YEEEEEEE-HAW!!!
This here is Texas Independence Day!
On March 2, 1836, the Republic of Texas declared its indepencence from Mexico at Washington-on-the-Brazos! (The Brazos is a river, y’all.)
Just over two months later, Mexico recognized Texas’ independence in the Treaty of Velasco.
The original flag of Texas was the Bonnie Blue Flag (left). It was later replaced with the current flag (right). The presence of a single star on these flags is why Texas is known as "the Lone Star state."
The Texas Declaration of Independence was signed 169 years ago today by both Anglo-Texicans and Tejanos to end their perceived oppression by the Mexican central government of the day.
READ THE TEXAS DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.
BTW, note that one of the charges against the Mexican government was that it wished to inflict upon Texans that scourge of all mankind: gun control!
It [the Mexican government] has demanded us to deliver up our arms, which are essential to our defence, the rightful property of freemen, and formidable only to tyrannical governments.
Asking Texans to give up their guns? What did they expect to happen?
(No dissin’ Texas in the comments box: DON’T MESS WITH TEXAS!)
Without the use of phonetic symbols, I’ll do my best to explain the proper pronunciation of the said river: the “a” is short-sounding followed by zus, not zoes. In other words, Brazzus.
If I remember correctly, one of the requirements for Americans emigrating to Mexico in order to purchase land was that they convert to Catholicism. But it’s been a while since my seventh grade Texas history class, so I could be wrong.
I sure miss home, that’s for sure.
And, I wonder how many people know Texas has a pledge of allegiance to the state flag, as well as an official state song.
I remember reciting the Texas Pledge in elementary school, right after the National Pledge. Oh, the good ole’ days.
At Boys State we recited it at least twice a day, along with the singing of “Texas, Our Texas” and “The Eyes of Texas.” You could always tell who the future Ags were when the latter was sung.
I still get to say the pledge to the Texas flag every so often as I visit schools on a daily basis and some mornings I’m there for the pledges and moment of silence.
Of course I’ve also been involved in fire drills and almost a tornado warning. (happens every so often here in the Texas panhandle)
But I sure do love being a Texan!
As a non-Texan — a Canadian, yet! — I extend congrats to all you folks down there in the biggest state of the Union — oh, wait, that’s Alaska! Never mind — as a fan of westerns from my youth, I’ve always had a fondness for Texas. So I hope y’all had a rootin-tootin good time yesterday. Pary on, folks!
Didn’t Texas declare their independence for other reasons besides “gun control.” Didn’t the Mexican government require American settlers to speak Spanish and become evil Papists? In addition, wasn’t the straw that broke the camel’s back when the Mexican Government made slavery in the Texas territory illegal and prohibited further immigration from America (because they were not integrating into Mexican society by meeting the two requirements listed above – – ah, the sweet irony).
(Note this clause in Texas declaration: “[The Mexican government]denies us the right of worshipping the Almighty according to the dictates of our own conscience, by the support of a national religion, calculated to promote the temporal interest of its human functionaries, rather than the glory of the true and living God.)
I am not saying this to “dis” Texas. I have great respect for the Texans or any people’s right of association and its corresponding right of disassociation, even if I do not agree with their reason for doing so. This right goes back to when the Plebians left Rome during the “Revolt of the Orders” and was a right which was advanced by our forefathers during the American Revolution but which came into distain by the US Federal government some 30 years after Texas declared its independence from Mexico.
Uh, Marv, do you have any friggin’ clue how anti-clerical Santa Anna and his government were? 😀
*sigh* If only my umpteenth-great-grandfather hadn’t sold those acres he was granted for unspecified “services to the Republic of Texas”. Acres that are now occupied by parts of downtown Dallas-Ft.Worth…
(And if only my grandfather had bought shares of Texas Instruments at their IPO, rather than Tucker Car…)
“Uh, Marv, do you have any friggin’ clue how anti-clerical Santa Anna and his government were?”
I only quoted from the Texas Declaration of Independence with link provided by Jimmy. They were there and I wasn’t.
I can only assume that by “[The Mexican government]denies us the right of worshipping the Almighty according to the dictates of our own conscience, by the support of a national religion, calculated to promote the temporal interest of its human functionaries, rather than the glory of the true and living God” those signers of the declaration meant the Catholic Church (“national church”) and priests (“human functionaries”). I don’t think that the Baptist or Presbyterian Church were very big down in Mexico at that time.
Other information taken from the Smithsonian Museum website.
“I only quoted from the Texas Declaration of Independence with link provided by Jimmy. They were there and I wasn’t.”
I meant the signers of the Declaration were there in 1836 and not Jimmy. I don’t think that he is that old. If so, he looks good for his age.
WHOOP!!!
Jimmy, unfortunately Mexico is taking back Texas, Arizona and the Southwest states. They can have California
One of the best things I remember about Texas in my youth, was the song “The Yellow Rose of Texas”.and did enjoy all the Western cowboy movies – which included other states than just Texas of course. But hey – what else do you expect from a South Pacific Colonial?
Must go there one day. Mark Windsor – any spare beds at your place?
Where was the Alamo – was that New Mexico? Will have to check on Google.
Whoop!!!!!
Don,
The Alamo is an historic landmark in Texas located in San Antonio. Here’s a link for more information:
http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/view/AA/qea2.html
“I can only assume that by “[The Mexican government]denies us the right of worshipping the Almighty according to the dictates of our own conscience, by the support of a national religion, calculated to promote the temporal interest of its human functionaries, rather than the glory of the true and living God” those signers of the declaration meant the Catholic Church (“national church”) and priests (“human functionaries”). I don’t think that the Baptist or Presbyterian Church were very big down in Mexico at that time.”
It is simply General Sta. Anna cynically using a religion he didn’t like to coerce a people he looked down on. To him, religion was simply a means to get people to follow. In a way, he really was a Napoleon of the West.
“It is simply General Sta. Anna cynically using a religion he didn’t like to coerce a people he looked down on. To him, religion was simply a means to get people to follow. In a way, he really was a Napoleon of the West.”
Whatever. I have no strong feelings one way or another concerning Sta. Anna. Nonetheless, I would wager that most of those declaring their independence from Mexico were farmore anti-clerical and anti-papist than Sta. Anna ever would be.
Well, forcing someone to convert is wrong, whether it’s to Catholicism or whether to the worship of Shiva.
Well, forcing someone to convert is wrong, whether it’s to Catholicism or whether to the worship of Shiva.
No one was “forcing” anyone. Americans immigrated to Texas (then part of Mexico) with the understanding that they would adopt the True Faith. No one “forced” them to immigrate. They came of their own free accord. In my view a country has a right to determine the regulations under which they will accept immigrants from other countries. The American Texans did not abide by these regulations, therefore they were outlaws and by rights could have been expelled from Mexican territory.
Well, forcing someone to convert is wrong, whether it’s to Catholicism or whether to the worship of Shiva.
Btw, it depends on what you mean by “force.” For example, a Catholic government can curtail the public (but probably not private) exercise of other religions for the common good. This might have the side effect of making other religions’ adherents more likely to convert. Furthermore, I believe it is licit to apply force to those who were once Catholic but who later fall into heresy. It is true that one can’t be coerced into adopting a particular religion, since faith cannot be coerced, but that doesn’t mean that people can freely exercise their religion in public or that heretics can’t be punished.