Skip to comments.
Remember The Alamo, Sure, As Long As We Remember It
For What It Really Is: Something Sinister
San Francisco Chronicle (via San Antonio Lightning) ^
| 4/15/04
| Oscar Villalon, Chronicle Book Editor
Posted on 04/15/2004 6:46:23 AM PDT by laotzu
(Editor's note; What follows here is a copy of a story that appeared in the Hearst Corporation's San Francisco Chronicle on April 12, 2004. It is reprinted here in its entirety without permission or apology.)
As the guy who wrote on the billboard at 24th and Valencia sometime in the night last week phrased it, before what he wrote in orange spray paint was papered over with a new canvas, "F -- 'The Alamo.' "
To many Mexican Americans, there's no more succinct, if impolite, wording to get across how repulsed one of the biggest minority groups in the country - - and certainly the largest in California and Texas -- is by that dilapidated mission-turned-fortress-turned-tourist-attraction in San Antonio, Texas. What's intriguing, though, given the release Friday of the big-budget movie "The Alamo," is how many people apparently don't get this. (Aside to the studio's marketing department: Have you lost your minds? Putting up an advertisement for "The Alamo" the size of a boxing ring in the Mission District?)
Any discussion about the movie so far, whether in reviews or articles about its making, has been about how it's a new-and-improved version of past depictions of that battle. This time we see that there were Tejanos fighting with the Texans at the Alamo. We see that Travis and Bowie had slaves with them during the siege. We see that more likely than not, Davy Crockett didn't go down swinging. And we see that not all the troops in Gen. Santa Ana's army were craven cowards. Things were ... complex.
As important as those tweaks are to the story, and as correct as it is to discuss them, the concern at this point in our history shouldn't be so much how the actual events at the Alamo are (or have been) presented on the screen. Dress up a bunch of baby chimps in period costumes, give them spark-shooting plastic ray guns and include them in the fall of the Alamo, too, for all that verisimilitude matters.
No, the problem is that the Alamo, like the Confederate flag, is a symbol of something much greater, much more sinister than itself. It has come to stand for what's happened long after the events of March 6, 1836. It's why the words "Remember the Alamo!" can make certain barrooms go quiet and a mouth go dry before it has the chance to spit.
Despite the facts, past movie adaptations of the Alamo -- and so many other historic events involving white America and the Other -- have been little more than propaganda for the myth of "white man good, brown man bad," problematic at best because it's what a majority of our country wanted to believe for a variety of cultural and political reasons. So, that you would have John Wayne turning himself into an Aryan Roman candle in "The Alamo" (1960) isn't surprising. In the end, that battle has -- and perhaps can only -- come to be a glorification of (white) Texan sacrifice, no matter how many allowances any film, including this new one, makes for the truth. The Alamo remains a fiery cascade of bullets, blades and cannonballs that casts into shadow the struggle Mexican Americans would go through to exist with dignity in the United States -- a struggle that continues today.
With that in mind, and going on the assumption that most Americans get their history lessons from two-hour-plus prestige films, let's revisit the date of the battle, which is a key scene from "The Alamo,'' and see how we can get the point across another way. Imagine we could stop the picture mid-action, the actors stuck in time as if they were all tagged in a giant game of freeze tag. Then a pleasant-looking woman comes into the frame, hands clasped before her, and delivers a public service announcement, saying something like:
"Hi. Sorry to interrupt the movie. But the producers of 'The Alamo' have asked me, in the spirit of good faith, to sorta explain a little more of what you're seeing here.
"So, OK. Behind me you see these Tejanos getting ready to give up their lives for the cause of Texas independence. But you should probably know a couple of things. As soon as Texas gets its independence in 1836 and joins the United States nine years later, all the relatives and the descendants of those poor guys back there will become second-class citizens. Many Tejanos will literally be terrorized by their fellow Texans in the years to come -- over land, over opposing slavery.
