Cinco de mayo de 1862 - La Batalla de Puebla¡Viva México! ¡Viva Juárez! Viva el 5 de mayo!
Cinco de Mayo is a date of great importance for the Mexican and Chicano communities. It marks the victory of the Mexican Army over the French at the Battle of Puebla. Although the Mexican army was eventually defeated, the "Batalla de Puebla" came to represent a symbol of Mexican unity and patriotism. With this victory, Mexico demonstrated to the world that Mexico and all of Latin America were willing to defend themselves of any foreign intervention. Especially those from imperialist states bent on world conquest.

It is important to remember Cinco de Mayo: it was a time when America and Mexico were aligned in their quest for self-determination and regarded each other as allies and friends.

Almost 140 years later, things between Mexico and the U.S. have gone awry. Irreconcilable differences over immigration, drug trafficking and the war in Iraq have soured the relationship between the two countries. There were no flowers for the Mexicans and Mexican-Americans who participated in recent pro-immigrant demonstrations, only weary looks from a majority who, according to polls, believe the flow of illegal immigrants has become a serious security issue for the United States.

Latinos are the largest minority in the U.S. today with more than 40 million people.