Today Mexico remembers the tragic and unnecessary deaths of 6 young Mexican cadets on this day in 1847 at the Castillo de Chapultepec when Mexico was invaded by the USA and had half its land stolen while it was still war weary and weakened shortly after gaining its independence from Spain. Yes, I know that's not what we were taught in U.S. schools. But it's what Mexico remembers and commemorates each year. Our local schoolchildren had a commemoration ceremony at the Cancha Municipal this Tuesday evening.

For what it is worth, our high school teacher did tell the whole story of what is called the Mexican-American War in the States. He took great pains to explain the concept of Manifest Destiny and how it shaped our shared histories. He was also very frank about the War of 1812. I remember him well. He told us stories of his time as a teenager (not much older than we were) fighting in Europe during World War II. Mr. Stump didn't sugarcoat anything. There are heroes everywhere.

Poor Mexico, so far from God, so close to the US.” All Mexicans know the quote. A rueful reflection on proximity to a powerful, expansionist neighbour attributed to the wily dictator Porfirio Diaz.

The troubled history began soon after Mexico wrested independence from Spain in 1821. The young, rickety republic lacked resources and people to cultivate and protect its northern lands from comanches and US expansionism.

So in a blunder regretted to this day it invited US settlers to farm the land on condition they drop slavery, become Catholics and swear fealty to Mexico. The settlers rebelled and despite losing the Alamo-won independence, creating the Republic of Texas in 1836.

A decade later President Polk sensed a chance to extend the US south and to the Pacific. The 1846-48 invasion and occupation ravaged Mexico and forced it to cede modern-day California, Nevada, Utah as well as a lot of Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado, plus a bit of Wyoming.

Mexico still reveres “los niños héroes” – the child heroes – who supposedly fought the invaders and then leaped from a fortress to martyrdom, clutching a flag, rather than surrender.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/feb/01/donald-trump-us-mexico-relations-history#:~:text=%E2%80%9CPoor%20Mexico%2C%20so%20far%20from,indepe...

A bit of myth there, even though the garrison they were defending was ordered to be evacuated without resistance by Gen. Nicolás Bravo, only one cadet allegedly wrapped himself in the flag and leapt to his death, and the invading army did not wear green uniforms (thus it is not the origin of the word gringo), but it's the same battle the San Patricios helped fight in, giving their lives for the same righteous cause that Mexico was fighting for.

The troubled history began soon after Mexico wrested independence from Spain in 1821. The young, rickety republic lacked resources and people to cultivate and protect its northern lands from comanches and US expansionism.

So in a blunder regretted to this day it invited US settlers to farm the land on condition they drop slavery, become Catholics and swear fealty to Mexico. The settlers rebelled and despite losing the Alamo-won independence, creating the Republic of Texas in 1836.

A decade later President Polk sensed a chance to extend the US south and to the Pacific. The 1846-48 invasion and occupation ravaged Mexico and forced it to cede modern-day California, Nevada, Utah as well as a lot of Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado, plus a bit of Wyoming.

Mexico still reveres “los niños héroes” – the child heroes – who supposedly fought the invaders and then leaped from a fortress to martyrdom, clutching a flag, rather than surrender.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/feb/01/donald-trump-us-mexico-relations-history#:~:text=%E2%80%9CPoor%20Mexico%2C%20so%20far%20from,indepe...

Health officials for Guerrero report 2 currently active confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Zihuatanejo, NO cases in la Unión, Petatlán and Técpan, 31 in Acapulco, and 89 in the entire state.

Today Mexico remembers the tragic and unnecessary deaths of 6 young Mexican cadets on this day in 1847 at the Castillo de Chapultepec when Mexico was invaded by the USA and had half its land stolen while it was still war weary and weakened shortly after gaining its independence from Spain. Yes, I know that's not what we were taught in U.S. schools. But it's what Mexico remembers and commemorates each year. Our local schoolchildren had a commemoration ceremony at the Cancha Municipal this Tuesday evening.

Monday and Tuesday remained partly cloudy which made for a cool night for sleeping Monday night after a light rain, and this Tuesday evening the temps remain mild and it again looks like it might rain. Great weather for sleeping and snuggling under the sheets with the fan set on low.

¡Cuidemos nuestro patrimonio!
#NoQueremosMuelleParaCruceros
#NoBlueFlagEnNuestrasPlayas
#PreservemosPlayaManzanillo

Another lovely evening in the beautiful port of Zihuatanejo.