Who Looks Foolish—Alamo Heroes, or Us?

During this week back in
1836, the

Alamo fell. 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?

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

weekly radio show. His
website is

here.