Don Miguel Hidalgo

Have you ever questioned yourself as to what it takes to be a hero? To me, a hero is not just a character in a movie that saves people. Human beings, "regular" people like you and me, can be or become a hero without us knowing it. If I had to describe a hero, I would describe it as a strong leader who learns to overcome any obstacles, and learn from its mistakes. To be a hero, you should benefit humanity in one way or another, you must have strength and courage to get up even when you're feeling down, and you must be daring, fighting for what you know is right.

A perfect example of a hero is Don Miguel Hidalgo: Father of the Mexican Independence. He was born at the Corralejo Hacienda in Penjamo, Guanajuato, on May 8, 1753. He was sent to Valladolid (now Morelia) to study at the San Nicol's Obispo College, where he later taught theology, philosophy and ethics, and eventually became a college rector. He became a priest in 1792 and after working at different parishes, he came to practice his ministry at the Parish of Dolores. Later, he became the priest of the small town of Dolores, Guanajuato. He was so worried about the well being of his community, that he built an estate where he established a pottery shop, tanning shop, and looming shop; this gave jobs to the poor. He also taught the farmers to work the land and make a better use of it.

Later, he raised armies for a free Mexico, joining with a group of liberals (Ignacio Allende, Aldama, and Abasolo). They reached an agreement in Queretaro to begin a revolution in October of 1810, but were discovered and therefore moved the date to September 16, 1810. Hidalgo and his army swept through the central state of Guanajuato, causing the death of many Spaniards. On the midnight of September 16, 1810, he rang the parish bell in the city of Dolores, Guanajuato and called for the overthrow of all Spaniards. (The president of Mexico does this yearly.) Miguel Hidalgo used the Virgin of Guadalupe as the flag for the revolution.

Unfortunately, on July 30, 1811 at 7a.m. Father Miguel Hidalgo got word that he would be executed for treason. Before his execution, he passed out candy to the men in charge of executing him; he also forgave them for doing it. Hidalgo asked not to be blindfolded and not to be shot from the back. Instead, he asked to be shot on his right hand, which he put on his heart so the executors would not have a chance of missing. The first shot did not go through his hand, so a second shot was necessary, and a third to actually kill him.

1,000-peso bill

Don Miguel Hidalgo's fight for Independence was not in vain. He managed to abolish slavery in November 1810 and promoted the creation of the newspaper "El Despertador Americano." Mexico gained its independence on September 21, 1821, and of course, it wouldn't have been possible without the leadership of this Mexican priest. In his honor, on November 2004, a new 1,000-peso bill was released with Hidalgo's picture. He is forever engraved in Mexico's history and will always be considered a true hero to a true Mexican! I admire him because he never gave up his hope of being free from the Spaniards and was always there for his community. He died with honor and did not regret what he did because he knew he was doing the right thing.