Oops! It's actually spelled Guy Fawkes. Too late to fix the print version?

the illegal mexicans in our midst are not here to strengthen this nation or to become americans. let them celebrate their independence in their own country. painting a rosy picture of this invasion is slow national suicide.go jazz.

History repeats itself.
I imagine people had the same reaction to St. Patrick's Day.

Was it your intention to refer to "Guy Fawkes Day"? Does your publication employ an undergraduate-level proofreader who can nail down such details before you publish your house editorials?

it is not just anglo americans who resent this invasion. that was itself a racist remark. shame on des news.go jazz.

Guy Fawkes night was my second favorite celebration, after Christmas. Never felt a need to celebrate it in this country.

Guy Fox day celebrates the founding of Fox News by that guy, whoever.

We've lived south of the border for 5 and 1/2 years and Cinco de Mayo is not celebrated like it is here. Here, we make a big deal out of it. It was a battle won with a little help from the US. Since there are so many other holidays in Mexico, this one is not in the top 5. In the southern US, mainly, we have created this holiday. We needed something between Easter and July 4th, so here comes 5 de Mayo.
The US should be celebrating it because it stopped the French. We could have been speaking French where Spanish is spoken if not for that battle.

One would think Mexicans would enjoy celebrating the Fourth, no? It doesn't seem to be too popular down there...

Why would I want to celebrate my national holiday in a different country that it has no meaning. Cinco de Mayo would have more meaning if these people fought for their rights and celebrated in their own land. Why should the USA adopt the culture just because they have invaded them. Time to get out of the past of what was and move to what is now. This is America and English is the national language, don't like then go home

Am I the only Germanic American that is tired of being lumped into a generic group and then stereotyped? Anglo does not mean white!! Anglo is specific...as is Franco, Germanic, Scandinavian, etc...just as all Latinos are not Mexican, all whites are not Anglo!!!

It's my understanding that Cinco de Mayo is not a national holiday in Mexico. It is celebrated only in a few Mexican provinces, not the entire nation. In other words, it is not like our 4th of July. It relates to independence won by one part of Mexico. That part is found in the northern provinces, which is where many, if not most, of the Mexican immigrants who come here were born. So that day's importance in this country is the result of American misunderstanding, something the DN ought to check before writing such an article.

This editorial is typical of the arrogance of open-borders types. Rest assured that Americans who oppose mass immigration from Mexico have plenty of reasons other than irrational fear to oppose it.

Change is inevitable, but we *do* have a hand in shaping what kind of change there will be. As long as Mexico remains a corrupt, statist dysfunctional state, there will always be an impetus for Mexicans to migrate to the United States. That pressure will never be stopped completely, any more than we can ever completely wipe out drunk driving, but neither is there any reason to simply throw up our hands and let nature take its course.

I would like to see American civilization be enriched by the best of Mexican culture, without being dragged down by Mexican civilization's more dysfunctional qualities. Keeping immigration to a well-regulated level is probably the only hope of accomplishing this selective integration of Mexican immigrants' cultural contributions.

As for Cinco de Mayo, I have no problem celebrating it. What red-blooded American wouldn't celebrate the French getting a bloody nose?

*** "Does your publication employ an undergraduate-level proofreader who can nail down such details before you publish your house editorials?" ***

Yes, and their editorial writers are third-graders, apparently.

"Guy Fox." Hahahaha. "Celebrating diversity," apparently, does not actually require knowing anything about the culture you're celebrating. You could be honoring the latest suicide bombers for all you know.

*** "Am I the only Germanic American that is tired of being lumped into a generic group and then stereotyped? Anglo does not mean white!!" ***

Well, I am "Anglo-American", so I couldn't object, except for the fact that I prefer British-American. Or actually, more precisely, "Guy descended from the folks that actually founded the country that everyone hates but wants to move to"-American. Please get it right in the future. I will not accept any another label.

So we're not racists, we're just scared?

