I shouldn't even waste my time on this but since I did St. Patrick's Day and Fat Tuesday, I might as well fill you in on this one too.
It's pretty simple.
Nothing happened.
Once again, no one drinking, no one dancing. No need to go out and party like a fool.
I'm starting to think its more because places of the world like this have something the United States doesn't have: Culture.
Not that the US doesn't have culture, but not a unified culture. Unless you count being xenophobic or flying an American Flag outside your house having culture, but sorry... I don't.
I see culture every day. It's unique, beautiful, and inspiring everyday. Some of it may be boring, but it was created hundreds, if not thousands, of years ago when things were as exciting to watch.
Speaking of years, the US is pretty young. Only 234 years old. May seem like a long time but in the grand scheme of things we are young. Belize may only be 28 years old but the culture was here long before colonialism ever came around.
I think the most disappointing thing about how the US celebrates made up holidays that are supposed to represent other countries' culture is how unwelcoming we are of other cultures. People are busy getting drunk right now, with sombrero on, dancing salsa, trying to be Mexican while in the same country we do our best to keep Mexicans out.
The US is what it is today because of the influence of other cultures and mass immigration, but somewhere along the way, many people decided we couldn't fit anymore. Or better yet, we don't want anymore. Now, those people are Mexicans or anyone of Latin decent and Arizona doesn't want them.
I just hope no one in Arizona is celebrating Cinco de Mayo while at the same time hoping more "Mexican looking people" get arrested for being anything other than white and speaking a language other than English.
Crazy how fast we celebrate the culture of the "other" while making damn sure they don't become one of "us."
August 27, 2010 at 9:40 PM
I just read what you said about the cultures, and you are right. You have said it as good as it can be said. We (US gringos) love the culture when we choose to enjoy it, but we don't want it to be our way of life, we don't want to be pressured to except it. Don't forget, it's our tax dollars paying their way. You know, the ones who don't want to follow the rules. We have to follow the rules, pay taxes, uphold the constitution.