If I type a question about the Alamo here, I will lose 5 points. Should I do it?

Question

Aw, what the heck. Have you ever visited the Alamo? Tell us about it. I could use a bedtime story.

Answer 1

Of course, you should ask the question since a sacrifice of five points will undoubtly gain you the undying gratitude of legions of native Texans, such as myself.

Even though my ancestors arrived in Texas after the Texas War for Independence--and mostly after the American Civil War (if the truth be known)--my parents thought it was their civic duty to take me to this shrine at the age of seven. Later, like all other Texas seventh-graders, I would become familiar with the details of the Alamo story and while reading Colonel William Travis' famous plea for volunteers would wonder whether I too could defend my country (Texas, naturally) if the choice meant "Victory or Death!"

(http://www.somsofthesouth.net/texas/william-travis.htm)

Any middle school student in Texas worth his or her TAKS score* could easily summarize the Battle of the Alamo, but here's a Cliff Notes version:

Texian revolutionaries of both Anglo and Tejano ethnicity** took refuge in the Alamo--also known as the Misson San Antonio de Bexar--in February 1836 whereupon Mexican President, General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, laid seige to the mission for 13 days. In the predawn hours of March 6, 1836, the Mexican troops rushed the compound, slaughtering its defenders. Davy Crockett, Jim Bowie, and a lot of other military volunteers from a host of different states and countries gave as good as they got, but in the end, only a handful of women and children were left to tell the tale. However, "remember the Alamo" became a rallying cry that spurred Sam Houston to lead other Texians who would win Texas her independence at the Battle of San Jacinto, April 21, 1836.

http://www.thealamo.org

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*TAKS (the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills test):
an exam given each spring to determine if Texas school children have not been left behind in five different subject areas: math, reading, writing, science, and social studies. Unfortunately, the entire spring semester is given over to teaching to the test, and whites and Asians easily outperform their African-American and Mexican-American counterparts. Accreditation and funding depend upon this all important exam, and students ordinarily cannot move to the next grade or graduate from high school unless they pass the test.

**The term "Anglos" still applies to whites, or European Texans, who may or may not be of English ancestry, while the term "Tejanos" referred to Mexican-Texans who supported the Texas Revolution.

Upon the completion of this question, if readers agree to learn the pledge to the Texas flag (repeated after the Pledge of Allegiance in Texas schools) as well as the words to the state song, "Texas, Our Texas," they will undoubtedly be eligible for an honorary citizenship in the Lone Star State.

Remember the Alamo!

P. S. John Wayne's "The Alamo" was filmed at Bandera, Texas, where the recreation of the Mission actually looks more impressive than the actual compound.

Answer 2

I've been to the Alamo...

From the movies, I always expected the Alamo to be this grand structure. But it was really just a one string of one story buildings. Its amazing to think that 100 men fought an enormous Mexican army behind those walls.

The crazy thing about the Alamo today is that it was developed as a tourist attraction before it was protected as a historic site. So, 10 feet from the Alamo are really tacky wax museums, video game arcades, and stuff like that. Now those little walls are holding back an enormous Texan army of tackiness.

Answer 3

No, I did see a painting about it tho, a lot of rednecks and mexicans.

Answer 4

Nope, but I heard Ozzy peed on it.