I think the recent article about the changing face of espionage where "divided loyalties" is now the major reason for spying in this nation ought to be a wake up call. Do not paint legitimate concern about national security, or erosion of the linguistic and cultural ties that have made a nation of very diverse racial and religious groups as mere fear of the unknown.

We are't allowed to resist change? Some changes, no. But some changes, yes. When change is forced on us by polticians as a result of public policy we most definitely have the right to resist or shape that change. It's called "democracy."

But then I forgot the odd contradiction this paper believes in: we elect our congressmen, and our congressmen, by the Constitution and tradition, have the right to determine immigration policy, including the power to grant amnesty, if they wish. They have the right to do that, but this paper believes that they shouldn't campaign on it and give us a say-so on the matter.

I refer you to former editor John Hughes's column of April 19, 2006:

"With midterm elections looming this year, immigration threatens to become a major political issue. It should not be. It is a problem of such import that it requires statesmanship, not jousting for narrow political gain."

In other words, "Don't listen to people who are concerned about mass immigration."

While that was Hughes's column, and not an editorial by the paper, it seems pretty clear that this paper shares the sentiment.

To "Darning with faint praise":

Be careful, mister. You're pushing the envelope. Under the rules of the Multicultural Act of 2008 we may be required to send the Thought Police to your home.

Please remember: you are not, in any case, ever, ever, ever allowed to suggest that immigrants may in any way be less law-abiding, less loyal to America, or less educable than native Americans. (It is, of course, perfectly acceptable to denigrate native Americans by suggesting that immigrants are BETTER than us - because, somehow, in some way, that is not hateful at all.)

Those not interested in celebrating a foreign holiday may be more interested in celebrating an American one, with a convenient date: May 26, exactly 3 weeks after Cinco de Mayo, is the anniversary of the passage of the Johnson-Reed Act - the law which finally reduced the flood of immigrants to America which had begun 40 years earlier.

I know I will be drinking to that.

*** "We could have been speaking French where Spanish is spoken if not for that battle." ***

And that would be a bad thing? French is a much more beautiful kanguage than Spanish (and English) and everybody knows it.

If we continue to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, where do we stop, whats next?, giving more emphasis on Saint Patrics Day?

"Cinco de Mayo would have more meaning if these people fought for their rights and celebrated in their own land".

They are fighting for their rights, by coming to this country. You don't think they lost the right to be here just because the US took the land away from them do you?

This is their land too.

I don't like Cinco de Mayo, [Mexican] I don't like pizza [Italian]. I don't like Christmas [World Wide and didn't originate here]. I obviously don't like Chinese food, nor do I like pasturized milk, [a French invention]. etc, etc, etc,

Be a true patriot, avoid all foreign stuff.

Sure, do away with this holiday.
And while we're at it - do away with Days of '47 too.

I don't really care if there's a Cinco de Mayo celebration. My wife, who is Mexican American, says it's not an important holiday in Mexico and never was a big deal among her family as she grew up here. Seems that just recently it's been pushed as a special holiday. Maybe to sell more stuff, like many manufactured holidays?

On the more suspicious side, I remember that in past years the holiday has been used to mount protests against anti-illegal immigration efforts, which may explain even better why it's gradually becoming more important as a Mexican American holiday than it ever was as a Mexican holiday. It certainly gave this paper a soapbox to continue its anti-anti-illegal immigration ranting.

"RE Being" -- "You don't think they lost the right to be here just because the US took the land away from them?"

Yes, that's exactly what I think. Mexico picked a fight with the U.S., lost, and signed a treaty handing over the Southwest in exchange for $15 million. Until the treaty gets rescinded -- that is, until both parties agree it is no longer binding, and Mexico pays back that $15 million with interest, which by my calculations comes out to about $24 trillion, assuming 10% interest from 1848 compounded annually -- then the United States does indeed get to say who does and who doesn't get to come live here.

I'd be more impressed if the US West had been Mexico's all along. I guess their advantage is they stole it from the Indians first.

"Be a true patriot" is a typical leftist, who substitutes sarcasm for thought.

Sir, patriotism is not about disliking "foreign stuff." It's about appreciating what's good in your own culture.

