Joseph R. Pitts, April 30, 2004

I had the privilege of speaking to a group of freedom loving people this week. In a rally literally in the shadow of the Capitol dome, a group of North Korean defectors and activists gathered to protest the North Korean government’s brutal repression of its people.

Over the years, I have been amazed at the lengths to which these brave men and women have gone to promote freedom. They truly are my heroes.

As you read this, they have not yet succeeded. Kim Jong Il continues to maintain a strangle hold on power and uses his large military to undermine opposition. But we are coming up on a holiday that reminds us that their struggle is not hopeless. Just as ours was not 225 years ago.

On May 5, 1862, General Ignacio Zaragoza led a group of four thousand Mexican soldiers into victory against a French army, led by Emperor Napoleon III, that was better armed, was twice as large and had not lost a battle in fifty years. This battle, the Battle of Puebla, and Cinco de Mayo continue to serve as a testament of courage and determination to freedom loving people everywhere.

President Abraham Lincoln, like the people of Mexico, understood that freedom often came at a high price. He told the world that American troops would come to the aid of Mexico if the French did not leave the country and respect the principles of liberty.

The Mexican leader Benito Juarez and Lincoln saw eye to eye when it came to securing freedom and ensuring peace. Juarez once said, "Between individuals as between nations, respect for the rights of others is peace." All good relationships are built on respect and such is the case of the relationship between the United States and Mexico.

The high esteem that has grown between the two nations is largely because of our shared values. First and foremost, Americans and Mexicans place a high value on the faith that sustains us during the peaks and valleys of our lives. Both nations also place high importance on family and community because this is where we pass on traditions and teach character and morals. And finally, both nations value the right to freedom.

Americans embrace the spirit of Cinco de Mayo because it reminds us of our own struggle for self-determination. The holiday is as festively celebrated above the Rio Grande as it is below because Americans know that our own country was founded on an enduring commitment to freedom and human rights for all.

At the Battle of Puebla, the courageous Mexican General Zaragoza rallied his troops around the noble cause of independence. The vision of freedom that guided Zaragoza is as important today as it was in 1862. Post-September 11, Americans have an even greater appreciation for leaders like Zaragoza who pursue peace and liberty.

This pursuit steadies our courage and resolve as we continue to wage war on terrorism. It is sometimes daunting to think that we are closer to the beginning of the war on terror than we are to the end.

In Iraq, everyday we see both the struggle and victory that goes hand in hand with waging a war against terror. For the first time in generations, the people of Iraq know self-determination. And while security issues may set back progress, the Iraqis now have tasted freedom, and they will work with coalition forces because they hunger to know peace.

The small band of Mexican soldiers, who defeated the French against all odds, hungered for peace and liberty as well. So as we celebrate Cinco de Mayo, think of it not simply as a holiday for another country. Instead, think of it as the celebration of the principles of freedom, which knows no borders.

Congressman Joe Pitts, a Republican, represents Pennsylvania's 16th Congressional District, which includes Lancaster County and parts of Chester County and Berks County.