Irene De La Cruz: It’s time to embrace Merced’s diversity

Cities, towns, organizations, schools, families and others celebrated or will celebrate a day this week that is very significant for many individuals of the Mexican culture – Cinco de Mayo.

Cinco de Mayo is not even a holiday in Mexico, and some reports claim that the people from Mexico don’t celebrate it as much as it is celebrated in the United States.

Yet it is revered by many others as a day of victory, of overcoming a great obstacle, of proving that you can be successful when it seems that everything is coming down on you.

Cinco de Mayo should be celebrated because it was more than just winning a physical battle on May 5, 1862. It was a demonstration of persistence, perseverance and determination that provided hope for others.

The day Gen. Ignacio Zaragoza was victorious against the French in the battle of Puebla, was a day that portrayed a tremendous sense of loyalty, patriotism and allegiance by a group of men who were otherwise considered “shabby” or not “fit” to take on such a challenge.

Zaragoza persevered because he had a role model in Benito Juarez, the president of Mexico at the time, who believed in him and believed that it could be done. In turn, Zaragoza became the role model for that group of men who fought gallantly to defend their country.

Sometimes all we have to do when we see a hopeless situation – or are in the middle of one – and want to help turn things around is to provide the hope that will lead others to do great things or the right thing.

That’s what happened in the battle of Puebla. Through Zaragoza, the men found the inner strength to help carry them through a battle that most thought would be won by the better-equipped and well-armed French forces.

The battle was a small event in the overall picture of the war of Mexico against the French, but it was a significant one in the sense that it boosted the pride of the Mexican government and strengthened the confidence of the resistance groups.

Here in Merced County, we have examples of local individuals of Mexican or Latino descent who may have won their own battles and consequently have provided that “fighting spirit” for someone else to succeed and fulfill their dreams.

These include individuals in education, including Jose Gonzalez, superintendent of Planada Elementary School District; Andres Zamora, superintendent of Livingston Elementary School District; Rosie Hurtado, superintendent of Le Grand Elementary School District; Ralph Melara, superintendent of Delhi Unified School District; and RoseMary Parga-Duran, superintendent of Merced City School District.

Also, the principal of Golden Valley High School, Constantino Aguilar; principal of Livingston High School, Ralph Calderon; principal of Le Grand High School, Javier Martinez; principal of Delhi High School, Vincent Gonzalez;principal of Cesar E. Chavez Middle School in Planada, Alfonso Nava; principal of Sheehy Elementary School, Rogelio Gutierrez; principal of Planada Elementary School, Richard Lopez — and there are others.

The point is that all these individuals know too well the sacrifices that have to be made to succeed, and their success has instilled a sense of hope in others who may not have thought they had a chance in life.

We live in a community rich in different cultures here in Merced County, just as it is statewide and nationally. Let’s embrace the diversity, respect the cultures and learn about their histories so that we can have a better understanding of those who live around us.

And while we’re at it, let’s take the time to celebrate their success, big or small, through persistence, perseverance and determination just as those Mexican soldiers did all those years ago in the battle of Puebla.

This story was originally published May 8, 2015 at 9:35 PM with the headline "Irene De La Cruz: It’s time to embrace Merced’s diversity."