A moment from baseball if you will. Today is when a group of men met on Washington on the Brazos (The Convention of 1836) and voted that Texas would declare it's independence from Mexico. A delagate by the name of Richard Ellis (sad to say no relation to me, purely coincidence) from Red River was voted President of the convention. The document was signed by all March 2, 19836. That doesn't mean independence happened that day for what many of you may not realize is the famous battle at The Alamo ended on March 6th AFTER Independence was declared. The battle began on February 23rd....a 13 day seige by the Mexicans who surrounded The Alamo, a mission. This battle involved 189 Texans and 1600 Mexicans....now you may understand why this battle was SO ingrained into our minds with the everloving cry by men who fought at the San Jacinto battle "Remember The Alamo". All but a few slaves, women and children were murdered at that seige. Yes, I say murdered because of that slightly unbalanced odds of men against men.Above is a flag that was created by two women, YES women, when Mexico had sent men to retrieve a cannon that was lent to the town of Gonzales by Mexico. A group of armed Texans formed surprising the mexicans....the mexicans withdrew....and they kept the cannon.
The first flag established by a band of men led by John Scott said exactly what Texans wanted:
It wasn't until September 5th of that year that Texas elected a President. From 1836-1845, Texas was it's own country within the United States.
Novelist John Steinbeck perhaps said it best:
Texas is a state of mind. Texas is an obsession. Above all, Texas is a nation in every sense of the word.
Texas is a state of mind. Texas is an obsession. Above all, Texas is a nation in every sense of the word.
So you see, loyalty and pride to be a part of something great was already instilled in me when I came upon The Red Sox Nation. When I believe in something and it's important to me, I stand by it....no matter who or what they say about it. So thanks Becks for remembering a day that is very important to me. And I hope each year when March 2nd rolls around, you remember Texas and you remember what it stands for....loyalty and independence. And as Paul Harvey would say....NOW you know the REST of the Story.
7 comments:
Nicely done, Tex. Growing up in OK, I actually got to go to the Alamo when I was about 13. I've always been fascinated by the bravery of those men, who knew it was hopless, yet fought for so long. Glad you mentioned they held Santa Anna off long enough for Sam Houston to assemble his army.
Tex, I KNOW you're about a lot more than just Beckett and Boston. But I'm glad you showed this other side of you too.
Good job, sis.
yep...Santa Anna refused to concede their independence. but our boys showed him.
Happy belated Independence Day, Tex.
Damn it! I can't believe I missed this yesterday. Each day it becomes increasingly more apparent to me that Texas is more than the stereotype that some of us northerners have.
For instance, three of my very favorite philosopher-women came from Texas: Ann Richards, Barbara Jordan and Molly Ivans. You're doing a great job carrying the sassy, smart and sensitive flag for these women!
Great job on the post - and I loved seeing the various versions of the flag! Only 53 days till we get there - and 54 till we get to see the Alamo for ourselves. ::hygs::
Hmmmm . . . Slavery, which Mexico had outlawed and whites in what became Texas wanted to retain, seems to have not made it into your post.
I find it amusing when people start trouble under the disguise of "anonymous". If you've got something to say, own it. Put your name on it. Unless you are embarassed to show who you really are.
One, I wasn't trying to start trouble, whatever that's supposed to mean. I was suggesting that declaring pride in the move whites made to secede the territory from Mexico is problematic.
Two, I'm not afraid to "put my name on it." I don't have a Blogger account and didn't feel like creating one for this post.
Three, whether I'm anonymous or not--and, really, how disclosive is your name and picture out here in the internets, hmmm?--has nothing to do with the validity (or lack thereof) or what I said.
Post a Comment