Post by novillero on May 5, 2008 9:50:20 GMT -5
Today is the Fifth of May.
It's interesting to me that there is a large mexican community in town. It's pretty much mexican, and not as much other hispanic nationalities. Yet, we have a struggling latino festival.
Everyone in Freehold and Monmouth realizes that the boro is known for its mexican population, not latinos or hispanics. So, why a latino festival, as opposed to something for the mexican people in this town?
Anyone ever go to one fo the cultural festivals at the PNC? Every summer there is an Irish festival, Scottish, Polish, Ukranian, etc. Who goes to them? just people that are of that heritage, really. I've been to a few and they are pretty boring, consisting of people who have some ethnic identity to that group that is being "celebrated."
But if the LLA, Casa Freehold, borough council and FCP were smart, they would forget this Latino fetival and focus on something that everyone in this country is now familiar with... Cinco de mayo. It is now associated in the American psyche as a fun, celebratory event. If the downtown had a festical, tou would then get people from out of town and non-mexican, non-hispanic people to attend it. In fact, I think you would attract people from further than just the neighboring communities as it is a different event. Not many festivals going on at this time of year either.
But Latino festival... do you really think this enhances the reputation of Freehold to the neighbors of Freehold? It's a non-starter for most... don't fool yourself into thinking otherwise.
It's interesting to me that there is a large mexican community in town. It's pretty much mexican, and not as much other hispanic nationalities. Yet, we have a struggling latino festival.
Everyone in Freehold and Monmouth realizes that the boro is known for its mexican population, not latinos or hispanics. So, why a latino festival, as opposed to something for the mexican people in this town?
Anyone ever go to one fo the cultural festivals at the PNC? Every summer there is an Irish festival, Scottish, Polish, Ukranian, etc. Who goes to them? just people that are of that heritage, really. I've been to a few and they are pretty boring, consisting of people who have some ethnic identity to that group that is being "celebrated."
But if the LLA, Casa Freehold, borough council and FCP were smart, they would forget this Latino fetival and focus on something that everyone in this country is now familiar with... Cinco de mayo. It is now associated in the American psyche as a fun, celebratory event. If the downtown had a festical, tou would then get people from out of town and non-mexican, non-hispanic people to attend it. In fact, I think you would attract people from further than just the neighboring communities as it is a different event. Not many festivals going on at this time of year either.
But Latino festival... do you really think this enhances the reputation of Freehold to the neighbors of Freehold? It's a non-starter for most... don't fool yourself into thinking otherwise.
