A day to honor 'tradition of seeking freedom and celebrating it'

Why should Americans care about Mexican Independence Day?

It was a question that Federal Judge Manuel Barbosa asked an audience of 30 people gathered Sunday to celebrate at the Elgin Public Museum.

Barbosa, an Elgin resident, gave a brief talk about the importance of Sept. 16, 1810, the day Father Miguel Hidalgo, a Mexican priest, ignited the Mexican Revolution by urging Indians and mestizos -- those of Spanish and Indian heritage -- to overthrow the Spanish, who had colonized their country and oppressed them for decades.

America's own revolution to topple the British, as well as writings from Thomas Paine and intellectuals about the idea of American independence, inspired Hidalgo and his supporters in their attempt to wrest their country away from Spain, Barbosa said.

"It came with the American ideals of liberty and freedom for all people," Barbosa said of the Mexican movement.

Although this stage of the Mexican Revolution ended in defeat for Hidalgo and his untrained troops, other leaders continued the struggle and Mexico finally won its independence in 1821.

While the United States promotes democracy and freedom in various wars -- including the one in Iraq -- it should recognize those same values in Mexico, a country just across the border, Barbosa said.

And that's why Americans should care about Mexican Independence Day, he said.

"Our destinies are entwined in many ways," said Barbosa, who was born in Mexico and is now a U.S. citizen. "We have the common tradition of seeking freedom and celebrating it."

In addition to Barbosa's presentation, the museum invited nationally known folk singer Jesus "Chuy" Negrete to play his guitar and sing songs about Mexican history. His performance attracted people of all ages.

Meanwhile, Sunday's event marked the first time the museum had done anything to celebrate Mexican Independence Day, said museum Executive Director Peggie Stromberg.

Because the museum dropped entrance fees and held a popular 2006 exhibition about Mexican immigrants living in America, Stromberg says Latinos have since become a new audience.

Today, about 40 percent of the museum's visitors are Latino, she said.

"The Hispanics have started coming to the museum realizing that we do things with their heritage," she said, adding that she hopes people of all races and cultures become patrons.