Dac Crossley's Western Blog

Mexico Invades!

In the pre-dawn hours of March 16, 1916, a Mexican army under the command of Pancho Villa crossed the border and attacked Columbus, New Mexico. This event still stands as the last invasion of the continental United States by a foreign power since the War of 1816.

Villa himself waited outside the town, perhaps over the border. Four Villista Divisions, about 500 men, attacked in the darkness, yelling and shooting at anyone they saw, setting fire to the town.

The Mexicans made several mistakes. When they attacked the army post north of town, they mistook the stables for the barracks and killed only horses. They set fire to the Commercial Hotel, and by the light of that blaze, U.S. soldiers could recognize their targets. After two hours, the Mexican bugler sounded retreat, and the attack ended. Seventeen Americans died. So did about 100 Mexican soldiers.

Why did he do it? (Later, he claimed no knowledge of the raid). Villa was mad at the U.S. for supporting the Carranza government. The U.S. had an arms embargo. And conspiracy theories – Did the German Government pay Villa? Was he angry at a Columbus merchant who took his money and then withheld his goods? And so forth.

The result – Gen. Pershing invaded Mexico. He didn’t catch Villa, but gained experience in mechanized warfare (including airplanes), experience that helped him later, in the European theater.

The World Without US

Polly Casale gave me a copy of The World Without US, a book by the well-known journalist Alan Weisman. He speculates that, if humanity was to be exterminated (by an ebola-like virus, perhaps), all of our infrastructure would disappear rapidly. It’s an exercise in ‘what if,’ a game we all like to play.

Weisman cites case studies in abandoned areas to support his thesis. I was interested in his conclusions, how exotic species are replacing our native ones and would dominate ‘world without man.’ Case studies are reported in fascinating detail.

Here’s an example: Paul Martin is the guy who proposed that the large animals of North America (mammoths, giant sloths) were exterminated by primitive Americans. And the author quotes Martin: “Climate change? That’s an oxymoron. Climate always changes.”

Here’s another. New York City subways are in continual danger of flooding – pumps keep spewing water out. If the pump facility shuts down, water reaches a level where trains can’t pass. The whole subway system could flood in 36 hours.

This well-written book is full of little gems like these. I’m hanging onto my copy. As Oscar Wilde said, if a book isn’t worth reading 4-5 times, it’s not worth reading in the first place.

The Supreme Law of the Land

So the Supreme Count will decide (once again!) whether the Constitution means that only militias could be armed. Or, is the right of individuals to own firearms guaranteed?

I think I know where most Texans (and other westerners) would come down on this one. And probably, southerners as well.

Personally, I followed my father’s example and excluded firearms from my house when my child was born. Dad’s first gun was a “boy’s” twenty-gauge shotgun. He and my grandmother, Ida May DeRyee Crossley, hunted quail from horseback, out in Alpine, Texas. (Her grandfather was shot in the back while in the Buckhorn Saloon in San Antonio. But that’s another story…).

In boot camp, I showed up at the shooting range with a bunch of New Jersey recruits. They’d never heard a rifle shot before (those old Springfields really echoed through the California hills). I easily bested them. Today, I suspect, New Jersey boys know more about firearms than I do.

We’re probably alone, among western nations, in the number of firearms we carry. Does that contribute to our violence? Or is it a reflection of our violent society?

What’s your POV?

Some of my writing colleagues claim that I’m changing point of view, when I write about my protagonist’s thoughts and use the word “I.” Of course I disagree, and quote Chris Roerden – “There are no simple answers to question about point of view.” And, I cite the rules of writing:

Rule #1 – There ARE no rules!

Now, just what is YOUR point of view? How is it that we can study the same set of facts (data) and arrive at opposing conclusions? Is it your point of view? The platform of beliefs, from which you interpret information?

This evening I had a conversation with my daughter, Dr. Mary Freeman, on the difference between knowledge and beliefs. Th e distinction isn't always obvious. Seems to me, this is similar to point of view. For example, knowledge shows that the global climate is warming. Belief says, it’s due to human activities.

Belief systems, says Mary, are models. As such, they can make predictions. Some can’t be tested experimentally – we can’t remove CO2 and see what happens – but we can make predictions and see if the predictions pan out.

One prediction of global climate models – some of them at least – is increased drought in the SE US.

What does your belief system tell you?

Texas Longhorns

Last month, Tometta Hentz and I stopped in George West, Texas, to admire the old longhorn still preserved in a glass case on the Courthouse Square. The longhorn was the salvation of the brush country economy, in those bitter days following the Civil War.

A true Texas breed, the longhorn evolved in the brush country, where it’s well suited today. As Bob Gafford said, with longhorns you never need a veterinarian. They take care of themselves.

And this brings to mind a recent novel, Charley Sunday’s Texas Outfit (ISBN: 0-9748962-1-7), in which the old and the new combine in a latter-day drive of longhorns. I had breakfast with the author, Stephen Lodge, in Fredericksburg. He is a powerful storyteller, author and screenwriter.

Two Liquids

And the drought continues in Georgia.

The ecologist Bernard Patten pointed out to me that there are two liquid shortages that loom ominously over our future -- water and petroleum.

In Texas we faced the occasional prolonged drought, but petroleum was plentiful.

And in Georgia, water seemed limitless, while petroleum had to be imported.

Now, we must all plan for shortages of both of the two essential liquids.

Perhaps we can find alternate sources of energy, and reduce our dependence on petroleum.

But there is no alternative for cool, clear water.

Cool, Clear Water

The Sons of the Pioneers sang for it -- and we in the Southeast feel their pain. Our drought rolls on. No rain in sight.

And one of my conservative, nay-sayer friends asked -- "Dac, is this -- Global Climate Change??"

I don't know. Is it? Our radio talkshow friends insist it's not getting warmer. Melting glaciers, retreating snowpacks, open sea lanes in the Arctic Ocean -- that's all pretty remote. BUT when the local reservoirs run dry, it comes home. And we ALL begin to wonder.

Will the winter rains return? Probably. Enough to free us from this drought? Maybe.

My favorite climatologist says, "This is all part of a normal pattern." If you look back decades. Millennia. Perhaps it is.

But what is normal? Has normal shifted a bit?

Your favorite ecologist will tell you -- Change is normal.

Signing in Franklin, North Carolina

Two of the Southern Scribes (Paige Mercer Cummings and Dac Crossley) journeyed to Franklin, North Carolina to autograph copies of their novels. Franklin's Fall Fesival (The Pumpkin Roll) was celebrated on Saturday, October 27. We thank Suzanne Harouff and the staff at Books Unlimited for their courteous reception.

Guns Across the Rio sold well, as did Under the Liberty Oak. Paige's husband, Mike, helped with publicity -- he solicited up and down the street. (Mike is an author as well). We sold our allotment and Suzanne took our remainders.