Texas has a legend which you may have heard of: The Alamo.
Let’s discuss a very brief history lesson: Back when Texas
was still part of Mexico, a large group of settlers within it decided they did
not want to be part of that union anymore. They chose instead to break off to
form their own country. As one could expect when a section of a country
announces its intent to take its land and resources and go, Mexico object, and
it dispatched a mighty military under General Santa Anna to bring the separatists
to heel and keep Mexico whole. A group of these separatists, sporting some well-known
names at the time, decided to hole up in a local church mission known as Alamo.
This is where History might have taken a different turn.
Santa Anna knew these rebels were sealed away in the grounds of this old church
and had a choice. He could have set siege to the grounds, cut off their supply
lines, and demanded the surrender of separatist leaders in exchange for the
safe passage of those others within. With little hope of fighting their way through
enemy lines and dwindling supplies, these leaders might even have been forced
to give in, where they could have been returned to the capital to face justice
for their crimes against the state. Had this occurred, it is entirely possible
that those who really did not care much either way if Texas was under Mexico or
its own leadership may have taken the easier path and just allowed Mexico to
retain control. As history is written by the victors, ours could be very
different.
That, however, was not the choice Santa Anna made. Santa
Anna was full of righteous anger. These people were taking the land of his
countrymen and deserved to be made example of. With overwhelming odds on his
side, he chose to use what could be described as a vulgar display of power to
crush and execute all those who stood in his way. The intent was to show that any
who stood against what he felt was right would not be tolerated.
The problem with using examples, however is that it is
difficult to control the lessons learned from them. Rather than being cowered,
folks that were on the fence became incensed. As stories of the atrocities committed
at the Alamo spread far and wide, those who would have remained neutral instead
joined the opposition, and those already with the opposition renewed their
passion with a fervor that would have otherwise been non-existent. “Remember
the Alamo” became the rallying cry that turned a battle won into a war lost.
Now, close to two hundred years later, General Santa Anna’s
righteousness resides in our Governor Rick Perry. His Lieutenant David Dewhurst
is leading the charge to pass a law that they believe just, but that the
majority of Texans oppose. They could have compromised, passed something most
people didn’t like but that they were willing to put up with, and history would
continue to be uninteresting. Instead they have chosen to use a vulgar display
of power. They have suspended the senate rules that state 75% must be in
agreement to bring a bill forward. They have allowed their supporters to speak
while denying the same rights to those who oppose them. They have broken senate
rules, made illogical and unsupportable decisions, and even threatened to
arrest those who oppose them, making it clear that those who stand against what
they feel is right will not be tolerated.
In doing so, people who would have otherwise stood on the
fence, are joining the opposition. Those who were on the other side have
renewed their passion with a fervor not seen in the Texas Democratic party in
close to two decades. It is nearly impossible for those supporting women’s
rights to win this battle, but in losing the battle they may very well win the
war – pushing Texas from a Republican stronghold back to the Democratic.
It is said that those who forget history are doomed to
repeat it. Perhaps if Rick Perry and his followers hadn’t spent so much time
cutting education, they may have avoided this.
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