Archive for Sunday, May 6, 2007
Spirits run high at annual Cinco de Mayo event in Craig
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Cesar Calderon, left, and Luis Casarez of Craig perform during the Cinco de Mayo celebration at the Moffat County Fairgrounds on Saturday.
Four-year-old Bianca Perez of Steamboat Springs spins her traditional Mexican yellow dress on the Moffat County Fairgrounds lawn during the third annual Comunidad Integrada Cinco de Mayo celebration Saturday. An estimated 500 people attended the event, which featured food and a talent show with music, salsa dancing, poetry and a reading of a Pablo Neruda work.
Craig — When Bette Carlson, vice president of the Comunidad Integrada board of directors, woke up Saturday morning, she found snow on her front lawn.
The weather 40 miles down the road in Craig wasn't much nicer.
Still, Carlson braved the elements and made her way to the third annual Cinco de Mayo celebration at the Moffat County Fairgrounds, where spirits ran high despite overcast skies and cool temperatures.
She was one of an estimated 500 people who visited the five-hour celebration throughout the day.
"The whole objective of this," Carlson said, "is to bring people together. To get the immigrants to know the local people and vice versa."
Comunidad Integrada, a public service organization pledged with supporting and promoting successful integration in Moffat and Routt counties, sponsored the event.
The event pays homage to the Mexican defeat of the French Army at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. It is one of Mexico's two days commemorating its independence; the other is el Dieciseis de Septiembre, or Sept. 16.
Director Summer Laws said more food and entertainment were added to this year's event, and a new wrinkle - a talent show featuring musical performances, salsa dancing, poetry and a reading of a Pablo Neruda work - was particularly popular.
The central theme behind the event, Laws said, is to bridge the gap between the Hispanic and Anglo communities. Although some organizers were disappointed with the Anglo turnout Saturday, Laws said there was some diversity among the crowd.
"That's what we really aim for, an exchange between people learning from each other," she said.
The other purpose behind the celebration, she said, is publicizing Comunidad events and groups, such as the Intercambio English and Spanish Conversational Group, which meets at 7 p.m. Tuesdays at the Boys & Girls Club of Craig, and an upcoming workshop on immigrant's rights.
The Know Your Rights World Cafe is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. May 15 and 22 at the Boys and Girls Club of Craig. The Denver-based Rights for All People will present information on the rights of immigrants and their children living in the United States.
The workshop provides a platform for immigrants to relay their input on issues they feel are important and on community integration, Laws said.
The Cinco de Mayo celebration will be a fixture for years to come for Comunidad, she said.
The event may look different from year-to-year, she said, but its core theme - bringing two communities together - will remain the same.
Mark Rydberg, director of finance for the Moffat County School District and a Comunidad board member, said Saturday's event was a success and would have been more so had the weather cooperated.
"It's a good crowd," Rydberg said. "It would have been nice if we had a little more Anglo participation, but I think it would have been better if the weather was nicer."
Comments
mama (anonymous) says...
Amen.
May 8, 2007 at 10:20 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
freshair (anonymous) says...
clevedave...'no, are you really that dim???????? Do americans living in mexico celebrate the 4th of july???????? why all the dumb questions??????'
Clevedave, are you really that dim? The question was obviously 'tongue-in-cheek', comprende? The point is, why are we supposed to celebrate a Mexican holiday commemorating a mexican victory over the French. Congrats to the Anglo population for showing their total non-regard for this occasion by their absence.
May 6, 2007 at 9:14 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sbspowderhound (anonymous) says...
In my opinion you are all dim. We are a nation of immigrants. Unless you are a Native American (aka an Indian) you are an immigrant!
Try and celebrate diversity...America should be a "Salad Bowl" not a "Melting Pot"
Algo=Arrogant
May 6, 2007 at 10:08 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
freshair (anonymous) says...
FYI,powderhound, your 'native' American is also an immigrant, albeit a few thousand years before the main European inflow. This country was settled and developed by Europeans grounded in Judeo-Christian tenets. Diversity is ok as a matter of individual choice in whatever form it takes, but when it becomes one of the main pillars of Political Correctness, as it has, then it it is an instrument which weakens and dilutes core American values. When 'diversity' becomes a goal in education admissions and employment hiring, as it has, every institution suffers and the deterioration of quality is quickly evident. Mexican food....Love it! Margaritas....Ditto! Cinco De Mayo? I don't think so.
May 6, 2007 at 11:55 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
JQPUBLIC (anonymous) says...
sbspowderhound..."We are a nation of immigrants" and "Try and celebrate diversity...America should be a "Salad Bowl"... You are right!! We ARE a nation of immigrants, the United States of America and as Americans we should be celebrating American holidays. To hell with all of this political correctness, we need to take our country back. We can be a "salad bowl" of whites, blacks, hispanics, asians, etc. but once you chose to live in the USA you become an American, you speak english and you abide by Americas laws, including our immigration laws. If you want to celebrate Mexican holidays... stay in Mexico. If you want to live in America.... take pride in the nation and act like an American.
