I'm Hearing Hundreds of Loud Explosions Rock the Sky Tonight in my Town!!

[LanceOregon]

I cannot believe this. I was out earlier this evening, and could hear all of the music and cheers of the crowd gathered at our city's biggest park. And my house is really not all that close to the park, so I was rather surprised at how loud the celebration was. Certainly louder than I can remember in past years.

But now, while I was watching TV, my house literally shook from one explosion after another. So I go out into my front yard to find out what is going on, and see that a spectacular fireworks display is taking place at the park. For some reason, they are especially using a lot of aerial bomb type fireworks. This went on an on, too. While our city also celebrates the 4th of July at this very same park, I've never seen such a big fireworks display at our park for that holiday.

However, this celebration is gaining in popularity, year after year. It just gets bigger and bigger. Its amazing. And these fireworks really blew me away. The final salvo at the end made it sound like a war was going on.

Besides the 4th of July, we used to also have a big Festival every August, to honor our city's history and uniqueness. However, with all of our local government budget problems, the city stopped contributing to it last year. And not enough private funds could be raised to continue it, despite its long tradition in our community. There used to be a fireworks display at that Festival too. But never anything like this. The last one was held in 2006.

Yet, this celebration continues to grow and grow, and is financed entirely with private funds. Big full page color ads are run in our two local newspapers to advertise it. And the ads show that virtually every significant corporation in our area donates money to support it.

However, it really is not something that I personally feel any need to celebrate, myself.

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[DrMaxit]

Ok, First: What city, state ect. Second: What is "It" Third: What is the "Celebration" of "It" supposed to be for? I have no idea of what you're talking about after reading that post, other than there is some sort of celebration, and that "it" is not funded by city funds, and that your city is unique and has history, and apparently likes large, loud fireworks... explain?

[Ol Timer]

Go down there, have a Corona Extra or Light and kiss the chicalindas.

[Mild Bill]

Nevermind

[LanceOregon]

Well, as my name clearly implies, I live here in Oregon.

Today is the day to celebrate the nation of Mexico gaining its independence. This is done every year on the Saturday that is most close to the actual date of Sept 16th.

I am simply surprised at how huge the event has now become here. And tonight's fireworks display clearly outdid anything that I've ever seen locally for the 4th of July. And that strikes me as being rather peculiar too.

Oh well, I guess I am just too old to get used to the changes in our society.

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[LanceOregon]

Go down there, have a Corona Extra or Light and kiss the chicalindas.

Ah, I am afraid that I am even too old to kiss the chicas feas.

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[Soujurn]

I never understand why so many people are afraid to say what town they live in. I wonder if they think someone reading here on GT is going to try and track them down or something.

[LanceOregon]

I never understand why so many people are afraid to say what town they live in. I wonder if they think someone reading here on GT is going to try and track them down or something.

Why is the specific city that I live in at all relevant in any way to this discussion??

Do you actually think that this is a phenomena limited to where I live in Oregon???

Or do you believe that this sort of thing is going on all across our nation?

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[Smashy]

Why is a city in Oregon celebrating Mexico's independence?

[El_Ron1]

Dios mio.

[DrMaxit]

Why is a city in Oregon celebrating Mexico's independence?

Exactly what I was thinking. OP yeah I got your name, but now that you make it apparent its Oregon.. I'm even more confused. I'm in NM and I haven't heard any fireworks, or ever heard of a Mexican Independence...

[Von Hayes]

I heard fireworks in MA tonight.....not sure if related.

[GotGlock1917]

The 16th is actually the holiday but who wants a hangover on Wednesday morning?:wavey:

[GotGlock1917]

Meant to mention, most folks think it is Cinco de Mayo but that celebration only commemorates one victory.

[NYC Drew]

My screen name is NYC Drew, and I have never, ever lived in New York City.

[LanceOregon]

Why is a city in Oregon celebrating Mexico's independence?

Probably because our Latino community is rapidly growing each year.

However, as I said, there is no official city involvement in this celebration. It is purely privately funded.

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[Thunderhawk88]

I'm in NM and I haven't heard any fireworks, or ever heard of a Mexican Independence...

So, California here, no fireworks, no celebrations, heck, it's really quiet tonight.

[cjlandry]

My city is hugely Latino, but I neither see, nor hear of, such a celebration each year.

I just checked the Corpus Christi Caller Times, but there is no mention of such a thing.

Isn't it great that Americans of true Mexican heritage refuse to acknowledge such things?

A lot, if not most, of these people's ancestors were probably in Texas long before Texas won her independence. I guess the immigrants keep that stuff to the larger cities or something.

[LanceOregon]

Exactly what I was thinking. OP yeah I got your name, but now that you make it apparent its Oregon.. I'm even more confused. I'm in NM and I haven't heard any fireworks, or ever heard of a Mexican Independence...

Well, here in certain western areas of Oregon, celebrating diversity is one of the new big thing these days. Whenever you hear someone in government or business speak these days around here, they usually either use the word diversity, or sustainability somewhere in their talk. You can just about count on it. Everything done in business or government these days needs to be "sustainable" it seems. And we are all supposed to honor and celebrate diversity. But celebrating the independence day of another country, though, is just a tiny bit too much for me to want to partake in.

