Sunday, September 30, 2007
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
In the story of the Alamo, there are two distinct groups that both play significant roles in the battle of the Alamo. The anglo settlers were presented as heroic, in that every anglo mentioned in the Alamo was mentioned with favor. On the timeline display, it said that Stephen F. Austin was permitted to bring 300 families from the United States to Texas, although the decree of April 6, 1830 stated that U.S. citizens were not allowed to colonize. William B. Travis became commander after being arrested, and Stphen F. Austin had the privelege of commanding 300 volunteers self proclaimed as the "Army of the People" after being released from prison in November 7, 1835.
The Mexican government was also very influencial and favorable. They authorized a Texan Navy to patrol the waters on the gulf on November 25, 1835. Because of political conditions, problems arose between the Colonists and the Mexican officials. Also, Jose Antonio Navarro and Jose Francisco Ruiz were the only native-born texians to sign the Texas Declaration of Independence. When the Mexican Constitution was drafted by delegates from all parts of Mexico, San Antonio lost its status as the capital of Texas.
Overall, I believe that the groups presented in the Alamo do a pretty adequate job of presenting the complete story, though it could be rather difficult to summarize without a tour guide.
The Mexican government was also very influencial and favorable. They authorized a Texan Navy to patrol the waters on the gulf on November 25, 1835. Because of political conditions, problems arose between the Colonists and the Mexican officials. Also, Jose Antonio Navarro and Jose Francisco Ruiz were the only native-born texians to sign the Texas Declaration of Independence. When the Mexican Constitution was drafted by delegates from all parts of Mexico, San Antonio lost its status as the capital of Texas.
Overall, I believe that the groups presented in the Alamo do a pretty adequate job of presenting the complete story, though it could be rather difficult to summarize without a tour guide.
Monday, September 17, 2007
Mission Down South
Mission Espada is a historical landmark located on the southern most part of San Antonio. It is visited mainly on Sundays for mass at church, but it also holds much historical value which attracts the community as well as tourists. In addition to its beautifully constructed buildings, it contains a dam and aqueduct which makes it unique in comparison to the other missions.
Being the first mission to arrive here in 1731, Espada started in Mississippi, then moved to Austin, and finally came to what is now called San Antonio. Since all of San Antonio used to be plains and green lands, the Spaniards decided to build where there was a resource of water. This supply of water is now known as the San Antonio river which is where all the other missions are located by.
I learned a great deal about Mission Espada. The natives, though hunter/ gatherer nomadic, were still civilized in that they were an independent, organized group, just not as developed as the Spaniards. But the Natives had no choice but to succumb to this sugar-coated slavery known as converting to Catholicism. Though they were offered shelter from Comanches and Apaches, these Indians still sacrificed beliefs, dignity, and freedom. The activities of the Indians became routine and habitual as opposed to the spontaneous lifestyles that they were used to. In a culture where eating, sleeping, and loving occurred on impulse, these Indians were now being summoned by the church bell for just about everything. The Spaniards introduced the natives to such things as irrigation, looming, and religion where many of them would ultimately intertwine these teachings into their own culture. But then, they were reluctant and very seldom were any of them sincere in the practices they were encouraged to engage in.
The Church played a major role in the missions, though it was not the mission itself and merely a part of it. I wouldn’t be surprised if a good handful of the Natives were actually active and sincere about the new belief that had been introduced to them. I know that when I first stepped foot into the church building at Mission Espada, I felt a presence that was almost pulling at my very soul. Without sounding superstitious or crazy, it was alluring and irresistible yet gentle and calming, so perhaps there was a genuine faith incorporated and cultivated among the inhabitants of this land. Nothing is for certain, since man sees the outside, but God sees the inside.
San Francisco Mission de Espada is about much more than just old ruins of a historic landmark; rather it’s the origin on which we Mexican Americans base our traditions and beliefs. Such a valuable piece of the past has done nothing short of paving the way for future generations to come. Hopefully they will not soon forget the distinctive roots from which they stem from. As for me, its clear to see how deeply impacted I was after having had little knowledge of this mission site or any of them for that matter. My hope is that your interest in the matter would be deeply reawakened.
Being the first mission to arrive here in 1731, Espada started in Mississippi, then moved to Austin, and finally came to what is now called San Antonio. Since all of San Antonio used to be plains and green lands, the Spaniards decided to build where there was a resource of water. This supply of water is now known as the San Antonio river which is where all the other missions are located by.
I learned a great deal about Mission Espada. The natives, though hunter/ gatherer nomadic, were still civilized in that they were an independent, organized group, just not as developed as the Spaniards. But the Natives had no choice but to succumb to this sugar-coated slavery known as converting to Catholicism. Though they were offered shelter from Comanches and Apaches, these Indians still sacrificed beliefs, dignity, and freedom. The activities of the Indians became routine and habitual as opposed to the spontaneous lifestyles that they were used to. In a culture where eating, sleeping, and loving occurred on impulse, these Indians were now being summoned by the church bell for just about everything. The Spaniards introduced the natives to such things as irrigation, looming, and religion where many of them would ultimately intertwine these teachings into their own culture. But then, they were reluctant and very seldom were any of them sincere in the practices they were encouraged to engage in.
The Church played a major role in the missions, though it was not the mission itself and merely a part of it. I wouldn’t be surprised if a good handful of the Natives were actually active and sincere about the new belief that had been introduced to them. I know that when I first stepped foot into the church building at Mission Espada, I felt a presence that was almost pulling at my very soul. Without sounding superstitious or crazy, it was alluring and irresistible yet gentle and calming, so perhaps there was a genuine faith incorporated and cultivated among the inhabitants of this land. Nothing is for certain, since man sees the outside, but God sees the inside.
San Francisco Mission de Espada is about much more than just old ruins of a historic landmark; rather it’s the origin on which we Mexican Americans base our traditions and beliefs. Such a valuable piece of the past has done nothing short of paving the way for future generations to come. Hopefully they will not soon forget the distinctive roots from which they stem from. As for me, its clear to see how deeply impacted I was after having had little knowledge of this mission site or any of them for that matter. My hope is that your interest in the matter would be deeply reawakened.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Mission San Francisco de la Espada
When we first arrived at the Mission San Francisco de la Espada, I didn't like it. Honestly, all I saw were old buildings that needed remodeling. Nothing that caught my eye. Then the tour guide started explaining in detail how in the 1690's Mission Espada started in Mississippi, moved to Austin, and ended up here in 1731 which is now the furthest mission south. The way the Spaniards taught the male natives how to kiln bricks and the women how to use the loom interested me as well. There were two churches built; the first one was considerably small with a socrasty, an altar, and a dirt floor where the congregation would come to worship. But soon after the church was built, a weakness in the walls was noticed. So before the church became any more unstable, another one was built about two times larger with and oddly made door. This one still stands and is still active today. The entire mission had a wall surrounding it to keep the hungry apaches and comanches out. I found out that the mission is not a church, but rather a town with a church. Espada has many descendants possibly attending the church today, although its history for the most part is a mystery. Names, faces, and personalities might have been lost along the way, but their story is told through the physical remains of these buildings and through the lives of their descendants as well. So now I don't just see old buildings, but the beginning of a legacy that is vibrantly living on today as what we call the TEX-MEX or Spanglish culture.
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