Living in Cleveland, Ohio, our town has been called Ethnicity - ETHNIC CITY. We grew up here with large enclaves of Poles, Hungarians, Irish et al. It has given me an appreciation of the various cultures and the friends I have always made among them. In the case of what I see as Mexicans in America, it appears to be a different story - unless our major media outlets are attempting to divide us.
I relate to the case of American High School boys at Live Oak High School in Morgan Hill, California. They wore American flags and/or colors to school on Cinco de Mayo, May 5th. It is a day celebrated for differing reasons, depending on where you reside.
In the U.S. it is a day when those of Mexican heritage celebrate their pride. At least that what's it's supposed to be. The actual day of celebration marks Mexico's unlikely victory over French forces at the battle of Puebla on that date in 1862.
The boys were sent home from school for wearing the American red, white and blue colors while those of Mexican heritage, wearing displays of their Mexican heritage, were not. And now a Judge has ruled in favor of the school authorities.
I have seen ethnic pride here in northeast Ohio. Those of Irish heritage celebrate St. Patrick's Day even though many of those partying are unaware of where in Ireland their ancestors came from or even know exactly who came over. The exceptions however, like many southern Irish I have met, ALWAYS know they are of Irish heritage.
Those of Italian heritage celebrate Columbus Day with a parade and a day in which their display their Italian pride. There is a Polish Legion of American veterans, Jewish War Veterans, Catholic War Veterans, Italian War Veterans and Irish American War Veterans to name but a few ethnic-related groups. The other ethnic groups are too numerous to mention.
My point here is celebrating your ancestry is a good thing. Retired Ohio Senator George Voinovich said he has always found that those close to their ethnic heritage have been the best citizens. What is not acceptable, through my eye, is the what appears to be the wrongheaded views of both the American boys and the Mexican-Americans.
I think the difference is what comes first in their lives. In Cleveland I believe I can speak for the many hyphenated-Americans by saying their identity, before anything else, is American. If I can believe our mainstream media, that is NOT the case with those of Mexican descent in California.
I don't fear someone celebrating their heritage. I do fear if they are not American first. If the latter is the case at Live Oak High School and elsewhere, they are dangerous. I would hope that both sides see Cinco de Mayo through the same eye - as a simple day of celebration and happiness.
On St. Patrick's Day last year a TV host interviewed a young girl at the downtown parade. When asked what she liked best about the day she simply replied, "All the people smiling." And that should also be the spirit of Cinco de Mayo.
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