over all, Mexico’s murder rate is 14 per 100,000, far below the average for Latin America. It is not uncommon to see things like iPhones among upper-middle class Mexicans, making them much like Americans. They also have things like modern apartments, smaller families and education. Strong grass-roots movements’ deal with issues like crime, human rights and the environment which were unheard of 25 years ago. Mexico’s government finances are really stable through the worst recession since the 1930s. There is also an additional thing they have accomplished. A Supreme Court system is set up.
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
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