We Have Lost A Lot

Subject: We Have Lost A Lot Wed 14 Nov 2007, 1:39 am

I spent my honeymoon in Huntsville, with its centerpiece being the Sam Houston Memorial Museum. My newly bound husband and I felt helpless from chuckling a bit as we listened to the General's reenacted and recorded last words, which are provided to visitors as they tour the homeplace and the grounds: "Texas ... Texas ... Margaret?"

I chuckled, but within myself and over time, I was troubled. I really didn't understand what this great man was trying to communicate in his last breath, to his beloved and constant wife.

And I see that I am not alone in my apathy and confusion. In the Introduction of her book, 'Inherit the Alamo: Myth and Ritual at an American Shrine,' (published 1995) Holly Beachley Brear quoted the following from an educator at Saint Mary's University, in San Antonio:

"'In my classes -- whether it's in ethnic politics class or my Texas politics class -- we touch upon the Alamo as part of the Texas history. And this generation of students, Hispanics included, either are not familiar [with] or they're pretty indifferent about what happened at the Alamo ... When you explain to them what happened at the Alamo, they take a detached view .... But they don't particularly care, one way or the other.'" (page 4)

Sam Houston was not present at the Battle of the Alamo, but he was very present elsewhere, and was in touch with .... appreciated something which seems incomprehensible to many members of my generation, and those following us.

What else can be said but that this is the truth? Which is the way that leads us out of our apathy?
_________________
The woman of the frontier made the best of her situation, for she had developed a respect for the land that gave her freedom as well as the courage to live in it.
~~~ from the perspective of Anne Seagraves

Subject: March Sun 09 Mar 2008, 9:45 pm

So, the bereft sunlight of February came and bottomed out. Our tax dollars had provided our young with an understanding of the agronomic contributions of George Washington Carver, a festival of African drums at Bass Hall in Fort Worth, and with an intimate knowledge of the epithet of Martin Luther King, Jr. I waited. I felt pride in my progeny's memorial penmanship -- documenting as it did this leader's tombstone with ease -- but March 2nd passed at our school in silence .... as did March 6th. Not the fault of hard-working teachers, I believe (rather, of the TEA and who knows who else?), but many parents undertake once again home-schooling of the Texan and broader patriotism of our children.
_________________
The woman of the frontier made the best of her situation, for she had developed a respect for the land that gave her freedom as well as the courage to live in it.
~~~ from the perspective of Anne Seagraves

Subject: Re: We Have Lost A Lot Mon 10 Mar 2008, 2:24 am

Culturism: A Path for the Present?

http://www.culturism.us/
_________________
The woman of the frontier made the best of her situation, for she had developed a respect for the land that gave her freedom as well as the courage to live in it.
~~~ from the perspective of Anne Seagraves

Subject: Re: We Have Lost A Lot Wed 12 Mar 2008, 7:59 am

Our local and strongly parent-supported public school hosted its open house last evening. I realize that I may be prejudiced, but do believe that our children are blessed with some of the best teachers and administrators in the state .... as is our district as a whole. The status and characteristics of the local public school were the main impetus for our relocation about two years ago, and we have been abundantly thankful for having made that decision.

Still, upon inquiring why Texas Independence Day and the fall of the Alamo had escaped mention to the children in early March, I was informed that this was probably because the former now is considered to be a "divisive" holiday. While black-American history is highlighted throughout February, then, an eraser has been drawn across my heritage as it should be extended to my children. The Alamo has fallen in company with our Creator into the 'moment of silence' which is kept each morning following (or, it may be preceding) the Pledge of Allegiance.

Needless to say, there is no Texas flag in evidence the classrooms. None of the old songs of patriotism -- state or national -- are taught to the students .... so far as I have been able to discern. Left alone, the situation for my child would be equal to, if not more grave, than my own upon finally opening a book of Texas history in the seventh grade: numb to my ancestral past, not really understanding nor caring why so many people would consent to give their lives for Texas Independence from Mexico .... but being sympathetically familiar with the plights of the blacks, Hispanics, American Indians and other peoples who anciently or more recently had crossed the Red, the Rio Grande or the Sabine.

A Mexican flag flying alongside the Stars and Stripes at a large manufacturing plant and employer in Denton ... why, what is wrong with that?
_________________
The woman of the frontier made the best of her situation, for she had developed a respect for the land that gave her freedom as well as the courage to live in it.
~~~ from the perspective of Anne Seagraves

Subject: Re: We Have Lost A Lot Fri 14 Mar 2008, 4:59 pm

Question:

"Mom, did they have real video cameras when Martin Luther King was alive?"

Internalization:

-- "See if you can tell what I'm whistling." (de ... de de ... de ... de de ... de de ... de ... de de de)

-- "I can't really tell right now, sweetie. I've got the dishwater running and we're listening to Medicine Man by Michael Murphey. Give me a hint, okay?"

-- "Listen to the syllables ~ de ... de de ...."

-- "Give me just one more little hint."

"Free ..."

(My gosh, Free Bird?)

Perplexed expression from Mom.

" ... at last. Free, at last ..."

Smiles both ways.

"Oh, that's good ...."

Both of a lovely day in March.
_________________
The woman of the frontier made the best of her situation, for she had developed a respect for the land that gave her freedom as well as the courage to live in it.
~~~ from the perspective of Anne Seagraves

Subject: Re: We Have Lost A Lot Sat 15 Mar 2008, 7:42 pm

This is what all our tax $$$ go for. We should have a lot more say in what kids are taught and what they are not if our money is paying for it.

Subject: Re: We Have Lost A Lot Sun 16 Mar 2008, 1:33 pm

Something that I don't know, but should, is the ratio of state/ federal monies vs. our own tax dollars which supports the public schools. But clearly, even if nine of our dollars hit the schools and only a single dollar is funneled to the same institution from government resources ... an elite, liberal conglomerate is privileged to decide how our children are enculturated. Of course, the parameters of much of our morality already have been fixed at the federal level, so ....

Also, I wonder why our public schools do so much or their own fund- raising -- with much foot-work being done by the parents and children, of course -- when compared with former days?
_________________
The woman of the frontier made the best of her situation, for she had developed a respect for the land that gave her freedom as well as the courage to live in it.
~~~ from the perspective of Anne Seagraves