Palmetto Proving Grounds

May 5 doesn't commemorate Mexico's independence from Spain in 1820.

Instead, it's the anniversary of the Battle of Puebla in 1862, when Mexican guerilla forces under Benito Juarez defeated the French, who had invaded and set up a puppet government.

According to what I've read, Cinco de Mayo is observed only in Puebla -- and in bars in the U.S..

Sad but true

I'm going to make one post and not start a war here on a Gamecock board. I just want to mention that our government did NOTHING about illegal immigration until it was too late. 13 million illegals here and when they have kids they are now US citizens. People THINK it's worse than it is because they see dark skinned people more often in this country. Do you realize how many are legal? More than 13 million I can tell you that. While the government did nothing, the babies were born and grew into kids.Those kids turned to teenagers and now adults....LEGAL ADULTS. I've been to Mexico over 10 times (real Mexico...not vacation spots) and I can't blame one person for wanting to come here illegally to put food on their kids plates. I'm not for illegal immigration, but I can't blame them. Plus, good luck trying to send 13 million illegals back. Where's that money coming from? You need to build a fence, sucure the borders and grant amnesty to those that are here. I know I'm in the minority here, but if you've see some of the dirt floors these kids live on you may have a change of heart. You can say the country sucks, but the people DO NOT. You only read about gangs and drug violence that sterotypes Mexico as this terrible place. It's one of the most beautiful places I've been and I'm blessed to say I've traveled through some of these beautiful sights God created. The Mexican party PAN has been in control for 12 years and it's a blessing! Freedom comes at a cost and the PRI never did anything about gangs for 50 years. The PAN brought marshall law and the military has crippled some of the biggest drugs kingpins. Yes, there have been 50,000 lives lost, but it's paying off. I read an article on CNN last week about the major improvements in the drug war and it blew me away the big players they've arrested or brought down. Mexico's predident Felipe Caldron and former PAN president Vicente Fox have worked more with the US government than any other former parties with this joint effort against crime. These diplomatic relations are paying off and I pray PAN wins the next election after this year. That is all....Happy Cinco de Mayo.

Good enough reason for me to get hammered.

Drinko de Mayo

I lived in Cali for almost 5 years . The gangs were horrible . They ran things . I have since tried to convince people the Mexican drug war isn't only in Mexico . It's very much in Cali and will only get worse in ATL . They literally ran things and called the shots where I lived . Brutally murdered people . We would get mass text on the days when the gangs were " accepting new members" . They would bump you at a stop sign and when you got out ( because of the accident) they would shoot you.

I had a friend that was a fire captain and another EMT... So we got word quickly when 4-5 people had been shot within hours with the same story .

Ever seen that on the news ? This is in AMERICA!

They see ATL as their eastern connection . It's a hub to distribute drugs to the other eastern cities . It will get worse