Tuesday, 21 February 2012

21st February

To all friends of the Alamo, Davy Crockett, Jim Bowie etc, can I remind you that Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna was born on this day in 1794.
If you're not a friend of the above or have never heard of them (shame on you, Seven Are Why) the Alamo was a mission in San Antonio de Bexar, Texas which was defended by a handful of volunteers including Crockett, Bowie etc against General Santa Anna's army in 1836.
Outnumbered and outgunned, the garrison was overrun after 13 days and every man killed. Santa Anna had set his people free from the autocratic rule of Spain only to proclaim himself dictator.
If only people would use their sense. What else can you expect from someone whose first names are Tony the Wolf?

In other news ...
The French playwright Moliere was buried 338 years ago today - or rather, tonight, because the whole thing was carried out secretly in the wee small hours and without a priest in attendance. Moliere was one of that select band of actors/artistes who have died on stage (see Tommy Cooper, Sid James) but he made enemies in the Church and at the court of Louis XIV.
Nowadays if playwrights are unpopular, people just don't go to see their stuff (*see ......., .........., ...............,).

*censored because of the laws of libel in this great country of ours.