"And Mexican Americans in general throughout the Southwest, in Texas and in California in particular, will also experience oppression. Segregation, for example, and of every stripe: segregated movie houses, segregated schools, segregated swimming pools. You name it. If you've ever seen 'Giant,' you know what I'm talking about. In fact, a lot of people don't know this, but the first successful case for desegregation in schools wasn't Brown vs. Board of Education, but Roberto Alvarez vs. the Board of Trustees of the Lemon Grove School District. This happened down in San Diego in 1931. True story.
"OK. I see some arms starting to shake here, what with the muskets being heavy and authentic and all, so let's get back to the movie. You good people enjoy."
If only. But that's not going to happen, and it's doubtful the other side of the story will be addressed in the commentary on the DVD. What's most likely, frankly, is that outside the Mexican American community, nobody is likely to notice the head-shaking frustration these Americans have with the Alamo.
They're not likely to spot the long trickle of blood that leads from there to the Texas Rangers cruising through the streets of border towns with the bodies of Mexicans and Mexican Americans strapped to the hood and trunk of cars as though they were trophy deer. (Between 1914 and 1919, the Rangers killed about 5,000 "Hispanics"; a figure so gruesome that in 1919 legislation was passed in Texas, at the urging of Rep. Jose T. Canales, to reform the organization.)
When they see "The Alamo," audiences are unlikely to understand that through the gates of a ruined mission comes a legacy of "white" America asserting cultural superiority over the "losers" from Texas' war of independence. Or that the Alamo is in many ways like Kosovo: the site of a battle where the eventual victor took a serious defeat, a losing engagement that's been fetishized to justify treating another people as a historic threat, not to be fully trusted.
They won't see how in our ever-evolving country, there's little place for reverence toward a symbol that says more about our shortcomings than our virtues.
Like the other thing the guy who spray-painted "The Alamo" billboard wrote, "Forget 'The Alamo.'
TOPICS: Editorial; News/Current Events; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: alamo; professionalvictim; sanantonio; texas; waaaaaa; waaaaaah
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20, 21-40, 41-43 next last
To: squarebarb
To provide a little background for those not from the Corpus Christi area here is a short summary of the Grey-Benavides massacre. Unfortunately many native Tejano families were stripped of their lands (such as the De Leon's) and driven from what was their native country after the triumph of the Texas Revolution.
Captain Placido Benavides
From Victor Rose's History of Victoria, Laredo, 1883
Don Placido Benavides was a native of the village of Reynosa, state of Tamaulipas, Mexico, and when but a mere child was taken in charge by his Padrino, or God Father, Captain Don Henrique Villarreal, and properly educated. In the year 1828, he, in company with his older brothers, came to Don Martín De León's colony; being at that time quite young. He was employed by the commissioner, Don Fernando, as a secretary in all the business transactions relating to the issuance of land titles to the colonists, until the year 1831, when he married Miss Augustina De León, daughter of the Empresario; and at once applied for a league and labor of land, to which he was entitled, as an actual settler; and located the same on the Placido creek, in Victoria county, adjoining the land of his brother, Don Eugenio, where they both established ranches of livestock. The year following he was elected alcalde of Guadalupe Victoria; and reelected in 1834. About that time, in consequence of the death of Don Martín, he was authorized by the supreme government to continue the operations necessary to fulfill his second contract for the introduction of colonists. The next year he hastened, at the head of his company, to reinforce the Texas army operating against the forces of General Cos, in San Antonio, and contributed no little in effecting the capitulation of that officer; receiving marked notice in the report of the Texas commander for his gallantry, fidelity, and general efficiency. Of his comrades in that expedition the names now only of Silvestre De León, Carlos Laso, Albino Cavazos, Maximo Gomez, Manuel Escalera, and Amado, are remembered. It may be remarked in passing that Albino Cavazos continued to live in Victoria county until February, 1884, when he died, in obscurity and poverty, near Carlos Ranch, on the San Antonio river.
