Remembering The Alamo
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Posted: 03/11/09
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Remembering The Alamo
By Chuck Baldwin
March 10, 2009
This column is archived at
http://www.chuckbaldwinlive.com/c2009/cbarchive_20090310.html
March 6 marks the anniversary of the fall of the Alamo back in 1836. For
more than 13 days, 186 brave and determined patriots withstood Santa Anna's
seasoned army of over 4,000 troops. To a man, the defenders of that mission
fort knew they would never leave those ramparts alive. They had several
opportunities to leave and live. Yet, they chose to fight and die. How
foolish they must look to this generation of spoiled Americans.
It is difficult to recall that stouthearted men such as Davy Crockett (a
nationally known frontiersman and former Congressman), Will Travis (only 23
years old with a little baby at home), and Jim Bowie (a wealthy landowner
with properties on both sides of the Rio Grande) really existed. These were
real men with real dreams and real desires. Real blood flowed through their
veins. They loved their families and enjoyed life as much as any of us.
There was something different about them, however. They possessed a
commitment to liberty that transcended personal safety and comfort.
Liberty is an easy word to say, but it is a hard word to live up to. Freedom
has little to do with financial gain or personal pleasure. Accompanying
Freedom is her constant and unattractive companion, Responsibility. Neither
is she an only child. Patriotism and Morality are her sisters. They are
inseparable; destroy one and all will die.
Early in the siege, Travis wrote these words to the people of Texas: "Fellow
Citizens & Compatriots: I am besieged by a thousand or more of the Mexicans
under Santa Anna. . . . The enemy has demanded a surrender at discretion,
otherwise the garrison are to be put to the sword . . . I have answered the
demand with a cannon shot & our flag still waves proudly from the walls. I
shall never surrender or retreat. . . . VICTORY OR DEATH! P.S. The Lord is
on our side. . . ."
As you read those words, remember that Travis and the others did not have
the A.C.L.U., P.E.T.A., People for the un-American Way, and the National
Education Association telling them how intolerant and narrow-minded their
notions of honor and patriotism were. A hostile media did not constantly
castigate them as a bunch of wild-eyed extremists. As school children, they
were not taught that their forefathers were nothing more than racist jerks.
The brave men at the Alamo labored under the belief that America (and Texas)
really was "the land of the free and the home of the brave." They believed
God was on their side and that the freedom of future generations depended on
their courage and resolve. They further believed their posterity would
remember their sacrifice as an act of love and devotion. It all looks pale
now.
By today's standards, the gallant men of the Alamo appear rather foolish.
After all, they had no chance of winning--none. However, the call for
pragmatism and practicality was never sounded. Instead, they answered the
clarion call, "Victory or death!"
Please try to remember the heroes of the Alamo as you watch our gutless
political and religious leaders surrender to compromise and political
correctness. Try to recall the time in this country when ordinary men and
women had the courage of their convictions and were willing to sacrifice
their lives for freedom and independence.
One thing is certain: those courageous champions at the Alamo did not die
for a political party or for some "lesser of two evils" mantra. They fought
and died for a principle, and that principle was liberty and independence.
So did the men at Lexington and Concord. That is our heritage.
Today, however, our national leaders are in the process of turning America
over to the very forces that the Alamo defenders gave their lives resisting.
On second thought, do they look foolish, or do we?
Beyond that, how much longer do we have before it will become necessary for
freedom-loving States such as Texas (and maybe Oklahoma, Montana, Wyoming,
New Hampshire, Vermont or South Carolina) to declare their independence one
more time? An argument could be made that Washington, D.C., is considerably
more brutish and tyrannical than old Santa Anna ever was. I'm not so sure
that it isn't already time to again hoist the "Don't Tread On Me" flags,
shout "Remember The Alamo," and renew the faith and courage of William
Travis and Patrick Henry.
*If you appreciate this column and want to help me distribute these
editorial opinions to an ever-growing audience, donations may now be made by
credit card, check, or Money Order. Use this link:
http://www.chuckbaldwinlive.com/donate.php
(c) Chuck Baldwin
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