We have had government services fairs in the past locally that were sponsored by our local cities, county, and the state government to let undocumented workers know about all of the many government services available to them here in Oregon. The last one had a tiny handful of protesters show up, complaining about spending tax dollars on non-citizens. However, the police kept them a good distance away from the event. There were allegations made of efforts at intimidation going on, so the half dozen or so protesters were kept far from the building where the event was taking place.

Republicans took a huge beating in the 2006 election in Oregon. Democrats now have solid majorities in both the State Senate and Assembly. And we have not had a Republican governor here in a very long time. Both Gore and Kerry took the state by comfortable margins in the past two elections.

Oregon did stop giving new driver licenses to undocumented workers two months ago. But there are already calls in the state legislature to relax these new tough regulations on getting a driver's license. Apparently the Federal Government has some new national security regulations that require states to now provide accurate and secure ID for their citizens. So the state of Oregon made these changes in order to be in compliance. The state no longer accepts the Mexican government's matrícula consular documentation as proof of identity. To get a driver's license now in Oregon, you actually have to prove that you are either a citizen of the United States, or in the country legally.

This is the first time the state of Oregon has taken any step to discourage undocumented immigration to the state. But only time will tell if this policy lasts very long.

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[LanceOregon]

My city is hugely Latino, but I neither see, nor hear of, such a celebration each year.


Our Latino population here is rather new. A decade ago, I hardly ever saw any Latinos living here. The last 5 years has seen a most dramatic change. So I am confident that our population here is made up of recent immigrants.

Here is a recent article from the Portland Oregonian newspaper explaining how rapidly the Latino population in Oregon is growing. It is really amazing. For example, all of the high population counties in the Portland Metro area saw their Latino populations grow by either 6 or 7 percent in a single year: 2007. In contrast, the non Latino white populations in those same counties either grew by only 1 percent, or even fell to a lower number.

http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/121808131058960.xml&coll=7

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[tantrix]

Today is the day to celebrate the nation of Mexico gaining its independence.

A celebration of Mexico's "independence" going on in America. There's so much irony there I can't even begin to go into it. :upeyes:

[Minskin85]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hillsboro,_Oregon

[HollowHead]

O.M.G!!! What's next? Celebrations for an Irish saint, an Italian explorer or a Jewish carpenter? HH

[boby]

O.M.G!!! What's next? Celebrations for an Irish saint, an Italian explorer or a Jewish carpenter? HH

Apples and oranges. You know there's a difference so don't act like they are one in the same.

[psytechguy]

The holiday's called "Deis y Seis."

Kinda sad to think that a Mexican national holiday is celebrated with a bigger fireworks display than the 4th is in an American town.

:upeyes:

[Narkcop]

O.M.G!!! What's next? Celebrations for an Irish saint, an Italian explorer or a Jewish carpenter? HH

The difference being that the folks who celebrated those persons came here LEGALLY in order to become AMERICANS.
Quite different than the Mexicans I encounter on a REGULAR basis.

[HKMark23]

The holiday's called "Deis y Seis."


El Grito... yes
El Grito de Independencia... yes
Grito de Dolores... yes
Aniversario de la Independencia... yes
Día del Independace... yes

I would have even given you Fiesta Patrias, but Deis y Seis... no


Kinda sad to think that a Mexican national holiday is celebrated with a bigger fireworks display than the 4th is in an American town.


Yes it is sad that Americans do not celebrate many of our holidays or even know their meaning and history. It's also sad that some Americans would selectively bemoan one particular group for celebrating their heritage here in America, yet turn a blind eye towards the many other groups who celebrate theirs. Sad that they even ignore their own fellow citizens who who look at Memorial Day only as a 3 day weekend and say nothing about the businesses who use 9/11 as a promotional sales event.

Yup, sad.....

[HKMark23]

The difference being that the folks who celebrated those persons came here LEGALLY in order to become AMERICANS.
Quite different than the Mexicans I encounter on a REGULAR basis.
AND how DO you KNOW that THOSE celebrating El Grito ARE here ILLEGALLY?

how DO you KNOW that THE Mexicans THAT you MEET regularly ARE illegal?

HOW do YOU know THAT they ARE STILL Mexican AND not NOW American CITIZENS or HERE on A visa?

Just sayn' :wavey:

[HKMark23]

Apples and oranges. You know there's a difference so don't act like they are one in the same.

Explain the difference for us dummies. :dunno:

[hirs80]

If a group wants to celebrate...
and can fianance the celebration...
and can get the proper permits...

I will celebrate with them.

If you would like a bigger July 4 fireworks package...
Raise the cash!!!!

[psytechguy]

El Grito... yes
El Grito de Independencia... yes
Grito de Dolores... yes
Aniversario de la Independencia... yes
Día del Independace... yes

I would have even given you Fiesta Patrias, but Deis y Seis... no



Sorry, Deis y Seis de Septiembre is all I've ever heard it called down here (Texas). Must be a colloquialism us gringos came up with! Heck, even my State calendar has it marked as Deis y Seis. Go figure. :dunno:

[HollowHead]

Apples and oranges. You know there's a difference so don't act like they are one in the same.

Care to enlighten us? HH