If you’re reading this, you’re a friend of Texas history. Every year or two, you see big headlines about a revisionist history attack, then everything goes quiet again.
But it may surprise you to learn that those hiccups of revisionism aren’t mere spasms at all. The headlines we see are what happens when the men at the levers of power say the quiet part out loud.
No doubt you’re familiar with the Texas State Historical Association. Maybe you’re even a member because you want to do our part to keep our exceptional history alive, right?
You probably don’t know that the Chief Historian at TSHA planted those seeds of revisionism. He set out to attack and destroy “non-inclusive” traditional history. And he’s winning, folks.
I’ve put together a video to help you get to know him and his agenda. You’ll learn more later this week when I finish the next installment.
A plan to remedy this problem will follow. Together, we’ll take back the helm and right our historical ship because it’s the Texan thing to do.
Col. Crockett said, “Be always sure you’re right, then go ahead.” We are right. It’s time to go ahead.
God & Texas,
Michelle Haas
Copano Bay Press
Categories: Texas Academia, Texas Heroes, The Alamo
Well. I’m an Aggie and I hate that these idiots came from A&M. Guess they were trying to get positions at t.u. and it evidently worked! Keep up to great work and let’s shine the light on these revisionists!
After getting out of the Army in ’97 I went back to school at UTSA. When I took the required TX history course it was taught by a self admitted, proud “communist of Latino descent” (his words), replete with a red beret. Every class period he would viciously go after anyone of Anglo descent in our state’s history. Stephen F Austin wanted to steal Tejano land & same went for any of the white defenders of the Alamo, Goliad, or San Jacinto. The TX Rangers were formed solely to go out & kill Native Americans & any Latinos they saw. All of the land in TX was stolen from Latinos but he would get furious if any of us pointed out they “stole” it from the Native American tribes. Some of us older students, primarily vets, would speak up but the younger crowd mostly sat there too afraid to stand up for what was right. The professor even tried to get 2 of us thrown out of the class but luckily Dr Romo, the university president, was a good man & quashed that. Sadly I hate to think how bad it has gotten now.
Thank you for doing this; of course, I, like most Texans, had no idea this was occurring.. I commend you for making us aware in such an interesting and clever piece. I wait with bated breath for your next one.
Well, I’m a “Sip”, and I’m glad these idiots are not from UT. But the sad reality is that anyone teaching history at UT is certain to be a social justice warrior of the worst kind.
I taught Texas History at Coastal Bend College for 14 years, and I have been including it in my Texas Government courses at South Texas College for the last 13 years. I can say that very few of my students have had any Texas history in their K-12 experience. I’m one of only two instructors at STC who teach the more traditional Texas history narrative. Actually, out of 120 social studies instructors at STC, only about 10 of us are native Texans and only about twelve of us like being here.
I’m also an Aggie and also have studied at other schools ( forgive me, but a t.u. institution.). These “instructors” (I would not call them “professors”) I have not worked a “real” job in their lives. I suggest they go back to the North and let them spew their vomit at a “liberal” college.
God help the Republic of Texas! Remember Goliad! Remember the Alamo!
I’m a descendant of John Burke who achieved a land grant in Texas before Mexico was a country(1820). Also a descendant of the original 300.(Boatright) . I fine all this not only disturbing but infuriating! This cannot be allowed to happen and must be stopped by ANY means available. One way to my liking would be to secede from the USA and once again become the Republic of Texas! It. Can. Be. Done.
Michelle,
Thanks so much for your review of this information. Not Texas born (born in the great state of Virginia), but have been here for 40 years, and love History. Not that watered-down revisionist history (don’t get me wrong – I am all for discovering new and ‘undocumented’ histories of those who weren’t always in control, but it should be additive – you don’t have to take away great history to make way for new additional stories of great Texans, even the ones no one has heard of before) some like to push. Keep up the good work – I really appreciate that someone cares about our history!
I am appalled as a descendant of a soldier of San Jacinto, numerous Rangers and a member of the Daughters of the Texas Revolution as well as a Daughters of American Revolution!
Barbara
Do you have a version without all the extra graphics? The message is important, and a more serious version would be greatly appreciated. I have already written TSHA and asked to be removed as a member, and from their mailing list. I also gave my opinion of Buenger and received this response:
“We’re aware of the article and commentary surrounding Dr. Buenger’s comments. The opinions he expressed in the article are his statements and analysis as a historian, and the views he expressed do not reflect any official position taken by TSHA.
