Schragel: Weird that Cinco de Mayo gets rock music
Posted
I received the April 21 Sun City West Independent paper. As I’m reading I come onto page 42 under music.
There was a picture of a band declaring “Cinco de Mayo Gig.” This is to be celebrated on May 5 featuring a program of oldies rock from the 1960s and 1970s, including Motown, blues and country. I looked at the band members and their music selection for this day of celebration and couldn’t stop laughing — still have giggles as I type.
My wife and I lived in the city of Los Angeles, established in 1781, raising our children for 30-plus years, now living in the Phoenix area. Phoenix is still part of the Southwest with much Spanish history, therefore should we not know a little of it’s history?
People of all backgrounds “celebrate” this holiday with parades, parties with traditional Mariachi bands, Mexican folk music and Mexican dancing and food. There are more then 150 locations in the U.S. having official Cinco de Mayo celebrations each year, Los Angeles is one of them.
For those who don’t know, Cinco de Mayo is called the anniversary of the Battle of Puebla in honor of a military victory in 1862 over the French forces of Napoleon III.
So it’s laughable when its being celebrated with rock and roll, etc. But the real fact of the matter, it’s sad. So celebrate how ever you want without regard to history of the peoples that May 5 honors. No! we are of European decent, enjoying the many cultures and their traditions that make up the United States.
