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Selene Garcia de kapoor of Aurora writes:

On 16th Sept 2007, I attended the celebration of the Mexican Independence Day in downtown Denver. I was one of thousands of Mexicans that attended the celebration enduring the rain and eating typical Mexican snacks like corn combs with chili and lemon.
The ‘fiesta’ (party) had a good turnout but lacked proper organization. For example, trash cans were few or non existent, there were only two food stands for thousands of people, two stages with almost the same monotonous country music during the whole event, not even mariachis! The celebration failed to show the vast diversity of the Mexican culture without any program or exhibit regarding traditional Mexican dances, music, arts and crafts. Further, there was no stall to distribute information about tourism in Mexico and different legal services available through the Mexican consulate in Colorado for visitors and Mexican citizens. I am comparing this event to an Indian Independence Day event I attended in Boston one year ago where the program included two hours of dances from different regions of India, at least ten different food stalls with wide variety of Indian cuisine and several tents with information about important matters related to the Indian community in Boston.
In summary, more thoughtfulness and planning could make this event a true portrayal of Mexican cultural richness and an important platform to reach out to people interested in learning about Mexico through tourism or local groups.

This letter has not been edited.

READER COMMENTS

Were you in Mexico? No you were in America, our holiday is July 4th. If Mexicans want to celibrate, please return to Mexico and celebrate.

Problem with Cinco de Mayo in Denver is that is isn't treated as a cultural holiday but a long party for middle aged teens.
Those, like you, who want to see a demonstration of art, culture and cuisine are cast aside in favor of beer guzzling and cruising.

End result is bad traffic jams and bad attitudes.

I would enjoy a good Cinco de Mayo celebration done by the organizations who support it as a celebration not a political statement. I do enjoy the celebrations of my neighbors who are legal immigrants who celebrate like the French celebrate Bastille day-a simple party with friends, good food and some good music.

Momma: The letter was about Mexican Independence Day, not Cinco de Mayo. Or did you think Cinco de Mayo translates to September 16.

Ms. Garcia: If you are so patriotic and loyal to Mexico that you need to celebrate "Mexican Independence Day", then what are you doing HERE?

"Or did you think Cinco de Mayo translates to September 16."

I thought it meant "Sink full of Mayonnaise".

OOPS,

I messed up. Thanks. Still need to ask those in charge of the celebration if you want it changed. Might just be a good idea to switch CdM to September 16. Colder weather might cut the cruising. OK I'm kidding. I didn't catch the difference. Thanks for the correction.

United State of America celebrate independence day on the 4th of July.

I don't see anybody celebrating Bastille day on July 14th or Canada Day on the 1st of July.
Why do we celebrate the Mexican independence day?

If you love Mexico so much then travel there for Cinco De Mayo otherwise deal with the problems you whine about as we don;t really care.

i bet they couldnt afford any party in mexico for this day as all the mexicans were here doing it and now bitching that it wasnt up to the standards they want.
if you didnt like it in denver then take your butt back to mexico and the rest and enjoy it down there and dont come back. if your culture is so wonderful why is everyone leaving?

LOL, Mexican independance???? They are a completely dependant culture. But the food is excellent.

My family enjoys a pretty raucous celebration on St. Patrick's Day, right here in Denver. Ironically, we don't have a drop of irish blood, just enjoy any reason for gathering with family and friends.

All I know is that if I were forced to pack up my family and move to another country, for whatever reason, I would never lose the pride I have in the USA. I would display our flag proudly and identify myself first and foremost as an American.

To put it gently,it'd seem that due to the enormous success of our governments' (uninvited) guest worker program we've had maybe just a little surfeit of all things Mexican.

Ms. Garcia,

And you have the ***** nerve to complain?

What do you expect ? Red carpet treatment?

You're in the wrong country. Hello? ! You're in

in America. Mexican culture you gotta be kiding! Roosters, and clothes on the fence?

Who cares! were not interested in catering
to all that ****.! We don't care about

Mex. Independance day!! Or Cinco De Mayo
since you people took it over.

Stop whinning and complaining..mendigos!

