YaATW2KT: The Second Mexican-American War

[pmulcahy11b]

Originally Posted by Raellus

I'm not justifying the 1848 Mexican War or the annexation of Mexican territory that followed, but I wanted to clear up the misconception that the region annexed by the U.S. was a particularly "rich" prize, at the time.

I do understand that viewpoint, to a point. But let me put it this way:

Down in the Southeast corner of my backyard, there is an area which, despite all attempts to remedy it, will grow no grass. It doesn't matter what mulch, fertilizer, or grass seed I put down there, or how much I water it. I can fence it off from the dogs so they don't trample on it. The grass will not grow down there.

But do I want someone to look and say, "That land sucks; he won't miss it anyway."? No! It's my land, and one day I might find a way to grow grass on it!

[weswood]

Originally Posted by pmulcahy11b

I do understand that viewpoint, to a point. But let me put it this way:

Down in the Southeast corner of my backyard, there is an area which, despite all attempts to remedy it, will grow no grass. It doesn't matter what mulch, fertilizer, or grass seed I put down there, or how much I water it. I can fence it off from the dogs so they don't trample on it. The grass will not grow down there.

But do I want someone to look and say, "That land sucks; he won't miss it anyway."? No! It's my land, and one day I might find a way to grow grass on it!

Or the reason grass doesn't grow is there's oil down there! Start diggin!

It's odd to talk about a Mexican invasion. I hear La Raza is saying Texas and the southweatern states were basically stolen from the Mexican government.

[Raellus]

Originally Posted by pmulcahy11b

But do I want someone to look and say, "That land sucks; he won't miss it anyway."? No! It's my land, and one day I might find a way to grow grass on it!

I'm not saying that the Mexicans don't have a right to be upset or that the land doesn't have sentimental value, just that, at the time, the land itself was not a particularly rich prize. Even today, I wouldn't necessarily consider Arizona (my home state) or New Mexico industrial or agricultural power houses. Heck, Arizona didn't meet the criteria for statehood until 1912, over half-a-century after most of it was taken from Mexico (not including the portion acquired by the Gadsen purchase).