Several times previous to this campaign Captain Benavides and Silvestre De León had led expeditions against the hostile Indians; following them to their villages and punishing them for depredations committed. At one time they pursued the Tonkawas to their retreat on the peninsula, and brought back with them some eighteen Tonkawa children, which were distributed among the citizen, and baptized. Early in 1836, while engaged with others on the Nueces, in procuring horses for the Texan cavalry, Capt. Benavides met with a hazardous adventure, in being surprised and closely pursued by the dragoons of Gen. Urrea. He and Dr. Grant were riding in advance of the caballado, and upon the sudden appearance of the cavalry in their front, put spurs to their horses; and after an exciting chase Dr. Grant was killed, Benavides effecting his escape. Says Mr. Patricio De León, "Captain Placido Benavides often stated that had Dr. Grant acted in conformity to his suggestions he unquestionably would have succeeded in effecting his escape, as he did. But the Doctor became excited and beat his horse, and used his spurs with unnecessary severity, which, confusing the animal retarded instead of accelerating his speed.
Placido Benavides retired, with the De León family to New Orleans after the battle of San Jacinto, and died a Opeloosas, in the parish of San Landry, in 1837. His widow accompanied Mrs. Carbajal to Mexico in 1839, and lived in the town of Sota la Marina, where she died five years after the death of her husband. Their family consisted of three daughters: Doña Pilar, the eldest married Don Cristobal Garza, who lived at Rio Grande City, Texas; Doña Librada, the second daughter is the wife of Mr. Patricio De León, a prominent and much respected citizen of the Mission Valley neighborhood. Doña Martianita, the youngest, married Don Serapio Garza, of Rio Grande City. The brothers of Capt. Benavides were Ysidro, Eugenio, and Nicolas. They returned from Louisiana in 1838, and settled upon their lands. Don Ysidro on the Chocolate creek, in Calhoun county, Don Nicolas on the Arenosos, and Eugenio, on the Placido creek, as stated.
Don Ysidro married Miss Cayetana Moreno, and had three sons, viz: J. M. Benavides, who married Miss Josépha Benavides, and now resides on the Placido creek, Victoria county; Placido, second son, married Miss Romualda Hinojosa, of Mier, Mexico, at the present writing, a resident of Duval county, Texas, at the Benavides station on the railroad leading from Corpus Christi to Laredo; and Ysidro Jr. who married Miss Reyes Garza, of Goliad, and resides in Duval county; and three daughters, the eldest of whom, Miss Juanita, married Capt. James Cummings; the second, María Antonia, married the Rev. W. M. Sheely, a Methodist preacher; and Martianita, the youngest, married Mr. Warren Sheely. Don Eugenio Benavides had four sons, viz: David, Ygnacio, Francisco, deceased, and Romulo, who married Miss Refugia Lopez, and resides on the Placido creek, in Victoria county; and four daughters: Josépha, Pilar, and Librada, all deceased, and Leónor, widow of Ines Villarreal, who lives on the Placido, in Victoria county, her husband having died May 10th, 1882.
Don Nicolas Benavides moved to Hidalgo county, from his place in Jackson county, in 1862. His sons were, Placido and Eugenio, deceased, Nicolas, and Ygnacio, living in Hidalgo county; and his daughters, Josépha, married Refugio Bernal, and Concepcion, unmarried, both deceased.
The massacre of the friends of Don Ysidro Benavides, briefly adverted to in the narrative proper, was one of the most heinous crimes ever perpetrated by people claiming to be civilized. This occurred in Zarco creek, nine miles west of Goliad in 1843; the victims were nine in number, only the names of José M. Barrera and his brother, Manuel Barrera, and Don Regalado Moreno, brother of Don Ysidro's wife, being now remembered. They had been on a visit to the family of the latter, and were returning home, in Mier, Mexico, with a small quantity of tobacco and other goods for the Mexican trade. They were pursued by a party of "cowboys," led by "Mustang" Grey; overtaken, disarmed through professions of friendship, and executed in a ghastly heap; the paltry spoil furnished the sole motive for this act of supreme atrocity. Strange to relate that though the thugs fired upon their victims from the very muzzle of their guns, one of the number, José M. Barrera, was not killed, though grievously wounded in the face. Mr. John Fagan, some time after found him wandering about in the vicinity of Carlos Ranch, and had him conveyed to the home of Don Ysidro Benavides, on the Chocolate Creek. When able to travel, Mr. Benavides conveyed him to Mier, where he died of the effects of the wound two years afterward. Not the least strange is the statement that the perpetrators not only were never made to suffer the penalty of their crime, but no steps, that we have any knowledge of, were ever taken to bring them to the bar of justice. In the light of which, and kindred facts, it is not strange that Texas achieved a most unsavory reputation among the more moral and law abiding citizens of the older states, and we of the present day have more cause to rejoice that the desperado, robber and murderer has gone, than that the savage Comanche has sounded his war whoop long since for the last time in the beautiful valley of our own Guadalupe.
