Cinco de Mayo and the Confederate Blind Spot

I was out celebrating Cinco de Mayo with friends last night and realized something. Most people don't even know what they're celebrating... 

Cinco de Mayo shows up every year dressed as a party holiday, and most people never question it. It’s not Mexican Independence Day. It marks the Battle of Puebla—and that fight quietly worked against the Confederacy during the Civil War.

Here's a brief history lesson (since certain history topics are no longer allowed in schools): On May 5, 1862, Mexican forces led by Ignacio Zaragoza defeated the army of Napoleon III (nephew of the Napoleon we all know). France wanted control in Mexico and influence in North America to gain access to cotton (rare commodity in Europe at the time).

At the same time, the Confederacy was desperate for European support because they needed more weapons. And France was a potential ally.

That Mexican victory didn’t end France’s plans, but it slowed them down—and timing was everything.

• It delayed French expansion in the region.
• It reduced chances of aid for the Confederacy.
• It gave the Union time to strengthen its position and "open up a can" on the Confederacy in Vicksburg and Gettysburg.

If Mexico would have lost the Battle of Puebla, then that would have meant the Confederacy gaining access to more weapons from the French before losing ground in Vicksburg and Gettysburg. But the loss delayed them over a year. That year made a huge difference in the war.

Some people celebrate Cinco de Mayo while romanticizing the Confederacy, not realizing the holiday marks a moment that hurt Confederate chances. That's typical. 

History doesn’t care about modern contradictions. Most people celebrate holidays without any sense of the origin. Americans just want any excuse to drink, right? I bet even ICE agents were tipsy from margaritas last night.

Cinco de Mayo isn’t just food and drinks. It’s a reminder that Mexico’s victory disrupted bigger plans and indirectly shaped the American Civil War.

Enjoy the celebration each and every year, everyone. And "thank you" to that group of Mexican soldiers for doing their thing almost 200 years ago. Had they not, then I might have been in a cotton field today instead of writing this now.

When Accountability Becomes “Hating” or "Racism"

Somewhere along the way, correction started getting mistaken for persecution.

As a 54-year-old Black man, I come from a generation where being checked for how you carried yourself, how you spoke, or how you presented yourself wasn’t automatically labeled as “hate” or “racism.” Sometimes, it was simply accountability. Not every critique is an attack, and not every consequence is oppression.

Too many young people today have been taught that any pushback against their behavior must come from jealousy, hatred, or bias. If someone questions how they act in public, how they dress for certain environments, or how they speak to others, the immediate response is often, “They’re hating” or "You're being racist against me." 

No, sometimes people are responding to conduct, not identity.

And let’s be honest, the fault doesn’t begin with the youth. It starts with the generation that raised them. Parents who replaced discipline with excuses, structure with friendship, and accountability with endless validation helped create this sense of entitlement. When children are taught they should never be corrected, they grow into adults who think every criticism is discrimination.

Common sense used to tell us that freedom of expression doesn’t mean freedom from consequences. Somehow, that lesson got lost.

Chest-Puffing Doesn’t Build Communities

There’s a certain type of local politician that’s become way too comfortable in their role. You’ve seen them. Loud when there’s a threat. Silent when there’s work to be done.

They’re the first to grab a microphone when an outsider disrespects the community. Suddenly, they’re passionate. They’re energized. They’re ready to “fight.” Press conferences get called. Statements get posted. Social media lights up.

But where is that same energy when the cameras are off?

Day-to-day life in their communities tells a different story. Schools underperforming. Local businesses struggling. Crime creeping into everyday routines. Opportunities? Limited. Growth? Stagnant.

And yet, somehow, that same local politician who can rally the troops at the first sign of disrespect can’t seem to rally resources, ideas, or solutions when it comes to improving everyday life.

That’s not leadership. That’s maintenance of mediocrity.

Defending your constituents is part of the job. Nobody’s arguing that. A community should feel protected and represented when something unjust happens. But protection without progress is just a holding pattern. It keeps people in the same place while making them feel like something is being done.

It’s not enough.

You can’t just be a guard dog. At some point, you have to be a builder.

Where are the plans for economic development? Where are the partnerships that bring real opportunity? Where’s the push for better education, better infrastructure, better outcomes?

Because here’s the truth: a community that is constantly being “defended” but never developed will always remain vulnerable. Not just to outsiders, but to the very conditions that keep it from thriving.

Real leadership shows up before the crisis. It works quietly. It builds systems. It creates pathways. It improves quality of life in ways that don’t need a headline to matter.

And when something does go wrong? That same leader is already standing on a stronger foundation.

The problem isn’t that these local politicians don’t care. It’s that some have figured out that reacting is easier than building. It’s easier to be seen as a protector than to be measured as a developer.

But communities deserve both.

They deserve someone who will stand up when necessary—and stand to work when it’s not.

Because chest-puffing might win applause in the moment… but it doesn’t build anything that lasts.