Today, March 21st, is the birthday of Mexico's most revered President, Benito Juárez. Juárez was the first Mexican President of indigenous origin. He served during one of the nation's most turbulent eras, a period of time which saw a civil war between liberals and conservatives and the invasion of Mexico by the French.
His birthday, a legal holiday, was actually observed last Monday so that people would have a three day weekend. Alejandro told me that on Friday his nephew's school was going to stream on the school's YouTube channel a program honoring Juárez. The show was presented by the school´s kindergarten, and first and second grade classes, so his nephew, Ezra, did not have a part in it. Nevertheless, I went to YouTube on Friday to watch some of it.
As part of the program some of the students presented of brief biography of the hero.
Juárez was born into a poor Zapotec family in a small village in the state of Oaxaca. As a child he worked as a shepherd.
At the age of twelve he walked to the city of Oaxaca to find work as a domestic servant and to attend school. He pursued a university education and became a lawyer. He entered politics as a member of the Liberal Party, and eventually became Mexico's 26th President.
The most famous quote attributed to Juárez...
"Among individuals, as among nations, respect for the rights of others is peace."
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