July Fourth and I have an uneasy friendship that I find strikingly similar to the feelings of many other Americans living in Mexico. And this weekend’s 250th anniversary of America’s founding only brings that complicated relationship into high relief.
Since I came of age as an anti-Vietnam-war protester, flag-waving brings to mind flag burnings (though I didn’t actually participate in any). Still, just a few years later, in 1976, I helped plan the City of Detroit’s enthusiastic celebration of the 200th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia in 1776. And I was surprised at the patriotism of my titular boss, the city’s first black mayor, Coleman Young. After all, history books say Independence Day celebrates Americans’ liberation from the British, while black Americans didn’t celebrate until 1866, when rural enslaved southerners finally realized they’d been liberated 3 1/2 years earlier (now celebrated as the Juneteenth holiday).
Other locals in Guadalajara besides me remember the 1976 bash. Elizabeth, a white Californian raised in conservative Orange County, recalls: “How well I remember the 200th anniversary of the USA, when I still resided there” in the bosom of a Republican family. But “when I first arrived in Mexico in 1977 [marrying into a large family], the Fourth of July didn’t really interest me, probably because I only knew Mexicans.”
Doris, another local American transplanted here by marriage, says she feels similarly detached from her conservative roots. She may have been a flag-waver growing up Republican in Texas, but “definitely not like my mom! And less once we settled here.”
Both report replacing their now-tepid USA patriotism with fire for Mexico—particularly its futbol team.
Sophia, a black digital nomad from New York in her 30s, has only lived in Guadalajara since the fall, but has keen observations about her new hometown: “Mexicans are very patriotic compared to the U.S.—and to all the other countries I’ve lived! They’re audacious, outgoing and loud.” (She resides near the Minerva fountain where World Cup fans gather to watch games and celebrate victories.)
As for the Fourth of July and America’s 250th birthday, Sophia reflects, “I don’t celebrate the Fourth. I’m not that into holidays. I don’t even celebrate Juneteenth. I associate a lot of holidays with sadness. The slaves didn’t even know they were emancipated until years later.”
“You’re not going to find many patriotic Americans here in Mexico!” she added. “You’re going to find the most unpatriotic! Everyone in America is so frustrated. I’m one of the frustrated ones. I left because I’m disappointed in the direction the country has been going for a long time.”
The older Americans in Guadalajara report similar feelings. “I’m a bit embarrassed about not feeling too patriotic these days,” Doris said. “But there is still a spark there somewhere … maybe I’m waiting for empathy and logic to come back again!”
“I don’t much feel like celebrating this year,” chimed in Elizabeth. “It’s due to the situation in Washington D.C. I still love the land of my birth, but frankly I’m so glad to be living in this glorious country of Mexico.”
Perhaps ironically, the most positive words came from Jorge, a naturalized American citizen in his 60s who lived in Chicago for many years, working as a financial analyst before returning to live here.
At first Jorge joked that he didn’t want to say anything via text message that could get him in trouble at a U.S. airport. Then he underscored that, “I’m very grateful for the life I had in the U.S., for the work opportunities, for my citizenship. When I think of the Fourth of July, I think of fireworks. I don’t have negative things to say.
“In fact, in my apartment, I have a small American flag next to a Mexican flag.”