Holding onto history

It was exactly 142 years ago today the Mexican Army defeated the French at what is now known as the Battle of Puebla.

This is not Mexico's Independence Day. That's reserved for Sept. 16.

The two dates are often confused.

Angel Sosa of Odessa is one person who had it confused.

"It's Independence Day?" he said.

Manny Puga the president of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce has noticed a "small loss of history."

"I think the (Mexican) culture is sort of fading away," Manny Puga, president of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, said. "That's natural when you live in a different country."

FADING HISTORY

It may not seem like the Hispanic culture is lacking in West Texas.

In fact the area seems to be booming with Mexican culture - with Mexican restaurants lining the streets, Fiesta West Texas making its mark in the Permian Basin and the fact that almost 50 percent of Ector County residents are Hispanic.

"It's common that we don't know much about it," Lorenzo Sosa said. "We're in the United States so you learn about the U.S."

Lorenzo Sosa and Frank Subia, both of Odessa, said they think it's important for people to remember the day.

"(We) need to educate ourselves about May 5th and Sept. 16," Frank Subia said.

Subia works as a salesman at Lechuga's, 423 S. Grant Ave., which specializes in Western wear and Mexican music.

Sept. 16 is Mexico's Independence Day.

Subia said most Hispanics don't know about their ancestors and where they came from.

"What we know is just from our parents," Subia said. "But we don't know about the grandparents and the great-grandparents."

LOST IN TRANSLATION

Another thing that may be fading out from many Mexican-Americans is the language.

"It's because we don't communicate in Spanish at home," Subia said. "We communicate in English."

When at work, Subia speaks mainly in Spanish, but at home the universal language is English.

That's not rare for many families in Odessa.

"I have a daughter who doesn't speak Spanish," Puga said.

Puga said his daughter often asks him why he never taught her the language.

"I think I was lazy," Puga said. "And when I was growing up, when I went to school, you couldn't speak Spanish. In your mind, you don't want your kids to go through that."

Angel Sosa, of Odessa, said he thinks it's sad when he meets a Mexican-American who cannot speak their native tongue.

"That's messed up," Angel Sosa said. "You still come from a Hispanic heritage - you should know the Hispanic language."

With a business world that's growing more global, Puga said he feels most Americans will have to pick up a second language.

"Other countries learn two or three languages - this is an international market," Puga said. "You're going to have to speak two or three languages."

He said he believes people should learn more than just Spanish.

"I encourage people now to learn a couple of languages," Puga said. "I think it's going to be necessary."

A perfect example is Subia who greets all his customers in Spanish and said he thinks two languages are better than one.

Lorenzo Sosa agrees and said it's important for people in the United States to be bilingual.

"I think it's important for the community itself," he said.