I Like Texas........

epchick · #1 10-09-2008, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

It was "their" land in the same sense the 13 colonies were England's, or Mexico was Spain's. The whole reason Mexico allowed the (largely) American colonists was because they didn't have enough natives interested in colonizing. Colonists fighting for the freedom to govern themselves resulted in the U.S.A., Mexico, and the Republic of Texas.

I guess I see the battle of the Alamo different than the American Revolution. Maybe it's the way that both battles have been taught to me throughout my schooling. Never did we ever think that the colonists were these poor innocent people who just wanted to be free from big bad ol' England. But that's the way the Battle of the Alamo (and all the info leading up to it) was taught to us. I don't consider those men "heroes."

SWTXBelle · #2 10-10-2008, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by epchick

I guess I see the battle of the Alamo different than the American Revolution. Maybe it's the way that both battles have been taught to me throughout my schooling. Never did we ever think that the colonists were these poor innocent people who just wanted to be free from big bad ol' England. But that's the way the Battle of the Alamo (and all the info leading up to it) was taught to us. I don't consider those men "heroes."

I'm pretty sure I didn't say anyone was poor, or innocent - just that they wished to govern themselves after feeling they were not being treated as equal to citizens in the motherland.

Look at the way the colonists were treated by the Mexican government - how about the imprisonment of Stephen F. Austin? They were willing to die for a cause to which they were committed. But to each his own.

It may be that my research as a living historian - and being married to a history major and being surrounded by both tons of books and having the good fortune to socialize with a former head of the Texas Historical Society and several Texian scholars of note has given me a perspective that is more finely nuanced than those who had learned it in jr. high or high school. I freely admit that having a grandfather in the SRT and First Families of Texas means that I have a definite bias, but I do think there isn't that big a difference between the motivations behind those who fought for freedom for Mexico, Texas, and the United States. I believe it possible to find heroes in all three revolutions. Mexicans themselves later turned on Santa Anna, which should say something about his reign and treatment of his fellow citizens.

You do realize that you now forfeit your Texas citizenship, don't you?

Can't trust those El Paso people . . .

epchick · #3 10-10-2008, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

I'm pretty sure I didn't say anyone was poor, or innocent - just that they wished to govern themselves after feeling they were not being treated as equal to citizens in the motherland.

Look at the way the colonists were treated by the Mexican government - how about the imprisonment of Stephen F. Austin? They were willing to die for a cause to which they were committed. But to each his own.

It may be that my research as a living historian - and being married to a history major and being surrounded by both tons of books and having the good fortune to socialize with a former head of the Texas Historical Society and several Texian scholars of note has given me a perspective that is more finely nuanced than those who had learned it in jr. high or high school. I freely admit that having a grandfather in the SRT and First Families of Texas means that I have a definite bias, but I do think there isn't that big a difference between the motivations behind those who fought for freedom for Mexico, Texas, and the United States. I believe it possible to find heroes in all three revolutions. Mexicans themselves later turned on Santa Anna, which should say something about his reign and treatment of his fellow citizens.

You do realize that you now forfeit your Texas citizenship, don't you?

Can't trust those El Paso people . . .

Hey hey hey there now!

I'm just going by what i've learned in college, and most of my teachers aren't even Texan natives! lol. Aren't you suppose to believe everything you learn in college

I do admit I didn't even think of the "connection" between the Battle of the Alamo and the American Revolution until you said something. I kept thinking about it last night and all I could come up with was "but Texas is a state, it's different." Apparently, hard-headed me couldn't come to the realization that Texas was it's own country at the time.

Don't revoke my Texas citizenship

After all, my ancestors were Texans long before the Republic came about.

SWTXBelle · #4 10-10-2008, 05:38 PM

Okay, okay, you get a pass because of the non-Texan instructors - but maybe this means you should have to be a Texian to teach our history!

My husband thinks it's funny that I qualify (and if I can find my stupid paperwork, including the original Mexican land grant, I"ll join) for DRT membership, but he doesn't, even though his ancestor was here and loaning money to the Texans. Ba ha ha ha - while my ancestor was risking his life at the battle of Bexar, his was smoking ceegars and, and least in my mind's eye, relaxing and putting his feet on a desk somewhere nice and safe.