Cinco de Mayo

Cinco de Mayo Myth. Contrary to popular opinion, the 5th of May is not Mexican Independence Day. Mexico declared its independence from mother Spain on midnight, the 15th of September, 1810. And it took 11 years before the first Spanish soldiers were told and forced to leave Mexico. So, why celebrate Cinco de Mayo?

Cinco de Mayo Milestone. While Cinco de Mayo may not be the actual day of independence it is an appropriate day to celebrate. On the morning of May 5, 1862, 4,000 Mexican soldiers smashed the French and traitor Mexican army of 8,000 at Puebla, Mexico, 100 miles east of Mexico City. The French had landed in Mexico (along with Spanish and English troops) five months earlier on the pretext of collecting Mexican debts from the newly elected government of democratic President (and Indian) Benito Juarez. The English and Spanish quickly made deals and left. The French, however, had different ideas. They were going to conquer Mexico. However, with the help of American weapons and some forces the Mexican army soundly defeated the French.

Cinco de Mayo Message. There are several messages we can learn from Cinco de Mayo. One would be to never give up. Though facing an army twice their size the Mexicans never gave up hope. Another would be the value of friends. Mexicans remembered America's assistance and years later rushed to help us following Pearl Harbor. We sadly forget our history and too often Mexicans today are seen not as friends but as an invading force of their own. Administer Justice wants to rebuild our historical friendship and for this reason runs a low-income taxpayer clinic to help Spanish-speaking individuals understand their rights under our complex tax laws. Still another lesson would be the deceitfulness of debt. Under the guise of collecting debts the French invaded, and before we realize it we often find ourselves beseiged by debt as well. But never give up hope, there are friends willing to help.

Cinco de Mayo Model. It is a good model to not give up hope even when it seems hopeless. It is another good model to ask for help from someone with the proper weapons/tools. At Administer Justice we want to help everyone live debt-free, worry-free lives. We know that can best be accomplished by a proper understanding that all that we have belongs to God and not us - we are caretakers only. If we thought of ourselves as managers and not owners and understood that the actual owner had promised to meet all of our needs we could face the forces aligned against us with much greater confidence. Unfortunately as Jesus told us we are like "seed sown among thorns, that hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desire for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfrutiful." Mark 4:18-19. That is not Jesus desire for us. Like the prodigal son who spent his money, didn't have a good job and was in desperate need of help, God wants us to return to him so he can throw us a party. Happy Cinco de Mayo!

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