| Mexico commemorates
Benito Juárez with a federal holiday on or near his birthday
of March 21. A Zapotec,
Juárez is the only full-blooded indigenous leader to
serve as President of Mexico.
His name is used frequently throughout the country, from the
state university Universidad
Autónoma Benito Juárez to Mexico City's International
Airport. Other towns named after the leader include Benito
Juárez and Ixtlán
de Juárez. So who is this illustrious leader?
INDIGENOUS ROOTS
Benito Pablo Juárez García (March 21, 1806 –
July 18, 1872) served two terms (1861-1863 and 1867-1872) as
Mexico's President and is regarded as one of Mexico's most beloved
leaders.
Born in 1806 in the village of Guelatao,
Juárez was orphaned at age three. When he was 12, he
moved to Oaxaca
City for education.
He led the nation in a struggle against neocolonialism and
French intervention and earned the title of 'Benemérito
de las Américas,' or deserving of the Americas' praise.
His most-cited quote is 'El respeto al derecho ajeno es
la paz' (Respect for the rights of others is peace).
LINCOLN AND JUAREZ
There are frequent comparions between Juárez and U.S.
President Lincoln. Lincoln lived between 1809-1865 and Juárez
between 1806-1872.
PLACES
The following are places significant in the life of Benito
Juárez:
Guelatao
Oaxaca
City (Oaxaca de Juárez)
Mexico City
New
Orleans
OAXACA CITY
TOUR
For those interested in the Benito Juárez
tour in Oaxaca City, visit the following places:
Juarez
Museum (childhood home)
Seminario
(where he studied as a young man)
San
Felipe Neri Church (where he married Margarita Maza)
Independencia and Tinoco y Palacios
Parque
Alameda de Leon (where he planted two laurel trees)
Parque
Juárez de Leon (where a monument is placed in his
honor)
Cerro
Fortín (where a giant statue is placed in his honor)
Train
Station (where the chain remains on the branch of an ahuehuete
tree used to lift the giant statue).
Monumento
a Brígida García (Benito's mother) especially
beautiful when the jacarandas bloom.
QUOTES
Juárez no debió de morir
¡Ay! De morir
si Juárez no hubiera muerto,
otro gallo cantaría,
la patria se salvaría.
México, sería feliz
sería feliz...
|
