Patriotic holidays and how they are celebrated are elements of a nation's shared culture. Of course, when we start studying the nitty-gritty of such
festivities even more questions are raised.
In the United States, for example, you'd think more would be done to recognize Constitution (or Citizenship) Day, on September 17th, but almost
nothing is done on that day.
Mexico has a number of fiestas patrias, and the one coming up next is the November 20th celebration of the Anniversary of the Mexican Revolution
Well, it's called November 20th — although it's now officially celebrated on the third Monday of November, which in 2009 is November 16th. So happy
Mexican Revolution Day!
The Mexican Revolution should not be confused with the Mexican War of Independence, nor with Cinco de Mayo, which though quite famous in the United
States is not a big deal in Mexico.
The Mexican Revolution is emphasized in the educational system and is a key part of Mexican identity. In the United States, the most famous figure of
the historical era is Pancho Villa.
The Mexican Revolution began November 20th, 1910, as an uprising against longtime dictator Porfirio Diaz, who resigned and left the country in 1911.
But the abdication of Porfirio Diaz did not usher in an era of peace and prosperity. Far from it.
Francisco I. Madero, who started the Revolution and became president, was overthrown by Victoriano Huerta, who in turn was overthrown by a coalition
which then broke up into warring factions.
The two most colorful revolutionary leaders were Pancho Villa, the "Centaur of the North," and Emiliano Zapata, leader of the "Liberation Army of the
South." They've also made the deepest impression on the collective psyche of Mexican identity.
Pancho Villa was defeated in 1915 at Celaya, the biggest battle of the Revolution, by Alvaro Obregon. (Even though Villa lost and Obregon won, Villa
is much more famous today. That shows that popular history is not always written by the winners.)
After the Carranza/Obregon faction triumphed over the Villa/Zapata alliance, a new constitution was drafted under Venustiano Carranza's leadership in
1917. It's still in use, though with many amendments.
An interesting bit of trivia is that the Mexican Revolution was the first war anywhere in which an airplane dropped a bomb on a ship, in the battle of
Topolobampo in 1913.
Foreign powers also intervened in the war. Germany supported Huerta, and later tried to make a deal with Carranza.
The United States supported Pancho Villa, but then switched to backing Carranza. In retribution, the "Centaur of the North" launched a 1916 raid on
Columbus, New Mexico. That raid provoked John J. Pershing's Punitive Expedition into northern Mexico, the first U.S. military operation to include the
use of aircraft in a combat capacity. On Mexico's east coast, the U.S. military briefly occupied the port of Veracruz.
Although the Mexican Revolution is still held in high regard in Mexico, in recent decades it has been criticized by some. This criticism coincided
with the decline of the PRI (Institutional Revolutionary Party), which formerly dominated Mexico as a one-party state government.
The Mexican revolutionaries represented different interests and ideologies. Zapata's major cause was restoration of confiscated property in his
region. As for Pancho Villa, what his ideology was is not all clear.
The long-vilified image of Porfirio Diaz has slightly improved. His accomplishments included economic development, a low crime rate and a peso on par
with the pound sterling.
Some Mexicans have criticized the Revolution for not being all it was cracked up to be. It's been belittled from the left for not having gone far
enough.
It's been criticized by free-market pundit Sergio Sarmiento as a "monumental failure" which "destroyed a regime of poverty, inequality and
authoritarianism" but also "constructed another regime of poverty, inequality and authoritarianism."
In 2007, Macario Schettino published a book entitled Cien Años de Confusión (A Hundred Years of Confusion). Schettino asserts that despite its
much-celebrated Revolution, 20th century Mexico has not developed more successfully than other Latin American nations, whether you look at development
in terms of the economy, education, health or social security. As for the progress made in Mexico since the Revolution, Schettino says such progress
has been made in other countries that had no social revolution.
The intellectual dispute over the Mexican Revolution continues, but its place in the patriotic calendar is safe for now.
Besides, next year, 2010, marks both the 100th anniversary of the beginning of the Mexican Revolution, and the 200th anniversary of the beginning of
what became the Mexican Independence Movement. So a big celebration is being planned for Mexico.
After all, a debate over history is one thing, but a super-duper fiesta is another thing entirely.
——————————
Allan Wall, an educator, resided in Mexico for many years. His website is located at www.allanwall.net.
__._,_.___DENNIS - 11-16-2009 at 11:40 AM
Just got out of Maneadero before being caught behind a parade. When that happens, one has time to sit there and toss back a twelve pak. Nobody goes
anywhere.
Viva La Revolución and all that stuff but, I prefer to Viva it from the comfort of my front porch with a cooler full of frostys.
SALUDtjBill - 11-16-2009 at 05:24 PM
I discovered this morning the Telnor office is closed for Revolution Day.DENNIS - 11-16-2009 at 05:34 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by tjBill
I discovered this morning the Telnor office is closed for Revolution Day.
Yeah....It's a big-time holiday. No parades in your neighborhood?monoloco - 11-16-2009 at 06:21 PM
I don't know how he can say that the image of Diaz has improved. Diaz was a despot who ran on the platform of universal sufferage and no reelection,
then ruled for 30 years, hence the term diazpotism was used to describe his rule. He backed the hacendados who took for themselves all of the valuable
land and forced the people into peonage.DENNIS - 11-16-2009 at 06:24 PM
At least he didn't drain the treasury on his way out of town. Remember Carlos Salinas?mulegemichael - 11-16-2009 at 07:37 PM
"frosty" me, please...and don't let me get mucked up in mexican politicos..sheesh...shari - 11-17-2009 at 07:59 AM
revolution day is on Oct.20...(they just took a long weekend and monday is called a descanso for revolution day)which is when our parade and fiestas
are. It is my favorite mexican holiday as the day is dedicated to eating the way they did in olden times...tortillas cooked over a fire and
traditional food. Here they decorate stands to be like the the revolution times...its really a cultural experience and the food is excellent...as well
as a fokloric program for entertainment...viva mexico.
