In three days you’re going to see some outrage. Saturday is Cinco de Mayo. While I would argue that most people don’t know why it’s a holiday, people are going to get together, drink, theme it up and ultimately have a good time.
You’ll see posts that will call out cultural appropriation, thinly veiled racism masquerading as thematic parties with ponchos, fake mustaches, sombreros and of course drinking. Heavy drinking.
In years past I’ve seen the argument change from the ignorance of what the day is about, to how offensive it is because it’s celebrating a stereotype that ultimately hurts an entire culture. While this all may be true, it’s also true that some Mexicans don’t care at all about this holiday and, in fact, some even celebrate it with their friends to have some drinks and have fun.
But getting together with people to do whatever it is people do on this holiday isn’t reason enough in the view of some. This is where I run into a problem. Freedom of assembly isn’t something you or I need permission for, it’s a protected right. The unintended consequence of constantly hammering away at something as benign as a holiday is that we end up in another “War on Christmas”-type scenario — a war with zero casualties.
In recent years you’ve seen post after post about how Halloween is either sexist or racist, when in reality it’s a pagan holiday turned kid friendly. On one night of the year we might all get together and agree on handing out treats and having our hearts warmed by children running around in our neighborhoods, but for some it’s a day that serves to offend because of the costumes one wears.
Most recently a teenage girl in Utah wore a Chinese prom dress that spurred controversy. She wore it because she liked the dress. Ironically enough, many who have preached that women are judged by how they dress — and that it’s wrong — are the same people angry at this young woman.
Aside from what appears to be a case of calling the kettle black in my view, what is the point? Being riled up about a holiday or a dress isn’t going for the throat of systematic racism; it’s not courageous; if anything, it’s a vain display of virtue signaling.
Complaining about the right someone has to wear what they want and celebrate what they want doesn’t solve a thing. At the very least those who buy Mexican beer, at a Mexican store, bottled in Mexico, help Mexican businesses. Rancho Market, Anaya’s Market, La Palapa are no doubt raising their prices for carne asada and that’s a good thing.
While they sell more product and strengthen their roots in the communities they serve, those who complain for free achieve nothing.
Happy Cinco de Mayo everybody.
Donald Aguirre
Donald Aguirre is a journalism student at the University of Utah and a co-founder of Utah Indivisible.