Cinco de Mayo - Ignacio Zaragoza: The Man Behind the Battle
The historical connection of the Battle of Cinco de Mayo with the
present social reality, in which the victory of the Mexican army over
the French army is celebrated, is only an inconsistent nexus that
lacks depth and an appropriate understanding of that event, it
deforms the transcendental sense of that feat, and causes
ambiguous perceptions. Cinco de Mayo speaks today more of our
future than of our present and past, but to ignore the true message
of this historical event condemns us to be enslaved to tradition, by
celebrating an event that is minimized to an act of pure folklore, a
simple cultural appearance, and to a superficial commemoration that
can sinks us in ignorance.
The true concept of Cinco de Mayo transforms that event, action, and
situation of the past into a current figurative thought, one that
shows the evolution of a social conduct based on a feeling of
vindication of a nation affronted by a foreign invasion, that wins a
battle but loses the war, and finally, years later, expels the invader.
The triumph of the weak against the powerful in the Battle of Puebla
remains in the mind of the Mexican until today as a concept of
encouragement and pride, but fundamentally because Mexicans
perceives it as a socio-historical platform that projects them into a
triumphal level within the context of the American society. The
important and festive emphasis given to the celebration seems to
recognize this fact, but it reduces it to a simple cultural festivity, to a
popular street party without a historical purpose to validate it.
The disproportionate meaning given to the battle itself, as well as
the present commemoration of it, places obliquely the relevance of
the character and the personality of the man behind the victory,
General Ignacio S. Zaragoza (March 24, 1829 - September 8, 1862).
Mexican historian Martin Quirarte describes Zaragoza as a modest
northern general, who did not know the strategy of European armies
but had, however, an exact notion of the courage of the Mexican
soldier, knew the defects and qualities of the national army, and
could weigh like nobody else the limit of resistance of self-denial and
heroism of the Mexican warrior. Quirarte establishes that in addition,
Zaragoza had faith in the triumph of the cause, although his army
was inferior in discipline, technique and weaponery.¹
Using the science of social history, it is possible to propose that the
symbolic stature of patriotism and heroism of Zaragoza has gone
through a metamorphosis through the years, transmuting him from a
local and temporary winner, into a binational icon. Zaragoza has
great influence in the idiosyncrasy and society of Mexico, and even in
a demographic segment of the United States, since he was born in
the town of Presidio de la Bahía del Espíritu Santo, in what was then
the Mexican province of Texas, now the city of Goliad. It is to be
understood that a great number of Texans distinguish him as one of
their own, and that in Mexico he is also considered a hero who
defended with honor the country. Thus, the evidence of the
historical dimension of General Zaragoza must be the starting point
from where the social tendency to continue celebrating Cinco de
Mayo is developed, and it must determine our contemporary social
and cultural behavior within this context.
The message of Cinco de Mayo consists in the conviction to
understand the immutable truth that fighting is inherent to the
pursuit of justice, that it is necessary to fight, battle by battle, the
ideological wars that attack us, and that the oppression of weak
people by the powerful ones cannot last forever. Zaragoza
understood, in his own time, this concept of freedom and struggle;
he fought and won a battle that still reverberates in the first years of
this new century, in which we ourselves face our own battles and
pursue our own triumphs.
¹ Quirarte, Martín. Panoramic Vision of the History of Mexico. 1992 (1965)
present social reality, in which the victory of the Mexican army over
the French army is celebrated, is only an inconsistent nexus that
lacks depth and an appropriate understanding of that event, it
deforms the transcendental sense of that feat, and causes
ambiguous perceptions. Cinco de Mayo speaks today more of our
future than of our present and past, but to ignore the true message
of this historical event condemns us to be enslaved to tradition, by
celebrating an event that is minimized to an act of pure folklore, a
simple cultural appearance, and to a superficial commemoration that
can sinks us in ignorance.
The true concept of Cinco de Mayo transforms that event, action, and
situation of the past into a current figurative thought, one that
shows the evolution of a social conduct based on a feeling of
vindication of a nation affronted by a foreign invasion, that wins a
battle but loses the war, and finally, years later, expels the invader.
The triumph of the weak against the powerful in the Battle of Puebla
remains in the mind of the Mexican until today as a concept of
encouragement and pride, but fundamentally because Mexicans
perceives it as a socio-historical platform that projects them into a
triumphal level within the context of the American society. The
important and festive emphasis given to the celebration seems to
recognize this fact, but it reduces it to a simple cultural festivity, to a
popular street party without a historical purpose to validate it.
The disproportionate meaning given to the battle itself, as well as
the present commemoration of it, places obliquely the relevance of
the character and the personality of the man behind the victory,
General Ignacio S. Zaragoza (March 24, 1829 - September 8, 1862).
Mexican historian Martin Quirarte describes Zaragoza as a modest
northern general, who did not know the strategy of European armies
but had, however, an exact notion of the courage of the Mexican
soldier, knew the defects and qualities of the national army, and
could weigh like nobody else the limit of resistance of self-denial and
heroism of the Mexican warrior. Quirarte establishes that in addition,
Zaragoza had faith in the triumph of the cause, although his army
was inferior in discipline, technique and weaponery.¹
Using the science of social history, it is possible to propose that the
symbolic stature of patriotism and heroism of Zaragoza has gone
through a metamorphosis through the years, transmuting him from a
local and temporary winner, into a binational icon. Zaragoza has
great influence in the idiosyncrasy and society of Mexico, and even in
a demographic segment of the United States, since he was born in
the town of Presidio de la Bahía del Espíritu Santo, in what was then
the Mexican province of Texas, now the city of Goliad. It is to be
understood that a great number of Texans distinguish him as one of
their own, and that in Mexico he is also considered a hero who
defended with honor the country. Thus, the evidence of the
historical dimension of General Zaragoza must be the starting point
from where the social tendency to continue celebrating Cinco de
Mayo is developed, and it must determine our contemporary social
and cultural behavior within this context.
The message of Cinco de Mayo consists in the conviction to
understand the immutable truth that fighting is inherent to the
pursuit of justice, that it is necessary to fight, battle by battle, the
ideological wars that attack us, and that the oppression of weak
people by the powerful ones cannot last forever. Zaragoza
understood, in his own time, this concept of freedom and struggle;
he fought and won a battle that still reverberates in the first years of
this new century, in which we ourselves face our own battles and
pursue our own triumphs.
¹ Quirarte, Martín. Panoramic Vision of the History of Mexico. 1992 (1965)
By Eduardo Barraza May 4, 2006
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Ignacio Zaragoza had faith in the
triumph of the cause, although his
army was inferior in discipline,
technique and weaponery.
Illustration by Vctor Caldee for
Barriozona
triumph of the cause, although his
army was inferior in discipline,
technique and weaponery.
Illustration by Vctor Caldee for
Barriozona
Eduardo Barraza is a journalist and writer,
Barriozona Magazine's editor, and director of
the Hispanic Insitute of Social Issues.
E-mail: editor@barriozona.com
Barriozona Magazine's editor, and director of
the Hispanic Insitute of Social Issues.
E-mail: editor@barriozona.com
