Viva Independence

By Cindy Gomez
Editor

This September 16th is not only the celebration of Mexico’s independence from Spain, but its bicentennial anniversary as well. It isn’t every day that “Independence” turns 200, so congratulations are definitely in order.

No. Mexican Independence Day is not on Cinco de Mayo. Different battle, different country. Cinco de Mayo is America’s answer to sweeping history under the rug. Although some Mexicans celebrate “Independence Day” many are shamed by love-it-or-leave-it patriotic rhetoric or simply don’t know enough about their own culture to properly honor the day.

Whether you are of Mexican descent or not, don’t feel bad for confusing the two. Many American-born Mexicans don’t even know when Mexico’s Independence is. Frankly, most of us here in the U.S. lack insight into the history, independence, and conflicts with our neighbor to the south. And it’s a shame.

With the “Immigration” debate on every politician’s lips, we should all become more informed about our past policies and relations with Mexico. Without that knowledge, we lack the historical perspective by which to understand our own current conflicts with Mexico, and with the rest of our neighbors. Here’s some insight:

On September 13, 2010, Mexico’s President Felipe Calderon gave a rousing speech to Mexicans about their history. Ironically, it came during the commemoration of the 163rd anniversary of Mexico’s 1847 Battle of Chapultepec, with the U.S., which took place during the Mexican-American War (1846-1848). In this, American soldiers attacked a school of child cadets who in turn fought to the death rather than surrender to U.S. troops. One brave cadet wrapped himself in Mexico’s flag and jumped off a cliff to his death to save the flag from being taken. Monuments are erected in Mexico’s capital to Mexico’s child heroes.

During his speech, Calderon condemned not only the behavior of U.S. invaders, but also the lackadaisical attitude of those Mexicans who stood by and watched their countrymen fall in battle while U.S. troops advanced. As a Mexican-American watching events unfold in American policy toward Mexico, I believe Calderon’s admonition applies to all Americans, not just those of Mexican descent.

The timing of Calderon’s speech is also ironic because the celebration of Mexico’s independence from Spain, in 1820, was very short-lived! Mexico only had 26 years of “independence” before the ailing and war-torn nation was again in battle with the U.S.

The fact that Mexico was still developing its government, recovering from 10 years of war; and had almost no army to speak of was convenient for the U.S., which was interested in purchasing land to expand. Let us not forget that at the time, the U.S. was a much smaller country, expanding its populace into the north of Mexico. Mexico’s generous land grants and open immigration policies drew many American immigrants. Back then, Texas, “Alta California” (as it was called then), Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and parts of Wyoming all belonged to Mexico.

President Polk was frustrated that Mexico was not interested in selling any land, especially given his belief (Manifest Destiny) that it was God’s will that the U.S. should expand. And a battle between wealthy plantation owners in Texas and Mexico’s government provided him the opportunity to intervene and take the land he wanted. Remember the Alamo?

The American expansion into Texas proved a problem for Mexicans, who had little resources to enforce their laws in Northern Mexico and were quickly outnumbered by American immigrants by nearly 6-1. British Americans immigrating into Mexico had struggled with Spanish governors in the past, and later with Mexican authorities because of slaves. Neither Mexico, nor the preceding Spanish government approved of slaveholding by Americans nor of the expansion of slavery.

But American reliance on slaves caused the country to go to war, according to Ulysses S. Grant, as a way to expand slavery throughout the nation. The battle at “The Alamo” was just the excuse needed by Polk to get the U.S to declare war. Grant wrote in 1883, “I was bitterly opposed to the measure, and to this day, regard the war which resulted, as one of the most unjust ever waged by a stronger against a weaker nation.” Grant was also known to have attributed the Civil War that followed, as punishment by God for America’s unfounded war against Mexico.

President Polk actually managed to convince Congress to declare war on Mexico with a cry to rally U.S. troops to avenge the death of “Americans” on “American soil”, even though Texas belonged to Mexico at the time.

Whig party member Abraham Lincoln, who opposed the war and did not trust Polk’s motives, is said to have demanded President Polk show him “the spot” on American soil where American blood was allegedly shed; alluding to Mexico’s ownership of Texas. Whig leader Robert Tooms of Georgia charged President Polk with hijacking the war-making power of America for “lust and dominion”.

By the end of the war, Polk was able to purchase/expropriate more than two-thirds of Mexico’s landholdings for less than half of what he had offered Mexico’s government for the purchase of the same lands before he declared war. (approximately $15 million in , 1846 dollars).

This history is similar to the taking land from Native people in the U.S. for a fraction of its worth and only after a slaughter of Native people reluctant to give it. Not to mention the subsequent restrictions placed on the lives and migration of Native people after being conquered.

Furthermore, we in America acknowledge U.S. Native American rightful claim to US soil, but ignore that Mexican people are also Native Americans. In fact 60-80% (depending on which source you check) of Mexico’s populace are Mestizo; direct Native American descendants.

We in the U.S. are ashamed, to some degree, for the pillage and plunder of Native lands and the genocide of Native people. But not ashamed enough to pay restitution, return Native property to its rightful owners, or even to adopt policies that will stop marginalizing and oppressing Native people. We acknowledge murder and theft, but deny justice.

If Americans had to acknowledge the privilege we wielded and continue to wield to oppress other nations, we wouldn’t feel too patriotic about our current immigration policies or the motivations behind them. Our nation’s history contains the obvious reasons why so many Mexican people live in, and keep migrating to, the Southwest: they have lived there for 400 years (give or take). The knowledge that we are currently indiscriminately capturing, jailing and deporting people off of land that we beat and stole from them is too sobering.

It shouldn’t be surprising then, that we would selectively forget our shared history with Mexico at this time of year. If the reality that we’ve done it all before and are doing it again is to detestable to recognize, we ignore it instead. It’s easier to throw back another cerveza on Cinco de Mayo than to celebrate real independence.

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