Screed #5
05/04/00

Just got back from the Alamo. It's best to go there in the early morning before the grounds are thick with touristas. I try to breathe the spirits of the 189 who were slaughtered by Santa Anna's forces during the early morning darkness on March 6, 1836. At times I can see the sky blackened with the thousands of vultures that circled for two days and two nights high over the pyres hat consumed the bodies of the Alamo dead. Look hard and you can see the vultures rising on the convection currents as billowing thick smoke swirls in little black eddys around their wing tips. I also try to imagine the sound of the sword raking through the dirt as Lieutenant Colonel William Barret Travis challenges the Texians to stay and fight to a certain death. I am proud of these men. They started out as victors on a roll after successfully turning back an initial Mexican Army probing attack. Sure, a few days before, they had been forced to retreat to the Alamo but even then everybody in the fort thought Fannin's forces would surely come and save the day. It soon became apparent that help wasn't coming and things must have begun to get significantly serious as thousands of uniformed soldiers encircled the Alamo and positioned their cannons for the final assault. The Bible says "There is no love greater than that a man give up his life for another" which was exactly what Jesus was all about and pretty much the same went for the heroes of the Alamo.

I can't die for the starving children in Ethiopia. I can't die for those in Sierra Leone where the forced amputations of limbs from men, women and children are common place. I can't die for the mothers and daughters who are being raped in Bosnia. These are things worth fighting and dying for but time, distance and practicality put the brakes on my efforts. But I will die trying for the Stevens and Pruett Ranch. It's certainly not a big deal (bigger than the Alamo) but it's a place you can see and visit and know that the children and animals are being taken care of AS LONG as we keep up the fight. And who knows, maybe someday the ranch outreach program may be big enough to tackle the big things. All infernos begin as a small fire.

I do know one thing for sure... Every day the ghost of Colonel Travis draws the line in the sand for all of us and we make that timeless choice; help others or help yourself. I urge you to join our volunteers and cross that line and build up some cosmic credits. Take a stand against greed and apathy. We are not asking for you to die for the children and animals...we ARE asking for a little suffering...maybe a weekend here and there...a $20 bill every now and then...or maybe just a short moment for a child or animal who's only chance is your prayer. Hope to hear from you...soon. Jim Pruett

Jim's Corner Archives:

• Screed #4 - 03/06/00
• Screed #3 - 01/05/00
• Screed #2 - 12/02/99
• Screed #1 - 11/10/99