Mon. Dec 2nd, 2024

Apparently there was a celebration recently in Santa Ana in honor of Benito Juarez, the famed Mexican President who was indigenous.  He was born on March 21, 1806.

In the picture above, which is courtesy of Miniondas, you can see some of the folks who were at the event, including Santa Ana Mayoral candidate Alfredo Amezcua, who is pictured on the left.  He is standing next to Mike Gonzalez, who ran for the SAUSD School Board last year.  They are standing near Alejandra Garcia Williams, the new Consul of Mexico, in Santa Ana.

In case you are wondering what they are doing with their hands, that is how Mexicans salute their flag. 

Juarez certainly deserves to be honored.  He was an amazing man and a great Mexican President.

“Benito Juarez was a Zapoteco Indian, born March 21st 1806. Orphaned at three, he eventually came to Oaxaca at age 12, and began studying for the priesthood. The works of the Enlightenment’s great rationalist philosophers caught Juarez’s eye, and he began to see his calling in law. In 1831 he became an attorney as well as a city councilman. In 1841 he became a judge, and the governor of Oaxaca. In 1853 conservative dictator Antonio López de Santa Anna took power and exiled liberals, including Juarez, who sought asylum in New Orleans,” according to a history page on the Olvera Street website.

Juarez eventually became President of Mexico, after a civil war, but then had to suspend payments to European creditors, which is when the French invaded Mexico.

“During the French occupation of Mexico, Juarez refused to accept the rule of the Monarchy or any other foreign nation, and helped to establish Mexico as a constitutional democracy. He also promoted equal rights for the Indian population, better access to health care and education, lessening the political and financial power of the Roman Catholic church, and championed the raising of the living standards for the rural poor,” according to Mexonline.com.

You can read the article about this event, at Miniondas’ website, at this link.

The Miniondas article does not appear to mention where the event was held.  It does mention that the Girl Scouts were involved and apparently Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez was invited.

author avatar
Art Pedroza Editor
Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions. When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.

By Art Pedroza

Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions. When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.

4 thoughts on “Mexican President Benito Juarez’s birthday anniversary celebrated in Santa Ana”
    1. Lizette,

      Certainly. It does put Al in a tough spot though with some of his supporters who are “Usual Suspects.” I cannot imagine they will be too pleased about this picture. They hate all things Mexican.

      I warned him about that bunch. A city hall insider told me last week that they are already abandoning Al and trying to get back in with Pulido. Not a surprise at all…

  1. I am the Commander of UMAVA (United Mexican-American Veterans Association); we are all volunteers, and the majority of us served in the US military, and I am still learning the proper rules for paying proper respect to our US flag, or also that of another nation for example, in events such as the Olympics or United Nations event etc.

    Because just as we want our US citizens, and NON-citizens alike to pay respect to our US Flag, we must and are also expected and it is appropriate to pay respect to another country’s (Our US allies) flag as long as this is done within proper protocol.

    Please see below:
    “Saluting the flag by citizens, those in uniform, and non-citizens?

    According to the Flag Code, Americans should stand at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart. When not in uniform men should remove any non-religious headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart. Persons in uniform should remain silent, face the flag, and render the military salute.

    Those who are not U.S. citizens should stand at attention.

    Public Law No: 110-181 (Sec. 594) “Allows members and veterans who are present but not in uniform during the hoisting, lowering, or passing of the flag to render the military salute.”

    It seems from the above, that just as we require NON-US citizens to stand at attention, that it would be proper TO STAND AT ATTENTION to pay respect to an ally’s flag or anthem.

    Alfredo may have UNINTENTIONALLY OVERDONE it, by also placing his hand over his heart but I rather have someone err on the side of safety of honoring an ally rather than disrespecting an ally, especially when this is NOT disrespectful to our US flag.

    Like I said myself I am also still learning, and I try to avoid these unintentional mistakes.

    To Learn to pay proper respect to our US Flag please see:

    http://umava.org/ourfoundationourflag.html

    (see bottom of page)

    Francisco J. Barragan CPA, CIA
    Commander, UMAVA
    Professional Profile:
    http://www.linkedin.com/in/franciscobarragancpacia

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