May 7, 2007 at 11:32 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
wakeup (Susie Gruben) says...
Hey Freshair--
Have you studied US History lately to reveal that Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona were once Mexican territory? So your quote about the border crossing them is true. You are exactly right that I am a liberal, and it sounds like you could use a little education to open your mind as well. America is a country of multi-culturalism which honors the many immigrant populations that have inhabited this land. It sounds like you need to wake up and smell the coffeee. Generally, the Mexicans that live in America want to learn English and become part of our culture while perserving their cultural heritage as well. The real problem lies between the Mexican government and the US government not with the immigrants. Perhaps if our political and financial relationship with Mexico improved, the large Mexican influx of immigrants would deminish.
May 8, 2007 at 8:18 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mama (anonymous) says...
What is wrong with you people? Noone forced anyone to go the celebrations - its your choice! If you dont approve, stay home. But please, to say that Mexicans, who support our economy, our tourist industry, our construction industry, should celebrate Cinco Di Mayo in their own country and not where they now live and contribute, is simply hateful.
May 7, 2007 at 1:12 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
JQPUBLIC (anonymous) says...
Sorry mama... I did stay home but my taxes contribute to shutting down streets and extra law enforcement for non American celebrations. I believe in LEGAL controlled immigration, I do not believe in amnesty for lawbreakers and I do not believe illegal immigrants have any rights other than deportation; if they're here legally, they need to accept our culture... not just our paychecks. It's not hateful to expect people that come into America to adopt our ways, instead of us bending over backwards for them. I've been to Mexico, I contributed to their economy, I respected their laws and I didn't expect them to throw me a celebration on the fourth of July.
May 7, 2007 at 2:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
wakeup (Susie Gruben) says...
I cannot believe that a non-profit organization cannot have a multi-cultural celebration in this area of Colorado without the debate you all are having. The recognition of this holiday by a non-profit organization that is working to integrate our community with our many immigrant residents, who are helping to build and be a part of the Steamboat/Craig/Hayden community, was an effort to celebrate and bring people together. The debate over immigration and the fact that all Americans are immigrants is a legitimate one. However, there is a huge issue between first world America and our developing nation south of the border otherwise known as Mexico. The immigrants, who leave their families, homes, and land, come to the US possibly to earn more money and to have a better life. Sure they want to celebrate their holidays as well as ours. This is a huge population that raises an entirely different debate than your European immigrants that have chosen to live in America. Mexico is a nation that lacks guidance, economic stability, and equal education for all. If you lived next door to a nation that could possibly provide that, wouldn't you want to share in that as well, while paying taxes and celebrating your cultural heritage? The immigration issue between Mexico and the US is a far more complicated issue than can be discussed here. Just understand that the celebration was intended to honor a holiday that is actually celebrated here more than in Mexico (like St. Patrick's Day), and it was meant to bring people together. So relax, and enjoy the fact that Routt and Moffat County have a more diversified community, and maybe next time a celebration like this one occurs, more of the Anglo population in these two counties can come together to celebrate and get to know one another under the pretense of an originally Mexican holiday that we have Americanized!
May 7, 2007 at 4:56 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
freshair (anonymous) says...
The celebration of Cinco de Mayo by Hispanics on American soil substitutes Mexican nationalism for U.S. nationalism. The idea that non-hispanic Americans should embrace this occasion is one more example of the idiotic multi-cultural 'values' espoused by the Politically Correct Liberal left. We already have a huge Mexican population that linguistically and culturally still remains in Mexico. As they are fond of saying, 'We didn't cross the border, the border crossed us.'
May 7, 2007 at 5:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
whyquestion (anonymous) says...
in a salad bowl you can eliminate certain ingredients!!!!!! in a MELTING POT the ingredients become ONE????????? USA is a MELTING POT!!!!!!!
May 12, 2007 at 11:09 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
whyquestion (anonymous) says...
PS i speak of DOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 12, 2007 at 11:13 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
davideiland (David Eiland) says...
