U.S.A-A.A.
This may be delayed but it just occured to me
Ok I want you to clear your mind…..
Now say the first thing that comes to mind when I mention….
Cinco de Mayo
Did you think of alcohol or did you think of mexican independence day (ok so its not officially, actually it’s their rendition of a good ole french ass whoopin)? As I work in a hispanic majority plant (middle of SC and you can hear spanish over the intercom!) we have cinco de mayo stuff all over the place celebrating the holiday. If I was of Mexican heritage I would be outraged at how America introduces and mainstreams the idea of alcohol with their independence day and puts no emphasis on teaching why there is a cinco de mayo. As I see it, the marketing geniouses at Corona (a Mexican based facility itself) decided that as the US is becoming a greater melting pot with the spanish population becoming a close second in the nation that they should introduce the common American to some Mexican culture. So what do they do, they put something on the market that every American takes part in, an Alcoholic holiday. Now if you walk into any bar on cinco de mayo do you think anyone in there knows why they are getting such great drink deals? Of course not, Cinco de Mayo is to the hispanic beer industry as Valentines is to Hallmark! I personally am a bit surprised that Corona has the marketing ploy that they do. I remember the series of pre cinco de mayo commercials showing a checkout belt that had beach balls, palm tree, and then a ton of Corona and ended with “are you ready for cinco de mayo”? I don’t know why this hits a nerve with me, but if I was in another country and people were celebrating 4th of July for no reason but to drink without knowing the purpose of it I would be pissed. I guess coming from the north I am used to being educated on many cultures holidays (Ramadan, Yom Kippur, etc..) and better understanding why something is celebrated. I may have a soft spot for the hispanic culture after living and working with them over my life, but I think that this is a general opinion that would apply to any culture…..Be proud of who you are and let people know why you celebrate what you celebrate because that grows a greater appreciation and understanding for yourself and your culture. Sticking your great national accomplishments on a beer bottle is not only demeaning but doesn’t teach anyone anything about your past and people, just “Hey it’s cinco de mayo, don’t know what the hell that is but it’s spanish and we should drink some corona” What the Fawk!