[The photo is from Hammett's The Empresario and noted in error in that and several sources as Placido Benavides. According to researcher Jose Guerro Jr., the photo is actually Santos Benavides of Laredo. Second greatgrandson of the founder of Laredo and a major influence in border politics in Laredo in the second half of the 19th century, Benavides was a member of the Texas Legislature. As Colonel in the army of the Confederate States of America, Benavides was the highest ranking Mexican-American to serve the Confederacy, one of two brothers that influenced late 19th century Laredo politics and served in the Confederate Army. It is unknown if he was related to Placido Benavides.]
To: laotzu
Just what we need, another whiny ass victim group.
Boo freakin hoo, people was mean to my ancestors.
22
posted on
04/15/2004 11:05:01 AM PDT
by
Pietro
To: laotzu
Hmmm... I wonder if this clymer is familiar with the actions of Captain Carolino Huerta?
During the Goliad Massacre, Captain Huerta directed the slaughter of 40 wounded prisoners unable to walk. He shot the commander, COL James Fannin, last after making sure he know the wounded were executed. Fannin handed his pocket watch to Huerta, requesting it be sent to his wife. He also requested the firing squad to aim at his heart and bury his body in a decent Christian manner. Fannin was shot in the face and his body dumped on a common pyre. Oh yeah, then Huerta then pocketed the dead man's watch.
A real sweetheart, that one. And this clown calls the Alamo "sinister"?
23
posted on
04/15/2004 11:06:57 AM PDT
by
Jonah Hex
(Another day, another DU troll.)
To: Ignatz
You and I have disagreed on much, VR, and probably will again in the future, but I couldn't agree more with your above statement! It happens. The important thing is to pick up the pieces and move on. ;)
24
posted on
04/15/2004 11:08:53 AM PDT
by
VadeRetro
(Faster than a speeding building! Able to leap tall bullets in a single bound!)
To: laotzu
The issue wasn't between "whites" and "Mexicans" at all, not that you could accurately describe the participants on either side that way. The issue - and this part makes advocates such as our author uncomfortable - was between the nascent New World and the defenders of Old World (specifically Habsburg) colonial domination. The New World won, and the fellows who were defending the Old are now rewriting history in racial terms to cover up their own ancestors' culpability.
To: Jonah Hex
As a Texan, I was far more moved visiting La Bahia, than the Alamo.
I'm not sure why.
26
posted on
04/15/2004 11:32:50 AM PDT
by
laotzu
To: laotzu
I have no plans to see the new movie, not even when it rents at fifty cents at Discount Video.
27
posted on
04/15/2004 11:37:53 AM PDT
by
Ciexyz
To: laotzu
I hear ya. Did you ever see the reenactors stage their March living history presentations? I never did during my visits to Texas, but I've heard favorable stories from some of my Union/Rebel reenactor compadres here in Virginia.
28
posted on
04/15/2004 11:42:25 AM PDT
by
Jonah Hex
(Another day, another DU troll.)
To: Jonah Hex
No, I haven't.
Are you saying this is held in Goliad each March?
29
posted on
04/15/2004 11:58:30 AM PDT
by
laotzu
To: laotzu
21 days after the Alamo fell the good people that this aythor embraces murdered at least 390 POWs at Goliad. Tempering the will of the Texicans, they know how they would be treated if captured. Many other Texicans lost their lives during "The Runaway Scrape" caused by the terror tactics of Santa Anna. So I guess we should appoligize for thwarting the genocide that was planned for Texas.
