Cinco de Mayo is an American holiday observed every May 5th that centers around eating Mexican food and drinking Mexican beer.
It shares this date with the 1862 victory of the small and poorly-equipped Mexican army over a much larger French army near Puebla. The French army had not been defeated for nearly fifty years.
The Puebla victory inspired the Mexican people and showed them that the French could be defeated.
The Mexican victory did not last and the French later captured Mexico City and installed an emperor. The French paid a high price for this victory, and, in winning, saw their long-term interests in the New World sharply challenged. In a few years the Mexicans retook their capital.
There are a number of lessons that can be drawn from Mexico's Puebla victory. What stands out to me is the value that victories provide, not only as a psychological boost for those associated with it, but as a unifying force drawing together those further away. This can be used for good or evil. Existential struggle touches us deeply. It is no surprise that our most inspiring stories both real and make-believe feature it.
As the Battle of the Alamo demonstrates defeat can be equally inspiring.
For further reading on the surprisingly far-reaching effects of this Mexican victory see the Infogalactic entry on Cinco de Mayo.
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