Mexico celebrates its Independence Day, freedom from two conquerers, not just one. It shows its modern and up-to-date military with great pride.
On September 16 I stood on the curb of Paseo de Reforma and watched a very impressive parade of Mexico’s military might. It began with a flyover of six fighter jets, followed by many columns of the Navy, Army, Marines, and other units, including tanks and other heavy armament.
Before I retired to Mexico, I had a distorted, uninformed impression of Mexico. Like many Americans, I though of Mexico as a primitive, ignorant collection of peasants, barely able to provide for themselves off the land. Nevertheless, since I have lived in Mexico many years now, I see it as a modern, industrial, highly technical society. It has struggled for centuries to regain its past glory, and it has been a slow arugulas task.
Independence Day is not a celebration of gaining their independence from one conquer, but two. We all know of the Spanish occupation, but the
French had their turn during the time of Napoleon.
Paseo de Reforma, on which Mexicans paraded, is a reminder of that time. France, when it conquered Mexico in 1860, imposed on Mexico an Emperor, named Maximilian. Maximilian built Paseo de Reforma as a parade route to his Palace in what is now Chapultepec Park.
France was fearful to rule directly since there was a law passed by the United States that forbids the occupation of Any American states by a foreign power, it is called the Monroe Doctrine. Consequently, there was a
war fought against the French in 1862 to regain their independence. This was at the same time that Lincoln was president. In fact,
Lincoln aided President Benito Juarez of Mexico in his struggle to throw out the French.
The country of the United States is much involved in the history of Mexico. Sometimes we have been Mexico’s problem and sometimes its aid. I feel that all Americas should know something of Mexican history, for it is also our history.
