Remember the Alamo!

[mookiemookie]

176 years ago today, Mexican troops assaulted the Alamo. Big day for Texans.

[Onkel Neal]

And historically significant day for the US and the world. This event went a long way toward ensuring America's sweep to the Pacific was not divided by huge Mexican territories in the middle.

[nikimcbee]

Go Billy Bob.

[mookiemookie]

Originally Posted by Neal Stevens

And historically significant day for the US and the world. This event went a long way toward ensuring America's sweep to the Pacific was not divided by huge Mexican territories in the middle.

Very true. I'm sure it won't be long until some "historian" comes along and makes a first year student mistake and tells us how horrible we are for that, too.

[Hottentot]

Originally Posted by mookiemookie

Very true. I'm sure it won't be long until some "historian" comes along and makes a first year student mistake and tells us how horrible we are for that, too.

As a fourth year student I'd like to know how would having a different interpretation of any given subject be a "first year student mistake"?

[soopaman2]

Right or wrong it happened and shaped our country.

Manifest destiny at its finest.

I am sure a historian could bring up rightful ownership, but might makes right. Especially at that time. Honeyed words and sentiments do nothing against a howitzer.

Should we vacate all states since they were host to native indians? NO!

They came across a land bridge, we should deport them to Russia, where they came from. How much time, is enough time to exert ownership, and exude butthurt?

Our ex slaves still claim grievances, even though none of them ever felt a whip. Lots too many oppurtunists. (I'll spare you my affirmative action rant)

My point is, time is past, whats done is done.

You are debating right and wrong with a time where you could marry a 14 year old when you are in your 30s. Where you you were publically hung for stealing a horse.

To apply todays morality to an act of the 1800s is unfair.

As a fourth year student I'd like to know how would having a different interpretation of any given subject be a "first year student mistake"?

Thats easy, it is when the interpretation is based on fiction not fact.

[Jimbuna]

"I'm a screamer"

[mookiemookie]

Originally Posted by Hottentot

As a fourth year student I'd like to know how would having a different interpretation of any given subject be a "first year student mistake"?

Not a different interpretation. I was referring to looking at history and applying modern morality judgments to it.

Originally Posted by soopaman2

Right or wrong it happened and shaped our country.

Manifest destiny at its finest.

I am sure a historian could bring up rightful ownership, but might makes right. Especially at that time. Honeyed words and sentiments do nothing against a howitzer.

Should we vacate all states since they were host to native indians? NO!

They came across a land bridge, we should deport them to Russia, where they came from. How much time, is enough time to exert ownership, and exude butthurt?

Our ex slaves still claim grievances, even though none of them ever felt a whip. Lots too many oppurtunists. (I'll spare you my affirmative action rant)

My point is, time is past, whats done is done.

You are debating right and wrong with a time where you could marry a 14 year old when you are in your 30s. Where you you were publically hung for stealing a horse.

To apply todays morality to an act of the 1800s is unfair.

EXACTLY what I was getting at.

[Stealhead]

Actually the Mexican Army was larger than the US Army at that time we just had much better officers many of the lower staff officers went on to become generals during the Civil War.

So the might was on the Mexican side they had more full time soldiers than the US did.The US on the other hand had better disciplined soldiers that did not break so easily.We actually could have taken over the Mexican government and in effect taken over all of Mexico so we where actually behaving kindly by standards the of that time.

[Hottentot]

Originally Posted by Tribesman

Thats easy, it is when the interpretation is based on fiction not fact.

Originally Posted by mookiemookie

Not a different interpretation. I was referring to looking at history and applying modern morality judgments to it.

Fair enough, both of those would definitely be mistakes. To me it originally looked like, Mookie, that you were yourself doing the classic first year student mistake, that is, treating history "as it is", but I get the point now.

[soopaman2]

Originally Posted by Stealhead

Actually the Mexican Army was larger than the US Army at that time we just had much better officers many of the lower staff officers went on to become generals during the Civil War.

So the might was on the Mexican side they had more full time soldiers than the US did.The US on the other hand had better disciplined soldiers that did not break so easily.We actually could have taken over the Mexican government and in effect taken over all of Mexico so we where actually behaving kindly by standards the of that time.

I agree with this statement.

But as you so illustrated might does not always equal ordinance or soldier counts. The American Revolutionary war proved that might could be an idea or a vision too.

At one time we fought for the people.

[Stealhead]

Well I was just trying to point out that mere might (from a size of military standpoint) does always mean right the more powerful military loses many times in history for one reason or another.

We had the benefit of fighting the UK at a point in time where it had many threats to its interest so we did not have to face the full force of its military and they nearly defeated us until von Steuben came along and taught us discipline before that we tended to break under pressure.And dont forget that the French also added us greatly alone we would have failed.

The timing of the Mexican American War was in the favor of the US as well.


Look at the Vietnam War for example ours was the much more powerful military yet it failed to convince the other side to stop fighting us granted that was our first "limited" war and that surely had a factor more than anything else.The Germans in WWII until 1943 had the best most skilled and most highly disciplined military and they failed in the end might was not right for them.Of course as you said the other side had more might in its cause and was fighting an enemy that tied one had behind his back.

The one person who was truly might is right was Genghis Khan you either agreed to be submit with no resistance or you where destroyed right down to last woman and child no pity no prisoners that is true might is right but few are willing to be that brutal.

[BossMark]

Classic scene

[Jimbuna]

I'm glad Colonel Travis was of English descent....listening to the accent