30
posted on
04/15/2004 12:04:08 PM PDT
by
fella
To: laotzu
That's what they told me. According to these guys, the Texicans put on a good living history presentation every March. Some of the same folks apparently also play a group of GEN Hood's troops at Gettysburg every year.
31
posted on
04/15/2004 12:14:57 PM PDT
by
Jonah Hex
(Another day, another DU troll.)
To: Jonah Hex
Texans don't trust many Mexicans for a reason. One of them is that if you have two of anything, they consider it their right to steal the extra one from you...a kind of cultural marker. Little Anglo Texans learn about this charming trait in elementary school. There are some good Mexican people, but they have to prove themselves trustworthy because there are many, many bad ones that fill our state prisons and local jails.
To: Ciexyz
In the commercial for this movie, they comment how these men "were in the wrong place, at the wrong time".
The incredible, and heroic nature of what happened at the Alamo; is that these men were purposely, at the right place, at the right time.
Moreover; their intended purpose was successful, and Santa Ana was delayed.....as was desperately needed.
It is outrageous how, in less than 15 seconds, they could so totally, and fundamentally misunderstand this hallowed event. I'll not be watching it either.
33
posted on
04/15/2004 12:21:08 PM PDT
by
laotzu
To: kittymyrib
"Little Anglo Texans learn about this charming trait in elementary school" I'm a native born, anglo Texan. Except to go into Mexico, I never left the state of Texas until I was 17. That was several decades ago. I've sent three children through Texas schools, and live in Texas now.
Your statement is a vile lie.
34
posted on
04/15/2004 12:30:55 PM PDT
by
laotzu
To: Jonah Hex
Damn! I just missed it then.
I will check into that. Thanks for the heads up.
35
posted on
04/15/2004 12:36:23 PM PDT
by
laotzu
To: laotzu
Where was the puke alert?
36
posted on
04/15/2004 1:11:34 PM PDT
by
Indie
(We don't need no steenkin' experts!)
To: Indie
It certainly calls for one.
I feel it is contained in the title.
37
posted on
04/15/2004 1:24:32 PM PDT
by
laotzu
To: VadeRetro
Heheh! I'll do my best.
38
posted on
04/15/2004 1:32:27 PM PDT
by
Ignatz
(Britney Spears: The other white meat.)
To: laotzu; All
I WROTE THE AUTHOR. HERE IS HIS REPLY.
Dear Mr. Doug,
You have not made a point at all, considering that my article in now way poses an assertion that could be possibly answered with your reply. For that to be the case, I suppose you would have to argue that Mexican Americans, or any other American, has no right to be critical of misperceptions of our country and thus try to correct them. This is the best country on the face of the Earth, which is why it's so important for us to do what we can to maintain it that way. This requires searching our hearts and acknowledging our faults, then making peace with them. Or would you argue that being a patriot means saying nothing? Or do you believe that only certain Americans are allowed to speak?
I respectfully suggest you read my article again with this in mind.
Best,
Oscar Villalon
Book Editor
-----Original Message-----
From:
newsletter@[mailto:newsletter@] Sent: Thursday, April 15, 2004 1:16 PM
To: Villalon, Oscar
Subject: THE ALAMO
If America is such a terror for Mexicans, why are they sneaking into our country by the hundreds of thousands?
We all know everything is wonderful in Mexico......---SNIP-----
I think I've made my point. Your article is leftist pablum, and our many hispanic friends (and loves--including my wife) agree.
Doug
39
posted on
04/15/2004 6:35:59 PM PDT
by
Indie
(We don't need no steenkin' experts!)
To: laotzu
BTTT
40
posted on
04/15/2004 6:36:36 PM PDT
by
Indie
(We don't need no steenkin' experts!)
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20, 21-40, 41-43 next last
Disclaimer:
Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual
posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its
management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the
exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson