Not the Alamo I know

Dallas Morning News ^ | 6/3/2007 | Rod Dreher

[Altura Ct.]

What if this noble defeat starts to be seen as a glorious Mexican victory?

03:23 PM CDT on Sunday, June 3, 2007

Sometimes little things tell a big story. In a South Dallas classroom, a sweet-tempered Latino fourth-grader, the son of poor immigrants, told recent visitors about Santa Anna's historical greatness. He innocently explained why he found the Mexican general's victory at the Alamo to be – wait for it – inspiring.

I thought: We have just heard from the future.

According to the state demographer, by the time that fourth-grader is a father of schoolchildren, Texas will be a majority Hispanic state. Who wants to bet that a lot of Texans then will see the Alamo as this young boy does now? A Texas where most people view events at the Alamo – which constitute the central founding myth of Texas culture – not as a noble defeat, but as a glorious victory, would not be Texas as every generation since the founding has known it. And this is a big deal to a lot of people.

According to the state demographer, by the time that fourth-grader is a father of schoolchildren, Texas will be a majority Hispanic state. Who wants to bet that a lot of Texans then will see the Alamo as this young boy does now? A Texas where most people view events at the Alamo – which constitute the central founding myth of Texas culture – not as a noble defeat, but as a glorious victory, would not be Texas as every generation since the founding has known it. And this is a big deal to a lot of people

[Vanders9]

Storming fortified positions is never an easy thing, and almost always costly.

[Vanders9]

Hmm....maybe the French used their Foreign Legion? :)

[Fiddlstix]

BTTT

[Clemenza]

As someone who has spent alot of time in Mexico, and talked with many Mexicans, you folks should know that after General Huerta, Santa Anna is the most hated man in Mexican history. Who could love a man who had a funeral procession for his leg, hated Indians (in a nation where the majority of the population is of Indian ancestry), and LOST A THIRD OF HIS COUNTRY DUE LARGELY TO INCOMPETANCE!

In the end, Santa Anna's only friend was fellow Mason Sam Houston, who spared his life after JLdeSA gave Sam the Masonic handshake of distress.

[Old Student]

“Storming fortified positions is never an easy thing, and almost always costly.”

Particularly when unnecessary. Santa Anna could easily have left a blocking force to keep the Alamo’s defenders penned up inside, and gone on to crush the Texians elsewhere, then come back to deal with them.

Instead, he gave the Texians a rallying cry that still scares the Mexicans.