First of all, I think if all of you are so passionate about what you write and speak of, then each and every one of you should come out from behind your wall of anonymity. As "wakeup" stated, this issue is far too complex to be solved in a few postings and it will never come close to being managed with the closed minded views that I'm reading. I also agree that there are certain laws that we all must abide by (whether or not we believe they are right or wrong), and a certain level of responsibility by those choosing to enter this country and by those of us who already enjoy this great country. Our society is both benefiting and suffering because of the immigration problems, and real solutions need to be discussed and implemented if any of us stand a chance of peaceful co-existence. Closing the borders is definitely not the answer, because this country was built on the hard work of immigrants (legal, that is), and to think any of us are so special that we deserve a our "piece of the promise land" without sharing is about as un-American as it gets. Regardless of the ideas and solutions, though, the process should be legal and fairly managed by BOTH governments involved. And to take that even further, all U.S. consumers should think really hard about the goods and services that they purchase, because the root of almost all of this debate lies with a simple economic equation called supply and demand. If you are complaining about immigration, I would suggest taking a serious look at what you buy; where it comes from; and what the consequenses are at every stage of that product life cycle. We can and should live with cultural diversity; celebrating the achievements of all societies and cultures; learning about each other and growing from that knowledge; and eliminating privileged societal lines. If you're willing to work hard in accordance with the laws of this country, then you should benefit from that hard work. And I can promise you that if you work hard within that framework, nothing will be taken from you.
May 11, 2007 at 10:34 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
davideiland (David Eiland) says...
And David Eiland is my name...it's not anonymous.
May 11, 2007 at 10:36 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
JQPUBLIC (anonymous) says...
No one said they were against immigration, just illegal immigration. Closed borders does not mean not allowing anyone through, it means controlling who and how many come through. If you want a decent quality of life you don't put 30 men in a 10 man raft just because 20 of them think your raft is better than theirs. We are being told we are ruining the country by using too much power, making too much trash, polluting the air and water. We don't have enough farmers and ranchers left to supply food to the people and they are selling off the ranch land to build more homes, do you think some of this could be the cause of overpopulation?? How about health care, social security and our homeless population, etc, shouldn't we do something about our social problems before adding more to them. Believe me, I think the Mexican immigrants have much better work ethics than most Americans, especially when it comes to physical labor, immigrants also seem to have more respect for family, but still... you can only support so many people in one raft. So I still believe we need to close the borders, enforce our laws, deport all illegal immigrants and come up with a better immigration plan, in that order.
May 11, 2007 at 1:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
davideiland (David Eiland) says...
You could have fooled me, "JQ". From your tone and words, it sounds to me like you're very much against immigration...legal or illegal. I think you're missing the mark when you speak of the problems of the society, and where those problems are really arising from, because you're putting the chicken before the egg. If you really want to control population; pollution; homeless/hunger problems; then why don't we just put a cap on the number of children that families can have and increase the taxes on our consumption. The real problem lies in the manner in which Americans are choosing to live and consume. Sure, the immigrants come her to work the fields and build the houses, which does indeed put a strain on our social systems. But who's creating the demand for cheaper veggies and larger houses? And if your definition of "closed" borders means controlling the immigration population, then what system do you think is in place now? The border system is controlled...by far from perfect...but controlled. You're not one of those proposing to build a big fence, are you? Yeah, that's a great idea. "JQ", I do agree with a lot of what you write and believe, but I think the seemingly "elitist" attitude that you're throwing around is very counter-productive. It seems to me that's the same attitude that most Americans have, and that attitude is getting us into more trouble than just having an illegal immigration problem.
May 14, 2007 at 3 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
JQPUBLIC (anonymous) says...
david... it's your choice to read whatever you want in my tone but my words say I believe in LEGAL immigration and I do. If you need to label me an elitist so you can justify knowing my intentions better than I do, that's also your prerogative. You say "why don't we just put a cap on the number of children that families can have", I'll vote for it if you can get that one by the ACLU. You say "increase the taxes on our consumption", I'll vote for a flat tax that increases from needs to luxuries, but get that one by your politicians. You say the "The border system is controlled"... how? We do not even enforce our own laws and if ICE dares to try, the protests start with illegal immigrants and the ACLU leading the march.: I have a real problem with the illegals that believe they have the right to stay "because they have been here for years and have a life here", they actually expect us to reward them for breaking our laws: as I stated, I believe if you are here illegally your only right is to be deported. You said, "each and every one of you should come out from behind your wall of anonymity", why? Does knowing who we are change anything about the discussion or our stance on the issues? I think anonymity makes the discussion more intriguing because we actually argue points and ideas, not personalities. You will notice that the people who think they know who a writer is begins attacking them for who they are, not their ideas; too many people want to know who the writer is for just this purpose. You don't have to agree or disagree with me, you don't even have to read my posts, because my opinion is just that, my opinion, whether I'm anonymous or not; I live in the USA:legally: this is my right.
May 15, 2007 at 10:34 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
dundalk (anonymous) says...
"In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who
Comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us,
He shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an
Outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or
Birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person's
Becoming in every facet an American and nothing but an American...There can be no
Divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something
Else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag,
The American flag... We have room for but one language here, and that is
The English language... And we have room for but one sole loyalty and that
Is a loyalty to the American people."
Theodore Roosevelt 1907
May 24, 2007 at 4:37 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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