Happy Texas Independence Day!

On this day in 1836, during the battle of the Alamo and before the victory at San Jacinto, settlers in Mexican Texas hastily adopted the Texas Declaration of Independence thus creating the Republic of Texas and officially (even if not yet physically) liberating themselves from Santa Anna's dictatorship.

Of course, Santa Anna didn't concede to this declaration until after the embarrasing 18 minute long battle at San Jacinto  (the Texans snuck up on the Mexican army during their afternoon siesta).  There is an obelisk style monument on the site, like the Washington Monument in D.C. -- only, naturally, this one in Texas boasts being 15 feet taller than that one and thus the tallest in the world.  Texans don't like to brag or anything, unless of course it is about them and then, well...  The Republic of Texas lasted only 10 years, but it looms large in the history and hearts of Texans.  I can't tell you how many times over the course of my childhood I was told, "We were our own country once.  Remember that." 



hoisted on a crane just for today

Local KUT radio introduced an NPR piece today, imagining a modern day Texas secession. 

cultural attire in the Modern Republic!