I was disappointed and not a little annoyed to read the following in Monday’s ODE Pulse section: “Today is Cinco de Mayo, and that can mean only one thing: Time to pig out on Mexican food and margaritas.”
Oh, really? Are you truly so culturally challenged that you believe the importance of any non-U.S.-based holiday can be boiled down to food?
OK, maybe burritos and alcohol adequately represent the ODE ‘s understanding of May 5th, but it certainly doesn’t square with mine. The following is a précis of this Mexican-American’s gastronomical experience on the Cinco de Mayo. Pre-run breakfast: Cheerios, honey and orange juice. (No, I didn’t wrap my Cheerios in a tortilla or spike my OJ with tequila.) Post-run breakfast: breakfast bar, water and yogurt at my workplace. (Yes, I have a job.) Lunch: bagel sandwich, orange and a Pepsi (straight). Dinner: homemade adobo (no, not a Mexican dish), brown rice, spinach salad and grape juice. And if I’m feeling particularly naughty, maybe a little dark chocolate after dinner. Notice the shocking absence of anything even remotely resembling a burrito. Please also note that the closest I’ll get to a margarita all day will be when I pass through downtown on the way home.
Several times during the day I reflected on the Cinco de Mayo’s roots in the Battle of Puebla, and fondly remembered the annual parades my family attended back home when I was young, but not once will I feel the need to pig out on a burrito or conform to Americans’ stereotype of drunken Mexicans by downing a few margaritas.
Finally, perhaps the most egregious offense committed in the ODE Pulse article was its depiction of Ritta’s Burritos and Mucho Gusto as establishments that offer patrons Mexican food. Don’t journalistic ethics dictate that you not lie to or mislead your readers?
Tomas Hulick Baiza
University Affirmative Action and Equal pportunity Specialist
[email protected]