Mexico has seen a lot of war and invasion on the receiving end, unlike America. In fact, America, to become "America" as it is, took half of Mexico's territory. And Mexico has seen too much of this type of control and theft. The Spanish took it from the Mexicans (the Tlacala, the Aztec, the Mayans, etc); the French almost took it from the Mexicans, the Americans took it instead; Mexicans cross over to what is now called "NorthAmerica," and try to steal land? Take back the flag? No. Get adequate jobs and pay. Their families are starving in Mexico, and it is behind the NiftyNAFTA ways of their grand old northern uncle. And yet, men and women coming here to feed themselves and their families is criminal to many Americans.

The Latin American people have a long history of rebellion. Most people I've known don't even know what being Mexican means; don't understand or think about the effect of being the product of invasion, occupation, colonialism, integration, immigration, and subsequent castigation, negation, racism and revisionist history (American Attitudes of Choice toward MEXuhKINZ). And they don't have much respect for the fact that these Mexicans they talk about have a history of standing up to what they see as oppression. Whereas many of these White® Talkers won't stand up to much more than a computer screen or a phone line.

My brown ancestors were Mexican campesinos, they were peasants, they were once Kings, and Aztec and Mayan princes and Indian warriors and freedom fighters and blacksmiths. My ancestry is something of which I am very proud. Just like my name. Which was given to me in 1969, and not as a novelty, or as a reflection of a moviestar—but to reflect the color and fire of my proud Mexican, rebel ancestors as written of by Rodolfo "Corky" Gonzales."

Death to the American Stereotype and Fear of Mexicans.

I am extremely proud of the strength and history of Mexico. And being made of many Peoples, I am, too, both conqueror and conquered. I very much identify with Corky's poem in so many ways.

Even though in the Battle of Puebla (the basis for El Cinco do Mayo celebrations and the original holiday declared), the French invaders were defeated by the indigenous Mexican people (who often used anything, including cattle stampedes and machetes, to fend off the superior forces), the French invaders came back with more force. They marched on Mexico City and installed a puppet government. This government was eventually defeated, and the "Emperor" executed, but the struggle for power and against exploitation and oppression continues everywhere.

El Cinco de Mayo, which is different things to many people (but not even a Federally recognized holiday in Mexico) represents a flicker, another flame in the eternal battle for truth and independence, as I see it. You can see it however you like. In the light of today's events, celebrating the resistance of indigenous peoples against a lying and invading Imperial military may be a touchy thing.

But truth is always the stronger, and if we believe in it, we must seek it. And we must celebrate it, and celebrate the struggle for Freedom, as our Presidential Speech-reader once said. We must always celebrate the fight for Freedom and truth. As Orwell put it, "In times of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act."

¡Viva la Revolucíon!

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(oh...and here, the invader-in-chief makes a mockery of the whole thing.)