Cinco De Mayo

Today I spent lunch at Don Pablo's, sitting at the bar in a crowded Mexican restaurant eating steak fajitas and wondering what bad luck it was for the new manager of that particular location. Since I tend to eat out alone, I have little else to do during lunch than try to pay attention to those around me. Today was not a good day for the manager of the restaurant. He was understaffed, even though he had nearly twice as many servers coming as usual. He ran out of certain supplies--the blender stopped working, he was out of many draft beers (fortunately, I ordered root beer), and life was not good. Even worse, representatives from the "corporate office" were in the restaurant today, there was a wait of an hour and a half for a table (and two hours for a takeourt order). Needless to say, the situation looked rather grim. The restaurant was still packed when I finished lunch around 2PM (I started lunch rather late at 1PM). Next year, I am sure the manager will know better and will plan ahead for Cinco de Mayo, which happens to be a hugely important day in Mexican culture.

It is a rare culture that celebrates its defeats. The Serbians, for example, annually celebrate their crushing defeat at the Battle of Kossovo in 1389, where they were anhiliated by the Ottomon army, leaving Serbia an Ottomon territory for 350 years. One can understand that the Serbians will probably remember the second defeat of Kossovo in 1998 a long time as well. The Mexicans too, celebrate a day of defeat. The Battle of Pueblo was fought on May 5, 1862, during the French invasion of Mexico. The Mexicans were defeated in this invasion in the short term, as the French set up Archduke Maxmillian as the Emperor of Mexico.

The only reason the French were able to do this was because the United States was fighting the Civil War. Abraham Lincoln (and the North in general) were staunch supporters of the Mexican republican government, led by a decent and democratic Mestizo named Benito Juarez. He happened to be the only decent leader Mexico had during the 19th century, and possibly ever. Since he inherited some debts from previous leaders, the French used that as a cover to take over the country and eliminate democracy in Mexico. The South was generally sympathetic to the cause of global tyranny, and sought to be recognized by France, so they did not hinder the French invasion at all.

After the American Civil War ended, the United States sent 50,000 troops under General Philip Sheridan to the border of Mexico to let the French know of American displeasure about their imperial adventure. The French took the hint and removed their troops, and Maxmillian was executed by a firing squad. Sadly, Juarez was only able to hold office for four more years after the occupation was ended.

Perhaps the Mexicans and Serbians celebrate the days of their military defeats for reasons which only small nations can understand. Mind you, these small nations (both Mexico and Serbia) are quite capable of bullying other, smaller nations (witness the fate of Central American illegal immigrants in Mexico or the fate of Bosnian or Kossovar Muslims in the former Yugoslavia). That said, these nations are both very military, and perhaps they consider it a proud moment to fight against a bigger bully than they are, even if they lose. Perhaps some people just need to remember that they can fight, regardless of whether they win or not.

I don't know if I want to drink to that, but that's what one drinks to when one celebrates this day.