I wanted to let you know that TSHA makes every effort to provide the public with a comprehensive and verifiable history of Texas in our publications and programs. Anything officially presented by the Association is heavily researched and undergoes a thorough review by multiple historians, fact-checkers, and editors prior to publication. This process is designed to ensure personal opinions of staff members are not reflected in TSHA’s public encyclopedic histories, which can be found in the Handbook of Texas. This will continue to be the Association’s policy moving forward.
I hope that, in the long-run, you will continue to support TSHA and utilize resources like the Handbook. In the meantime, I am always willing to pass along any further concerns and do my best to answer any questions you may have. I truly appreciate your concern and feedback.”
Alex Krueger
Membership and Marketing Specialist
Thank you for kindly sharing their response, Sarah. It provides useful insight. I agree that the views Buenger expressed in 1990 weren’t the views of TSHA at the time. I wanted to expose the ideology he espouses and brings to his work. The follow-up video will recount comments he’s made since becoming their Chief Historian so I wonder how they’ll reconcile with that.
As for the tone of this video, I assure you that you are not alone in your criticism. I was concerned about presenting such long, boring chunks of text and losing the attention of half my audience. I’m used to doing long written pieces and have no experience translating that into spoken words/images. I didn’t want to make light of the subject by any means, but sought to make it more personal than a typical academic presentation. I’m still learning and I appreciate your comments a great deal.
As a lifelong Texan (except for being born in Oklahoma!) and proud student of Texas history, I am embarrassed to admit that this revisionism has been going on right in front of me for 30+ years. I would be pleased to support any effort to counteract it.
To Tom Guinn. If you have any old Texas history books that you deem more correct, perhaps you could get them to Michelle to reprint for those of us who like to read the “correct” version, rather than “Politically Correct” garbage. History, taught by the current crop of Communist revisionists, should be destroyed. History is only correct if it tells the story the way it actually happened. The Communist playbook states a country’s history must be destroyed to complete their take over. That has pretty well been completed in High Schools and Universities in our country.
Tom wasn’t saying anything snide. He was saying that out of his social studies department, only a handful (including him) actually LIKE being in Texas. Tom Guinn is a good egg.
Pro tip: if you want to be taken seriously when discussing Texas history which, by extension, leads into discussions about the state’s role in the Civil War, learn how to pronounce secession correctly.
If you can’t counter the substance, go after the form, right Pat?
Pro Tip, Professor: If you want your refutations to be taken seriously, please comment on the merits of my argument rather than nitpicking pronunciation. If Tarleton State can spare you, perhaps you’d like to come on down to record/re-record/re-record again the audio for the next installment. Surely your elocution would be flawless. Might be a good side hustle while you chase tenure.
Fire away, Michelle Haas. Reload, just in case you missed such a slippery target.
Michelle, thank you so much for the informative video on the matter. I think it was masterfully done in a way that keeps the interest of the viewer rather than a dry monologue that it could have been. I have been following your writings on the subject and what they are doing is appalling to say the least. I have been a history buff for some time and all one has to do is to read about Texas history as it came about in order to really appreciate the Texas psyche and the men who settled this country and then fought and died for it. It cannot be read or seen through the lens of the 21st century any more than our country’s founding can be interpreted through the society that we live in today. The history of Texas and western expansion wasn’t pretty in many respects, but it was going to happen one way or another. For those who would now “spin” our history to appease the liberal left, shame on them and shame on those who buy into it. Keep up the good work.
Very informative. Thank you! I am a public school teacher of Texas History and I rely very much on primary sources to demonstrate what actually happened in Texas. I so appreciate the materials Copano Bay Press has published. I eagerly look forward to every email I get from Mark. I’m also a professional writer of Texas history articles for Texas Living magazine, and in my writing, I’m so grateful for more and more primary sources being made available on-line. I appreciate anyone who digs out historical truth and accuracy.
I wonder if like-minded individuals might need to start a next Texas history association that is fact-based and doesn’t have a revisionist agenda. I know I’d become a member of such an association and I’d attend annual conferences, serve on boards and committees, etc.