Independence

Today is Texas Independence Day. On March 2, 1836, the fledgling nation of Texas declared itself free and sovereign from Mexico, then under the dictatorial rule of General Santa Ana. As schoolchildren in Texas, we are taught this history as a struggle for self-determination and resistance against a larger, more dominant power – a battle for freedom from oppression.

The delegates to the convention that declared independence met while the Alamo was under siege. The final assault that killed all of the Texan defenders occurred four days later on March 6th. The 13-day siege of the Alamo bought the Texas Army time to organize and train. Six weeks later, on April 21st, the Texans attacked Santa Ana at San Jacinto, winning a decisive victory that ensured independence. The Texas Revolution reflected a people's determination to shape their own destiny in the face of overwhelming odds.

The people of Ukraine are similarly fighting for their own sovereignty against a dominant dictatorial power bent on exerting control over the country. They face a numerically and militarily superior adversary, yet they have persevered for three years with the assistance of the democratic world. The Ukraine is in a battle for self-determination and the free world stands with it in this existential fight.

The people of the United States recognize the threat posed by Russia. We understand the consequences of standing by while a smaller nation is wiped off the map by a malign actor. We have stood with our Western allies for over 100 years. The United States is the architect of the world order that has created enormous global prosperity for generations. Why would we now want to destroy the thing that we built at such a steep price? Regan, Roosevelt, and Churchill must be spinning in their graves. I know that the vast majority of my fellow Americans stand with Ukraine.

Ultimately, both Texas and Ukraine exemplify the enduring human spirit in the fight for self-rule. Their struggles, though in different eras, remind us that the pursuit of freedom often comes at great cost—but also with the potential for lasting change. We have always been the good guys and supported the good guys in the cause of freedom. I expect that to continue despite the shameful nonsense we have seen this week. Remember the Alamo!