Remembering The Alamo

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

Dr. Chuck Baldwin is the
pastor of Crossroad Baptist Church in Pensacola,
Florida. He hosts a

weekly radio show. His
website is

here.