Colorado USA
Dissident Daughter shares a story. Reposting from last year...
Out of the busy-body blue I hear a question…
Actually, it is more like out of the mouth of ignorance…
Busy Body: You’re a Texan – do you celebrate Cinco de Mayo? (pronounced: Cinco like sicko, de like be, Mayo like the salad dressing – oh me)
Now if this near stranger from somewhere that is the twilight zone in the bowels of the cul de sac knew me better, they would know this is the last question anyone who knows me well would ask me. Anyone who knows me well enough to call me by my first name would already know the answer.
So, reining in the cranky side of my nature opposed to impertinent questions, I answered…
Lil' Ol' American Me: I am a Texan, not a Mexican. You do realize that Cinco de Mayo is not a Texan or American holiday?
Busy Body: Oh. I thought it was an Independence Day for them in Texas.
Lil' Ol' American Me: No, it is not an Independence Day for them. Why would we celebrate a Mexican Independence Day in the USA or Texas?
Silence…
Lil' Ol' American Me: Sigh! The fifth of may or cinco de mayo marks a battle Mexico won over the French in the 1860s that has evolved into a Mexican heritage celebration in the USA.
Busy Body: I see...
Lil' Ol' American Me: Thinking to myself - I seriously doubt it.
History lesson over - I left it at that.
I celebrate the 5th of May in the USA much like I do any other day I am fortunate enough to wake up in this country and appreciate what it means to be American and free. OK, well maybe I celebrate it by wearing a blatantly American t-shirt and if we find ourselves out on the Harley by flying the American flag in tandem.I don’t have a problem with ethnic celebrations but I do find the celebration of such offensive:
- if the flag of another country is not flown in the proper position below the flag of the United States…
- if the national anthem of another country is not sung after or instead of the Star Spangled Banner…
- if the pledge of allegiance is not said to Ol’ Glory and only Ol’ Glory…
- if the celebrants disrespect the country whose ground they stand upon…
- if the celebrants fail to acknowledge the rest of the population’s right not to give a hoot what they are celebrating…
- if the celebration of another heritage tramples all over the rights of Americans wearing or displaying articles of American patriotism
Anything less than that amount of respect and consideration, then you are not an American – you are a poser. And that’s the long and short of the matter.
Party on, I say! But! If you want respect for your ethnicity, then I need respect for my ethnicity. Your right to dance in the street under another country’s banner is granted only by the law of this land and the tolerance of its citizenry.
Celebrating ethnic roots is not free license to disrespect the law of the land or the citizenry of the land. My Grandmother, born in the great state of Arkansas lived to be 101 years old. She was of Irish and Scottish descent, but if you asked her about her ethnic background – she would (after she skewed you with a look that indicated what an utterly stupid question you asked) answer: AMERICAN. That answer, works for me. I am of American ethnicity.
It does not matter what the nod and wink politicians say while they pander for votes – because their Americanism can be called into question on a daily if not hourly basis. Most politicians and heads of state do not understand that being a citizen of the United States of America has nothing to do with government or politics. Americanism is a state of being, a particularly hard-ass mentality that courageous men and women have bled for in the past and defend today. You either get that or you don't.
If you would be an American then BE ALL AMERICAN and learn to respect what that really means.
There can be no fifty-fifty Americanism in this country. There is room here for only 100% Americanism, only for those who are Americans and nothing else. Theodore Roosevelt
If you are rolling today in the USA - I hope you doing it loud and proud and with the proper American accessories - I know you are - ride safe and carry on.
I lived in the US for 10 years. I had my country's flag waving in my garage door alongside and below the US flag. I always fly the Brazilian and the US flags on my rented Harley-Davidson whenever I'm riding in the US. This is the least gesture of respect one can pay for the host country.
ReplyDeleteAgreed WR... we love to see riders from other countries touring the USA. We rode Route 66 through New Mexico and Arizona last summer - saw groups flying flags from Italy and the Nederlands and Sweden. They were having a great time. it was good to see. The people to which I referred who blatantly disrespect our country are not visitors - they are illegal squatters (residents) with a sense of entitlement and no respect. Be safe in your travels and ride safe.
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