Isn't it amazing that people can have holidays or special events like Black History Month, Latino History Month, Black Arts Festival, the Cinco De Mayo, Mexican Independence Day, but if we had the White Arts Festival, or White History Month, we would be RACISTS. I am sick and tired of being PC when I am being over ran with illegal aliens shoving their wants and needs down my throat. I am sick and tired of seeing them fly thier countries flag above mine. They want us to learn their culture???? RESPECT OURS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Edmund: "Mexican Independence Day, not Cinco de Mayo". How many indepence days do these guys have? It is easy to get them mixed up particularly because its superflous and not even in English!!!!!! for gosh sakes. Our founding fathers ( even Mexico's) ran away from Europe and celbrate our new country. ( sure people honor their personal heritage and culture, but don't demand holidays and partys at tax payer expense)These morons ran away from squaller, and still celebrate it OVER their chosen ( and the word chosen is very important here) new home. That's a cultural heritage that I admit iis beyond my comprehension.

"people interested in learning about Mexico" she says. I learn plenty every day from the illegal aliens invading our country, none of it good, that's more than enough for me!

Cinco de Mayo (5 of May) celebrates the defeat of the French. (Most Mexican immigrants don't even know that) Sept 16 Independence Day celebrates El Grito (the cry) the beginning of the revolt against the Spanish.
I have no problem with people celebrating their ancestry, Irish, German, Mexican, Norwegian, French, English, whatever. I do have a problem with those celebrations (seems to be particularly Mexican) taking up a week of drinking, cruising, threatening neighborhoods, throwing trash, etc. I also have a problem with people like Ms Garcia who seem to think that if something is not well organized that is the fault of the city. Each group celebrating should be responsible for their own organization. I have traveled in Mexico & enjoyed it very much - it is a lovely country with many friendly people. It is also a country that is not well run & corrupt. And the Mexican President thinks that we should open our borders & take in all the poor & take care of them so he does not have to take responsibility for his own people. Ironically in Mexico, there are many people who speak English - especially in the tourist areas where it is their livlihood.
I guess the people who sneak in here do not see speaking English as important to their life because we provide translators & do everything for them. Celebrate your Holidays, but in between your holiday, assimilate, learn English, become a citizen, embrace the country you have chosen to be a part of & really be a part of it. There are many Americans of Hispanic (& Mexican) descent who are truly part of our culture just like the rest of us of Irish, English, German, etc descent. One other thing, if you lived in Mexico, would you be allowed to fly the flag of the US, would they set aside public parks & organize celebrations of our holidays, would they provide translators at every store & Dr office, would they provide teachers to teach your children in English. Let's be fair.

Who really cares about Mexican Independance Day and Cinco de Mayo?

Ms.Garcia-

Independence Day here in the United States is called the 4th of July.

To complain that things weren't just as you had hoped is another example of foreign celebrations that are expected to be as important and HUGE a deal as the traditional celebrations have always been here in the United States; ones that are significant to Americans.

You want a big hoopla over Mexican Independence Day go to Mexico!

PLW,
Denver's always had white..St.Patricks day (Irish) parade and green parties downtown and celebrations and lo-do has Oktoberfest
(German). Columbus Day parade (Italian)
Halloween (Wicca) :) What ever comes up,
and that's been a good thing. Americans have always embraced all these parades and celebration's. But what isn't fair..is the ungratefulness. Illegals march by the thousands and the city of Denver has to pay
for the clean up etc, Now Garcia wants special treatment. Who are these people rock-stars? P. Ditty? They already celebrate BOTH Cinco De Mayo and Sept.16th. and still want the Red Carpet? What ingrates!!!

No one really gives a damn about Mexican Independance celebrations. Go back to Mexico and celebrate there!! I just call it Stinko de dayo!

Selene, The USA celebrates Independence Day on the 4th of July. You and the thousands (millions) of Mexicans are in the wrong country. But you already know that. Americans have our own people to worry about, Americans.

And today, I bet many Mexicans werre out protesting Columbus day and denying Italians the chance to celebrate their Italian heritage

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