Who is more likely to be moved by expressions of foreign patriotism -- an American patriot, or a "sophisticated" citizen of the world who sneers at the whole concept of patriotism? I get all misty watching the bar scene in Casablanca, where the locals all sing the Marseillaise to drown out the Nazi officers singing the Horst Wessel Song -- and I think the French, by and large, are insufferable snots mitigated only by a beautiful language and good food. I love Smetana's "Ma Vlast" symphonic poem, written as an ode to his native country.

I don't oppose Cinco De Mayo because of fear, I oppose it because we are being invaded by foreign people and our law enforcement is so busy giving speeding tickets and parking tickets that they can't be bothered to lift a finger to repell an invasion of this country by 11 million people. And I pay taxes for this? The Democrats won't do anything about it because they see this group as potential new voters and the Republicans won't do anything about this because they see this group as a source of very cheap labor for their business buddies.

And who will do anything to help the middle class under attack by low wages and rising costs partly caused by our ever increasing taxes from supporting all the services used by illigal aliens? No one, that who. All of the three remaining presidential candidates are all in favor of this current mess. I only wish that somehow these three monkeys could be sewn together at the hip and have to hang with each other for the 4 years that one of them is going to be tormenting all of us.

*** "You don't think they lost the right to be here just because the US took the land away from them do you? This is their land too." ***

Yeah, except for they weren't living here. The Mexicans invading now were of no close relation to the American Indians who lived here; and Mexicans of any sort weren't much living here at all.

Do you know what states were created from the lands conquered in the War with Mexico? California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and big gigantic chunks of Colorado and New Mexico. That is to say: all or part of 6 of our largest states. The Mexicans living here then (in 1848) were allowed to stay, and nearly all did. And yet the 1850 census counted less than 170,000 people living in all of that territory. I may as well claim Pluto.

In contrast, Tennessee in 1850 had over a million people, Alabama had 777,000 and Pennsylvania had 3 million.

Cinco de Mayo was started by the Californians as a sign of solidarity with the Mexicans fighting the French at Puebla. It is an American holiday, thus why all the Mexicans don't really celebrate it. Do a little research, Mexican independence day is in September.

So the Chinese and Indians are using American-invented computers, while the Middle East relies upon Western-developed technology to drill for its oil. Just about everyone in the world relies upon Western-developed medicine to heal what ails them. The most popular restaurant on the planet? American-born McDonald's. American movies are popular everywhere, too.

So if the adoption of someone's culture and technology gives that people the right to invade your country then Americans should be able to go live wherever the heck we want.

I'm not sure the government of India agrees, however.

How many of us had a big hoodoo on April 18th to remember Paul Revere day? I do it every year just to bug people and because it is so forgotten.

"Yeah, except for they weren't living here".

Actually peoples from there did come up here, the border is artificial and wasn't there at that time. Indians from both sides crossed back and forth.

Even if they didn't so what? It was their land, their country, and unless taking something by force rtakes this away, they still have rights to be here

I wonder how many indians living in the Western US realized they were Mexican subjects (can't really call them citizens, since I doubt any Mexicans considered the residents of the land to be much more than slaves)?

We should instead celebrate March 10, the date in 1848 when the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was ratified, which liberated from Mexico all the land from California to Texas.

I suppose Americans celebrating Cinco De Mayo would be similar to the Spaniards celebrating Spanish Armada Day. When the countries of Central and South America celebrate the 4th of July I will be glad to celebrate Cinco De Mayo.

I have a sneaking suspicion that the observance in America of Cinco de Mayo has been played up by brewers, tequila distillers, and avocado farmers, just like Mother's Day got pumped up by the Hallmark people.

Never underestimate the American people's eagerness to accept a holiday that gives them an excuse to get plastered.

An excellent idea Wrong Day!

Although March 10th is when the US Senate ratified it, the Mexican Senate ratified it on May 19th and formal exchange of ratified copies took place on May 26th. Does the date when the treaty process is complete become the official date of independence from Mexico for the southwest? Works for me. But it needs a name. What shall we call it?

