History textbook and movie project: Texas

A previous posting spoke of the protests of Mexican Texans against the official version of Texan history. The movie on the two Texan heroes, Austin and Houston, in "The Real West" series reveals the reason for their displeasure. It is written from the anti-Mexican viewpoint. References to Mexicans are all negative. Austin went to Mexico City to negotiate. He made an indiscreet reference to possible Texan secession, and he was jailed for two years. On his release, he bitterly denounced the Mexicans. There were the massacres at the Alamo and a Goliad, which were scarcely explained. The Texans triumphed at San Jacinto, and the miserable Sant'Anna was brought as a defeated enemy into the presence of the victors. I toured Texas in 1938 and saw the sights, including the monument at San Jacinto, a huge symbol of the defeat of Mexico..

At the same time, it is difficult to say where the loyalties of Texan Americans lie at present. I have followed the campaign for mayor of Houston, in which they denounce any candidate who does not favor bilingual education and Spanish and defend the Catholic faith as the faith of Mexicans. The chief offender is a Presbyterian. The Mexican Texans form a swing vote, and even the Republicans have found one from Laredo, a wealthy businessman who has a Mexican name.

Ronald Hilton - 3/4/02