It's Time to Stop Celebrating Cinco De Mayo!

Launched in 2006 as a somewhat-cheesy tongue-in-cheek merchandising gimmick (i.e., "Use mustard instead of mayonnaise"), the CINCO DE MUSTARD campaign has gotten "legs" and deserves serious consideration from Americans -- especially owners of restaurants, bars and other entertainment venues who are finalizing promotional plans for the 5th of May holiday known as Cinco De Mayo.

Why does CINCO DE MUSTARD deserve consideration as an alternative to the holiday celebrating Mexican culture and heritage? It's not because the United States is one of the world's leading producers of mustard and is home to the world-famous Mustard Museum located in downtown Mount Horeb, Wisc.* Far from it! Instead, it's because the lawlessness and violence taking place on a daily basis across our southern border is not worthy of celebration for several reasons, including:

• CORRUPTION: A corrupt Mexican government -- one more corrupt than our own, if you can believe that -- allows drug cartels to spread dangerous drugs and mayhem seemingly without limits -- even into the United States! While kidnappings and murder are common place, even beheadings are being reported. It's so bad, in fact, that President Barack Obama is said to be considering placement of U.S. troops on the border.

• LACK OF COOPERATION: In addition, an uncooperative Mexican government does next to nothing to stem the flow of illegal immigrants into this country. Things are so bad, in fact that remittances (i.e., money sent back to Mexico by immigrants, legal and illegal alike) totaled $25 billion in 2007 and remain Mexico's second-largest source of foreign income, behind only oil [Source: Mexico's central bank via CNN.].

Learned enough? Then why celebrate Cinco De Mayo? Join me in spreading the word about CINCO DE MUSTARD: It's time to draw the line and stop celebrating Mexican culture and heritage May 5 until the Mexican government cleans up its act.

-- Bob McCarty Writes