In the 21st century, Salvadoran society insists on using clichés to celebrate independence. School parades and military parades under the intense sun, children in traditional costumes, honoring the faces of independence heroes, and concentrating everything on one specific day: September 15th.
This kind of vision is repeated ad nauseam by the school system and also reproduced by most of the media, showing how little historical research has influenced us.
The richness of the approach is expressed in the study of the independence of the Kingdom of Guatemala as a process that began at the end of the 18th century and spread through the rebellion of 1811-1814, Cádiz constitutionalism, and elections to the National Assembly and City Hall. Mandate of Cortés Spain, Acts of Independence of August 28 and September 15, 1821, Act of Annexation to the Northern Empire of January 5, 1822, Establishment of the Civil Bishopric of San Salvador, Military Invasion of San Salvador by Imperial Mexican Forces Declaration and ratification of absolute independence by the armies of the States by the Acts of July 1 and October 1, 1823, and the establishment of the Confederation of Central American States or the Federal Republic of Central America.
Examine and understand, in this entire process, the role played by the Americans of San Salvador, or groups of separatists who clashed for various reasons with the rulers, economic and cultural elites of Guatemala City, the capital of the Kingdom of Guatemala. It is also important that For three years, for centuries.
It also highlights the role that various municipalities (Sonsonate, Ahuachapan, Metapan, Santa Ana, San Miguel, San Vicente, San Salvador, etc.) play in defending the cause of liberation or participating in the efforts of annexation into the Mexican Empire. Understanding is also essential. against attempts at political union with the United States, or local votes developed within the mayor’s office of Sonsonate (November and December 1823) seeking to join San Salvador and San Miguel to separatist intentions in Santa Anna; This constitution paved the way for the founding of El Salvador through the first constitution, drafted by Viloreño lawyer José Damian Villacorta and promulgated on June 12, 1824.
It would be very interesting to educate the public about the contents of the various Acts of Independence issued between 1821 and 1823. Through them, the different postulates of the different factions that envisioned the independence process as an option between absolute separation from Spain or annexation to the Americas were revealed. The monarchy that Emperor Agustín de Iturbide and his Army of the Three Guarantees represented Mexico, the establishment of a federal government in the style of one who died in the original 13 colonies of the United States, or directly of separate states and republics Founded from the remaining neighboring countries within the isthmus.
The way we are taught and shown independence must change. More about the management of our history, manipulated by political interests and very inflexible in adopting knowledge gained from new academic research developed from various university centers and intellectual work tanks. In order to be critical, there is an urgent need to do so.
Looking to the future, independence in the Central American region must be examined more rigorously, with less nationalist agitation, and a more regional approach, with a richer set of materials and perspectives. A single official narrative is dangerous to the reproduction of essential democratic values. Freedom cannot be taught by reproducing clichés and uncritical ideas. Homeland is more than just a piece of land, a flag, a prayer recited without knowing its content, or a series of often-invented stickers depicting faces and scenes.
The motherland is not only that, but it should also be the basic criterion to ensure a higher quality civic education. It is a challenge that all Salvadorans will have to grapple with for years to come.
Source: Diario.Elmundo
