Happy Texas Independence Day
[Guest post by DRJ]
The Republic of Texas got off to a rough start but fortunately the first Texians persevered:
“The Republic of Texas was born on March 2, 1836 when a delegation at Washington-on-the-Brazos adopted the Texas Declaration of Independence. Four days later, the Alamo fell to Santa Ana. On March 27, over 300 unarmed Texans were massacred at Goliad. But on April 21 at the Battle of San Jacinto, Santa Ana met defeat and for almost 10 years Texas was an independent nation.”
I can’t believe no one has mentioned this yet. It’s one of my favorite holidays.
— DRJ
Well, none of the candidates will mention it for fear of offending the illegals who might vote for them.
tmac (f985e6) — 3/2/2008 @ 6:14 pmHappy Texas Independence Day, DRJ.
nk (7b0075) — 3/2/2008 @ 6:56 pmNK,
Are you sure you aren’t a Texan? Maybe in an earlier life …
DRJ (d8934e) — 3/2/2008 @ 6:58 pmit’s “santa anna”. santa ana is in california.
assistant devil's advocate (bfff0a) — 3/2/2008 @ 6:59 pmREMEMBER THE ALAMO ad dont let these wretched political hacks dishonor their memories by allowing these illegal aleins to take over
krazy kagu (8d6a8f) — 3/2/2008 @ 6:59 pmADA,
I know because I’ve been previously corrected on the spelling. Apparently it’s a common mistake, however, because About.com did it, too.
DRJ (d8934e) — 3/2/2008 @ 7:05 pmI can’t believe no one has mentioned this yet. It’s one of my favorite holidays.
None of us here mentioned it because we were waiting for you to do so.
In honor of Texas, here’s the 1989 song Texas by Chris Rea. May not be entirely appropriate, but it’s a great tune.
Paul (d4926e) — 3/2/2008 @ 7:06 pmWhenever I am talking to someone who is not from Texas, I always get asked “Why are Texans think they are so special?” I used to go into all the Alamo, Goliad, independence thing until I heard Dennis Quaid on TV and the same question was put to him. His answer said it all.
He said” I think because we were a nation. Not a territory but a nation. The Republic of Texas.”
And that independence showed when Texas rejoined the Union after the Civil War. Texas agreed to rejoin but there was one special provision; there are no federal lands in Texas. Even the Davy Crockett National Forest is called that because it is managed by the feds, but Texas holds title.
My favorite Texas song? “Freeze A Yankee”
retire05 (7526e0) — 3/2/2008 @ 7:07 pmTrue, although Texas wanted the US to buy its lands but the US didn’t want to spend the money. It turned out to be one of the luckiest non-sales in history.
DRJ (d8934e) — 3/2/2008 @ 7:14 pmThe San Jacinto battleground is just a few miles from my house. Here is a little background info on it. The “battle” was tiny, only about 1500 troops total (both sides) were involved. Santa Anna gave in to the Texian’s demands because he feared that they might treat him the same way he treated war prisoners. i.e., death. Weasely little man.
The battlegound is woefully short of historical markings. Cannons of any make are placed wherever some artillery might have been. It is very difficult to understand the battle from the markings onsite.
There is a very tall limestone tower, topped with a, guess what, lone star. Actually, a statue of Sam Houston was planned atop the tower, but that would have made it exceed the height of the Washington Monument, and the Park Service nixed it. There is a reflecting pool at the base of the tower, but it seems like an afterthought and very out of place.
The Lynchburg Ferry, used by the attackers to sneak up on the Mexican Army, is still in use, albeit on gasoline powered boats. They are small, the largest capable of holding only twelve cars.
Lastly, the area is smack dab in the middle of a huge chemical plant infastructure which stretches for maybe 12 miles along the Houston Ship Channel. It is a shame that too much of it is too close to this important landmark.
And my fellow Harris Countians would skin me, but being a Fort Worth native, Go Cowboys..!
Chris (c9c2a3) — 3/3/2008 @ 4:29 amDRJ #3,
Today is Casimir Pulaski Day, which is a City of Chicago holiday. I just remembered that old Mayor Daley would declare “Everybody is Polish on Casimir Pulaski Day” or “Everybody’s Irish on St. Patrick’s Day”, etc., etc.. So, how about everybody is a Texan on Texas Independence Day?
nk (7b0075) — 3/3/2008 @ 6:40 amJoint Resolution for Annexing Texas to the United States – Approved March 1, 1845
“New States of convenient size not exceeding four in number, in addition to said State of Texas and having sufficient population, may, hereafter by the consent of said State, be formed out of the territory thereof, which shall be entitled to admission under the provisions of the Federal Constitution;…”
An interesting idea.
Howard Houston (3e8d4f) — 3/3/2008 @ 6:59 amThe Alamo battlefield is in the middle of downtown San Antonio. What is left now — the Chapel building and the barracks — the fighting was mostly ended by the time Mexican soldiers reached those structures. Davy Crockett may have died with the last of the Tennesseans at the base of the chapel, about where you’d stand for your family photograph.
It’s gives pause to stand there and guess that the Mexicans breached the North Wall about where now are the Fed’l courthouse steps, or that Col Travis fell at about the corner of E. Houston and Alamo Plz streets. Or to have grown with friends whose great-great-greats, Mexican and Anglo, have their names inscribed on the Memorial.
Happy Birthday, Texas. Proud to call you home.
furious (b6aff2) — 3/3/2008 @ 9:29 amchris: Actually, the San Jacinto Monument–at 570 feet–is taller than the Washington Monument (555′).
Mark Belt (c6cfed) — 3/3/2008 @ 2:53 pm