We can't call it San Jacinto Day, the day when Santa Anna signed the acknowledgement of Texan independence. That is already taken and is a significant holiday in the state of Texas.

Can't call it Western States Day. They didn't become states until some time later.

Since one of the major contentions in the Mexican war was whether the Rio Nueces should be the border between Texas and Mexico or the Rio Grande, it could be "Rio Grande Day".

Any other ideas?

I don't get too worked up about the cinco de mayo holiday because, as Thomas stated above, it was a holiday created by the Restaurant/Bar associations to drum up business in early Spring. What really concerns me is that our Presidential candidates are debating nonsense like a "Federal gas tax holiday" instead of a legitimate issue like illegal immigration. Frightening.
Fox vs Fawkes ... if you know the difference you have way too much time on your hand ... and if you aren't paying for a subscription to the DN then stop being smarmy about it

Ilegall immigration will cause us more problems than we can imagine. According to statistics which are documented illegal immigration costs the citizens of the United States of America over $325 BILLION per year. That does not count the many negative impacts on society when non-English speaking illegal immigrants must be accommodated. Have any of you pro-immigration at any cost, amnesty for all, illegal entry facilitators visited a foreign county lately? Nearly all have much more strict policies for entering their countries than do we. They tolerate little in terms of protest by foreigners. Many infractions, including illegal entry, are cause for immediate deportation. Education, medical beneftis and public assistance are prohibited to foreigners as are many civil rights currently being allowed to our illegal immigrant crowd. As my own anscestors came from a foreign nation, I favor a reasonable immigration policy - one which has as a basis rules of law and includes entrance guidelines incorporating consideration for education, English language skills, expectations for legal gainful employment, registration and reporting of current address, as well as payment of all taxes and fees required of all legal residents of the USA. In short that immigrants obey the law or face deportation.

Well said "TimJ". I don't have a problem with it, what I have a problem with is the "Mexican Pride" issue. Be proud of being mexican or german, or italian, or russian, or whatever you are. It is just so very irritating when you see these young "Punks" with little "Mexican Flags" hanging from their mirrors in cars and such. They are in the USA now, why aren't they hanging United States Flags on their mirrors? I ADMIRE MANY LATINO AMERICAN FAMILIES! I dated a south american woman a few years back, and we hung out with her friends, MANY MEXICAN couples, THEY WERE VERY GOOD PEOPLE and loving and embracing people, and half didn't speak good english. They accepted me, and I loved their customs and closeness. They were wonderful people, and I love them! I only wish more people tried to understand the Mexican people and their culture. It isn't the mainstream that give "Them" a "Bad Name", it is the "Minority" of the Mexican people who are here. Don't look down at them, give them a friendly smile, YOU WILL BE SURPRISED at the reaction you get! A warm Wonderful People for the most part!

This is the dumbest editorial ever. The Deseret News uses Cinco de Mayo to preach - again - for acceptance of illegal immigration. For two years Joe Cannon has divined that those of us who want immigrants to come here legally - are "racist". Now his crystal ball has switched and he editorializes that we are not "racist" but just full of "fear" and "anger." How does he presume to be the national diagnostician and psychologist into the minds and hearts of those of us who would simply like to see our laws enforced? He cites such benign cultural benefits as Mexican food, music, etc. He fails to mention the big, fat elephants which entered the living room from across the border - rampant criminality, exorbitant public funds to imprison vast numbers of illegals, hospital bankruptcies and closures, identity theft, graffiti, etc. In California we joined in Cinco de Mayo celebrations without giving it a thought - it was just part of the landscape. These festivities cannot compensate for the wholesale abandonment of constitutional principles of law and order by welcoming illegals to this country. Cinco de Mayo is irrelevant to the real issue of honoring the rule of law!

The pace of societal change can be hastened, or it can be slowed. Most of the changes America has undergone during my lifetime have not been good, hence I advocate approaching change with great caution. It may not be realistic to envision America being exactly the same 200, 300, 400 years from now, but we should fight to keep as much of our heritage intact as we can.