As I watched the 2004 Olympics, with the beautiful scenes of Greece, I couldn't help but think of the pride Greeks in America, and their children, must have felt as they saw their roots shared with the entire world. All American, yet proud of their heritage.
It made me think of being American, my heritage and the importance of symbols in forming the national character. For me, El Diez y Seis De Septiembre was one of those.
Viva Mexico! As a child, that was the shout I heard every 16th of September as my parents dragged me to celebrate Mexican Independence Day. For the few early Mexican families living in Salt Lake, that was a big day.
I say dragged because, as a child, I didn't realize what was the big deal. Having to put on my Sunday best was no fun. Then hanging around, close to midnight, waiting for the Mexican consul to ring a bell and give the Grito de Dolores was a bit too much. The crowd repeated Viva Mexico, the Mexican flag was waved and everyone sang the Mexican national anthem. As the years went by and the Mexican population grew, we started holding the 16th celebration at the Roxey Theatre (a k a the Lyric, Promised Valley Playhouse) and the old Judge Memorial gym.
As I grew old enough to understand, my mother would tell me about her homeland, the struggles for freedom and the beauty of her culture, Chapultepec, the pyramids, el calendario Azteca, and the Aztec culture. It was then that I began to appreciate the importance of the 16th of September. That marked the beginning of Mexico's revolution where the native Mexicans, the Mestizo Indians, responded to the call for independence by a Catholic priest, Miguel Hidalgo, in 1810.
Though I was born an American in Salt Lake City, as far as I was concerned, I was Mexican. My heart swelled at seeing the Mexican flag and singing the Mexican national anthem. My favorite song was "La Marcha Zacatecas," because that was the state where my parents were born.
Then, with Spanish as my language, I entered the world at Riverside Elementary. I learned the English language, about the American flag and the Pledge of Allegiance. My proudest day was when I was chosen to raise the school's flag and later take it down, fold it and treat it with respect. I felt that same pride when I was sworn in the Army. To this day, I still get chills when the flag goes by and I hear our national anthem.
My parents always taught us that America was our country and that we should respect it and be loyal to it. They also taught us that we should respect all people, regardless of their background, and treat everyone with dignity. They taught us that we came into this world with nothing and leave with nothing. What matters is what we have done to make it better. They taught us to work hard, be proud of our heritage and that we were our "brother's keeper."
How American is that?
There are those who are quick to pass judgment on newcomers, forgetting that we all, at one time, were newcomers. They do little to advance the values embedded in our constitution and upon which our nation was founded.
Yes, our nation needs to resolve its struggle over the economy and immigration, but not at the expense of the values that make America great — the land of opportunity and the free. America is strong because it is a nation of immigrants who came to this land for the values it embraces, and we must not abandon them just when we need them the most.
While we are proud to celebrate holidays from the many countries Americans represent, the great thing about being American is that we are the sum total of each of all our ancestors. We can be proud of our heritage and proud to be Americans.
Hope you made it to the Greek Festival or to Swiss Days in Midway. Don't forget Oktoberfest and . . .
Utah native John Florez has founded several Hispanic civil rights organizations, served on the staff of Sen. Orrin Hatch and on more than 45 state, local and volunteer boards. He also has been deputy assistant secretary of labor. E-mail: jdflorez@comcast.net