We as Americans love (and I mean seriously LOVE) integrating traditions and aspects of other cultures into our own culture. Think about everything that pops into your mind when you think of the American Dream – hot dogs, hamburgers, apple pies, baseball, St. Patrick’s Day. These “American” things aren’t truly American but that’s okay. Even though German, English, and Irish immigrants were treated subpar for many years, they are now accepted and even embraced for being so interesting in the eyes of the American people. So, when Cinco de Mayo rolls around, it never fails to fill me with annoyance to say the least.

Before anyone calls me out for being a “party pooper” of accusing me of being a “Cinco de Mayo shamer,” let me explain. I am a Mexican-American girl. That alone, I think, gives me a little more authority to speak about the flaws of it than a non-Mexican person. Anyways, while my parents were born in Michoacán, my family as whole is from other regions of Mexico. I have always been proud of my Mexican heritage and Spanish was my first language and for many years, the only language I felt comfortable with. To me, the sight of pozole or sopa de arroz is a warm and familiar sight, corridos and rancheras are beautiful music genres, and Spanish is a comforting tongue and I immediately feel at ease with strangers, especially older señores and señoras when they smile at me and call me “mija.” I love the warm, hot land of my ancestors. I love the intricate artwork of the Aztecs and I love the powerful paintings made by Frida Kahlo. I love my family’s country and I love being Mexican. And it is precisely for this reason that I can’t hold my tongue any longer.

First things first, Cinco de Mayo is NOT Mexico’s Independence Day. That’s September 16th. Outside of the state of Puebla in East-Central Mexico, Cinco de Mayo has little to no value in Mexico.While the Battle of Puebla is an amazing story, it was not the war that made Mexico an independent country. Secondly, while tequila is a Mexican drink from the blue agave plant and Margaritas were made in Mexico, Mexicans aren’t perpetual drunks like mainstream media would like for you to believe. We don’t spend our days screaming “¡Drinko de Mayo!” while guzzling as many tequila shots or margaritas as humanly possible. Also, many people would prefer a Michelada or plain beer (please don’t twist my words and think I’m advocating for alcohol consumption). And for crying out loud, not all Mexicans own a donkey. When Gabriel Iglesias AKA “Fluffy” made that joke, it was funny but sad at the same time; sad to realize just how many Americans believe that all Mexicans wear colorful sarapes 24/7 while riding their donkey around since they can’t stand up right because they’re stinking drunk. Ugh.

So why on Earth are all of these horrible and blatantly stupid misconceptions still floating around? Why? Why, why, why? I would understand if Cinco de Mayo were a day devoted to informing the masses of the Mexican culture and a day devoted to ending the horrible myths of my people. A day where Mexicans are seen in a positive light for our rich history or something, anything which helps to fight the lies perpetuated by Trump and his supporters of Mexicans being drunks and rowdy. If Americans celebrated Cinco de Mayo for something other than seeing Becky getting wasted, I would have no problem with the day being celebrated in the first place. Or if The Battle of Puebla would help American society see Mexicans (and Hispanics in general) as strong and worthy of being seen as fellow Americans instead of eternal foreigners, then it would be all fine and dandy. But this doesn’t happen. Every year, I must keep my annoyance quiet for people quick to scream “TEQUILA!!!” at the top of their lungs and swear their love for Mexico and Mexicans and the very next day say that all Mexicans should be deported because if I dare say something, I’m being an angry and bitter “b*tch”.

Yes, I’m angry. Yes, I’m bitter. I’m sick of a day that means a lot to the people of Puebla being taken and transformed into a day for debauchery and drunkenness, all while perpetuating the myth of the Mexican people being a bunch of drunk slobs. I’m tried of seeing a Mexican “holiday” being so readily accepted by America yet the people who are celebrated on aforementioned day are vilified and alienated even further instead of being accepted. The Mexican people and our traditions are so much more than just cheap objects for your gratification or to serve your need to be “trendy”. Please, take off the oversized sombrero and the fake mustache.You look ridiculous at best and ignorant at worst and I can almost guarantee you no Mexican is amused by your childish antics. If you want to drink and “celebrate” Mexican culture and the very next day proceed to call us disgusting derogatory terms, go ahead. Just know that many people will see you as the animal associated with us: the ass.