Tim Muth describes the festivities in El Salvador as Central Americans celebrated 185 years of independence from Spain. In Costa Rica, apparently it is Independence Eve when the real parties get started. Uri Ridelman links to a YouTube video of the Patriotica Costarricense: “one of the most important songs of our country after the National Anthem.” From Guatemala, DesdeGuate.com asks why patriotism must be related to the military (ES).