Daniel Stange de Acatl
This weekend in Denver, the people celebrated another Cinco de Mayo with festivals all over the state. This holiday that was given to the Latino community because the government would not sponsor September 16th independence from Spain. They have to maintain the political sovereignty and obviously the use of foreign flags are a constant nuisance to Anglo Americans. Unless you fly the Israel flag with the star of David. Much like we can see on our Presidential seal with the 13 stars above the eagle. No wonder our government provides so much financial support for their war efforts.
For decades, I have tried to convince Latinos, Chicanos and Hispanics that this holiday is not worth our efforts. It was hailed as Mexican Independence for many years on the news as the celebrations became more popular. I guess the convenience of its annual occurrence was one of the factors. The words themselves also kind of roll off the lips. Feels like Drinko de Mayo. And certainly, the sponsorship of beer makers and misinformed community leaders cemented the tradition. Education was another key factor in keeping this holiday. Despite the various performances that I and other Aztec dancers were engaged in attempting to clarify the historical facts; the celebrations continue. It became one of our busiest seasons. Until the movie Coco put the Day of the Dead on everyone’s radar.
Certainly, the need to find some way to celebrate our history is almost hereditary. It is as if the experiences of our ancestors are woven into our bloodlines. Due to the past conflicts of Natives that joined the conquest and those who resisted change is perhaps another key to what continues to keep us fighting. The haves and the have nots are a common discussion when the festivities are dragging into the night, and the alcohol is diluting your senses. Do we struggle for a specific goal? Is struggle just another basic human behavior? Some think that it begins with our instinct to survive. Perhaps the screams of an infant are a declaration of the struggle to stay warm and to have the belly full.
It’s funny how so many ancient wise teachers, prophets, or sages utilize fasting and other tests of endurance to withstand the basic urges that our biology requires. To, the Tezcatlipoca tradition of medicine there are four essentials. Four things are required to sustain your existence, and they order them first, second, third and fourth according to the length of time you can resist. First, and most important, is your breath. You die in about 11 minutes when your air supply is cut off. The second essential in life is sleep. Your brain cannot continue to function without a reset. People that do drugs like Meth and stay awake for days, end up with drug-induced psychosis. Generally, 3-4 days is maximum time you can stay awake.
Quality sleep is also a factor in good health. Much as the third and fourth essentials being water (hydration) and food (nutrition). Without a clean and healthy supply of these essentials your survival rate is going to decline. Obviously, there are many other essentials in life. We are the most vulnerable of all mammals from our birth. This obviously gave indigenous perspectives the clue that humans are the species most dependent and that the natural world provides us with everything so we must treat our mother earth with reverence.
This principal idea was recognized by every indigenous nation across the globe for hundreds of thousands of years. Only from the Greco/Roman and Judaism of the bible do we begin to tell people that god created the world for us to have dominion over all the things of the earth. This was the root of colonization and the start of a global destruction that prohibits each and every one of us from having the clean and healthy supply of our basic essentials.
May is the month of new spring and flowers that bloom to remind us of the reality we all share. Perhaps that is another reason Cinco de Mayo became so popular all over the nation. The roots of our culture carry the seeds of ancient knowledge and the perceptions that will help bring our society back to health. The battle of Cinco de Mayo was the indigenous people that stood up to the French and said ¡Ya Basta!
Each and everyone of us has a connection to the earth. We all have bloodlines that can take us back to places of origin. The original people of those places were able to survive because the Mother earth provided, and we in turn should be conscious of how our actions steward the preservation of Mother Earth’s children. Human beings are not the only species important to nature and our survival. And if you think of yourself as not of this world, you should work twice as hard as a caretaker. When you go visit somebody’s house you don’t break their furniture and crack their walls. Remember what the elders teach us and give respect before you expect any in return.
Danny Stange de Acatl is a Denver Native and Cultural activist that serves his community on various levels.
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