Remember The Alamo,....denounce cinco de mayo....Letter to the President

OFF THE WIRE
Mr. Thomas Pastore

                                                                            1151 Windmill Grove Circle
                                                                               Orlando, Florida 32828
                                                                       H- 407-381-5630 / C-407-963-6238
                                                                               E-mail; wetheepeople@aol.com


President Obama                                                                                      June 24th, 2011
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW,
 Washington, DC 20500.
Mr. President,
   I am compelled to write this outreach letter to you in the hope that you will recognize my frustration, and understand my feelings, about a “celebration” that you participate in which I strongly feel is a dis-service to America’s history, and (I believe), is an unknowing disrespect for our American War Veterans. I am speaking about your exceptional embrace of the May 5th day called “Cinco-De-Mayo”. There is much more to this day and the surrounding years prior to this day that suggest that perhaps we have given this an undue, and undeserving degree of attention, more so then it really should receive. You speak “highly” of this day, and I suspect without the true understanding of how this may offend many, many Americans who wish you would speak with the same energy and respect for another day in History that is connected to this “Cinco” day. A time in America’s history that is very Sad and an Infamous time in our Mexican/American history. I shall briefly explain.
Cinco-De-Mayo;….Is but a brief day in Mexico’s history, not recognized by the country of Mexico as a whole, but only by the state of Pueblo where this battle occurred. They did hold-off the French troops who outnumbered them at approx. 2-1, and many to this day say that this was a cry and a quest for “Sovereignty”, and Freedom in this country. A goal that Mexico should have pursued. Truly deserving goals for any country to seek. Something that we all pursue, and in which America has set the example for all to follow in pursuit of those goals. Unfortunately, in Mexico’s history that battle on May 5th was short-lived, as the French came back in less than a year and conquered Mexico. I think Mexico realizes that there is not much to celebrate there....so thus with that knowledge they quietly let this day go by, as it should.
   So why do we celebrate, or exploit this day, when there is another time where we, and you as our American Leader, together, we should observe a truly tragic, but historical moment that resulted in the growth of America, and denied those who wished to conquer.
   I speak of the Alamo, (March 6, 1836), and the tragedy, and glory of that time a mere 26 years before the “Cinco-De-Mayo” observation. The Republic of Texas revolted, against the dictatorship of General Santa Ana of Mexico. Mexico didn’t want to grant the Freedom and Sovereignty to these Texians, that they (Mexico) themselves were seeking when they fought the French.
 *Mr. President,...In your 2010 speech on celebrating ‘Cinco-de-mayo” you spoke of  “How Mexican patriots faced-off against a massive European army”. Actually as history reports the odds against them was less then 2-1. At the Alamo, the odds against the Texians were at least 8-1.
The story of the Alamo as we all know is about people’s quest to be Free, and in this case it was about Americans that moved to this land and wanted to be part of the growing country known as America. Mexico didn’t want that to happen. For 13 days (about 186 Americans), repelled Santa Ana’s 1,500 Troops. Sadly the Alamo was over-run, and fell to Mexico, but this is where the Tragedy begins, and why we should hesitate about cheering loudly for a “Cinco’ day while we ignore our own Veterans of Freedom from the Alamo. History reports that Mexico did not take the 6 or so prisoners of war that were left after battle. Instead they executed them right on the spot. They Hacked them to Death with their swords. It is reported that former Congressman of Tennessee, Davy Crockett, was one of those “Hacked-to-Death”. Mexico then took ALL the bodies and piled them up on wood piles and Burned them all to Ashes. Nothing was left for their Families to remember them by or pay their last respects to. We have looked at similar incidents through-out our Human history as Desecrations, and War Crimes, and we sought Justice......Here in the 21st century we celebrate with those responsible, and ignore our American Veterans who died for the Dream of being American. I find that Tragic, and as an American and War Veteran, it tears at the very fabric of my Heart that we can’t take the time to take care of our own first.
  History has reported the indelible words of that time.....“Remember the Alamo”, and it was because of this Human Desecration, that Americans yelled those words and were so angered that they conquered Mexico and had them release their hold on the State that we now know as Texas. No one ever answered for the violations of those Americans bodies, or the executions of Prisoners.
Mr. President,....Why are we celebrating “Cinco-De-Mayo”, again?
I suspect that I may not convince you to cease these unworthy “cinco’ celebrations, but Please do not deny or ignore those of the Alamo. I have not seen nor heard of our President speaking about the Alamo, or  “holding court” on March 6th of every year, with war veterans or even Family members of those who died at the Alamo. Can you do that for our Alamo War Veterans who built the history of this country, and paid the extreme price for All of us? Can you name their names at the largest Podium in America, where you reside,  where all Americans can hear of their sacrifice?  They deserve at least this much.
I respectfully ask that you pronounce the words (Remember the Alamo), loudly throughout this land so that we all need to stop and reflect, and with tears in our eyes, cheer for those who gave to us their lives, so we could be Free. We can’t change the vile way they were desecrated, but we can raise them up with Pride to the status of True Americans and Heroes, that they were,....we owe them at least that much. Our silence on this overdue recognition, while we recognize the “history” of other countries first is unbecoming of Americans. You can change that!
 There is No Shame in remembering our own.......First.
I apologize for the length of this letter, but there is much to say, and I don’t get to talk with you as those who make daily policy do, so I have to take advantage of this letter writing moment, since I find it to be much more sincere then a simple E-mail.
We are Americans, with a History that has shades of both Good and Bad, and we must embrace it, and learn from it,….but never hide from it.
                                                                                                                    Sincerely,

                                                                                                                Thomas Pastore
                                                                                A humble American and Vietnam Veteran