Hispanic Heritage Month: A chance to educate each other, grow in culture
Traveler Editorial Board
Issue date: 9/15/06 Section: Opinion
- Page 1 of 1
Contrary to popular belief, Cinco de Mayo is not Mexico's Independence Day. Today is the date when the independence festivities occur - and Mexico will not be the only country celebrating. Also declaring independence from Spain on Sept. 15 were the Central American countries of El Salvador, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua.
The overall lack of knowledge and, more importantly, the misconceptions about the most basic elements of Latin American culture are good reasons for the UA community to become culturally educated through Hispanic Heritage Month. HHM kicks off tonight with the Latin Soul Friday Night Live, which is of course open to everyone in the UA community, regardless of race, skin color, ideology or any other cultural separator.
The theme for HHM this year will be "Hispanic Americans: Our Rich Culture Contributing to America's Future." It is important to note that the main word here is "contributing."
Part of what HHM should accomplish is to instill in the psyche of the UA that Hispanics are as eager to give to American society as any ethnic social group that lives in this fine country. The way to start is by sharing the wealth of culture that is Latin America with their siblings who live north of the Rio Grande.
Unfortunately for many people, there is the misconception that just because HHM is a celebration of Latin American culture, only Latin Americans are invited. This simply is not true. HHM is for different cultures to acknowledge they have differences, celebrate them and find the middle ground necessary to embrace and share each other's culture.
HHM is also a chance for the 20 Latin American countries to understand and share with one another, because believe it or not, there are plenty of differences between two neighboring countries like Bolivia and Chile. And also, for the record, not every Latin American country is Mexico.
Lucky for everybody, there will be plenty of food, music and art - the universal factors that make events like HHM a successful, cohesive cultural experience.
If you feel hesitant to go to any HHM event, ranging from musical events to film screenings to artistic lectures, ask yourself, "What is it that makes me so uncomfortable that I wouldn't go to one of these events?"
If the answer is "cultural differences," then that is precisely why you should attend at least one HHM event - to educate yourself and find an affinity to something meaningful in a different culture. You'll be pleasantly surprised at how easy it is and how much you will enrich your life by doing so.
The overall lack of knowledge and, more importantly, the misconceptions about the most basic elements of Latin American culture are good reasons for the UA community to become culturally educated through Hispanic Heritage Month. HHM kicks off tonight with the Latin Soul Friday Night Live, which is of course open to everyone in the UA community, regardless of race, skin color, ideology or any other cultural separator.
The theme for HHM this year will be "Hispanic Americans: Our Rich Culture Contributing to America's Future." It is important to note that the main word here is "contributing."
Part of what HHM should accomplish is to instill in the psyche of the UA that Hispanics are as eager to give to American society as any ethnic social group that lives in this fine country. The way to start is by sharing the wealth of culture that is Latin America with their siblings who live north of the Rio Grande.
Unfortunately for many people, there is the misconception that just because HHM is a celebration of Latin American culture, only Latin Americans are invited. This simply is not true. HHM is for different cultures to acknowledge they have differences, celebrate them and find the middle ground necessary to embrace and share each other's culture.
HHM is also a chance for the 20 Latin American countries to understand and share with one another, because believe it or not, there are plenty of differences between two neighboring countries like Bolivia and Chile. And also, for the record, not every Latin American country is Mexico.
Lucky for everybody, there will be plenty of food, music and art - the universal factors that make events like HHM a successful, cohesive cultural experience.
If you feel hesitant to go to any HHM event, ranging from musical events to film screenings to artistic lectures, ask yourself, "What is it that makes me so uncomfortable that I wouldn't go to one of these events?"
If the answer is "cultural differences," then that is precisely why you should attend at least one HHM event - to educate yourself and find an affinity to something meaningful in a different culture. You'll be pleasantly surprised at how easy it is and how much you will enrich your life by doing so.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Chris Medrano
posted 9/15/06 @ 7:48 AM EST
Very well said Editor. I couldnt have put it better myself. :) As the program coordinator for Friday Night Live, we, the FNL program planning committee our grads and myself, always try our best to put together a program that is edutaining for everyone. (Continued…)
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Lupe
posted 9/18/06 @ 9:42 PM EST
This article is wrong in its first paragraph because it says Mexico will not be the only one celebrating its independence on this day (September 15), Mexico's independence day is September 16 and nowhere in the article does it say that. (Continued…)
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