Personal Reflection: Remember the Alamo!

“Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.” John Wayne

BatJac Productions 1960 The Alamo

Something triggered last night, where I decided to watch John Wayne's The Alamo. 

I heard that John Wayne spent 14 years planning, writing, and preparing for this movie, and how he would actually construct it. He was not the headliner star but directed and produced it under BatJac Productions, his own company. 

According to the internet, John Wayne was fascinated by the story because it was a “powerful piece of American folklore and a patriotic statement on liberty and freedom.”

The United States of America was facing a Cold War during most of the 1900s with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, for both had atomic warfare and both had the capability of annihilating the other.

Sound familiar today?!

This was a threat against freedom, religious liberty, and against everything that American men and women had fought against since the Revolutionary War: tyranny and lack of independence.

According to the biography I read several years ago of John Wayne, he was also facing personal concerns and danger for himself and his family. The communists found John Wayne as an icon and an amazing representative of all that the USA stood for in patriotism and freedom for all. Therefore, he was in danger of his life at times.

Wayne wanted to portray through the movie, The Alamo, the history of the American Spirit of bravery and courage under fire, despite the many odds against even one single American standing for Liberty. (Bravery, facing personal danger without fear; Courage, facing personal danger despite fear). 

John Wayne, himself, and his production company took a big hit on this film, with all the costs, and it was actually considered a box office flop. But he had brought his historical film dream to life, representing something deep in his heart that he wanted to express for years.

“Republic … I like the sound of the word. It means people can live free, talk free, go or come, buy or sell, be drunk or sober, however they choose. Some words give you a feeling. Republic is one of those words that makes me tight in the throat. The same tightness a man gets when his baby takes his first step or his first baby shaves and makes his first sound like a man. Some words can give you a feeling that can make your heart warm. Republic is one of those words.” (John Wayne’s speech as Davy Crockett in The Alamo)

According to the historical recount, 185 to 260 men faced off against approximately 1,800 men of Santa Ana's army. They held them for 13 days while General Sam Houston organized the troops that would finally defeat Santa Ana and his army. 

Houston, with 800 men, beat Santa Ana, with approximately 1,500 men, on April 21, 1836, in 18 minutes! Another amazing triumph of American, or rather Texan, spirit against insurmountable odds! Texas was an independent nation before joining the United States of America on September 29, 1845.

It is really an excellent film, with historical figures well portrayed, and the American Spirit of standing against overwhelming challenges, as in the Revolutionary War and other many American conflicts, too, is well represented. 

Albeit some of the extra embellished adventurous challenges written in the script might be attributed to Hollywood's artistic license, (cannon blown, cattle stolen are historical myths not verified).  🙂

Nevertheless, an unusual thought came to me that had never occurred to me before while watching a battle, whether it be historical or fictional. 

God was there. 

God gave us free choice to make decisions, and man's decision has unfortunately been a detriment to others. From the day Cain murdered Abel to the horrible and horrendous situations going on around the world today, God is there watching.

I can't imagine that it is not breaking His heart that the people he created in His own image (body, mind, eternal soul) are so evil and viciously destructive. 

It needs to be imperative to all of us as we watch the destruction of our planet's residents that each one who dies is an individual with a life, family, hopes and dreams, and above all, an eternal soul. Our prayers for peace should come deeply from the heart, even though it is an impossibility but a constant desire.

It was a strange thought to come out of a historical film by a famous American actor, John Wayne, but I am very pleased that it brought more to me than just a few hours of entertainment.

I would love to hear your thoughts about my reflection or on this film … or just on the American Spirit of our country!