While I am telling you my interpretation of Cinco de Mayo, I am not worried about dates, citing sources, or any of that stuff. (Side Note#1: Isn't history just another person's interpretation of what happened? That is for a later discussion or tangent of mine.) I will give a very brief and concise description of what went down. Therefore, please feel free to look it up if you wish to know details.
Mexico owed money to France in the mid 1800's. The president (might be the wrong term) of Mexico decided to stop paying foreign countries in which they were in debt to. France threw a fit over this, and decided to invade and conquer Mexico. France ended up succeeding in taking over Mexico, but along the way, they ran into one little/big problem. In a town or maybe a city in Mexico, there was a battle (as I said, this was going to be vague). In this famous battle, on May 5, mid 1800's, the Mexican army and militia were very much outnumbered, disadvantaged technologically and strategically. Besides the odds, I bet you can guess who won the battle. YES!!! You're right!!! It was Mexico! Even though France ended up taking over the whole country in the end, Mexico had a right to be proud of the outcome of the battle that occurred on Cinco de Mayo! They were at a strong (lack of a better word) disadvantage against the French, but they had the courage and pride to lead them to victory, and maybe a general who knew what he was doing. But none the less, that is awesome! After this battle, no other country in the Americas' have been invaded by an army from another continent, which is pretty cool.
It is amazing what humans can do when the odds are more than against us. For instance, space exploration, the atomic bomb, the Sistine Chapel, deep sea exploration, music, science, art, communication, the internet, being able to survive traveling in the highest elevations on Earth, and the list goes on and on. On a personal level, what happens when you are rock climbing, trying your hardest to clip that next bolt or piece of gear, and the fear sets in. What if I fall? I will fall a long ways. Every muscle is burning! What do I do!? OH SHIT, OH SHIT, OH SHIT! Wait. Relax. YOU ARE OK! Then you get it and now you are safe. You have just overcome yourself and the human mind. How does this relate to Cinco de Mayo, you may ask. Well, I will tell you. When shit hits the fan, and you have a decision to live or die, whether you like it or not, the decision is yours to make. The human instinct, that we have, from a little phenomenon called evolution, gives us the power to survive in the worst and harshest conditions if we really want to. The Mexican army was faced up against a very powerful and relentless army, yet they won a battle with everything against them. In my mind, they had to have that will and determination to survive and save their land. That's where it's at.
