Liberty's Blog

Houston 1836 to Change Name.

I thought it was a silly name. Giving a team a number instead of a proper name. It looks like the team is concidering changing its mind. Although I thought the name is silly. I can't understand what is so offencive. 1836 is the year of the Alamo. The year that Texans defeated a brutal dictator. The year Texas became an independant nation, and the year Houston became a city.

Many Hispanics have voiced their dislike for the controversial name, claiming it carries an anti-Mexican sentiment and lends itself to be a divisive tool among Houstonians.

Although 1836 was meant to symbolize the year Houston was founded, it also has links to other significant events some Mexican-Americans might find offensive. Those include Texas' independence from Mexico, the Battle of the Alamo and the defeat of Gen. Antonio López de Santa Anna's Mexican army at the hands of Gen. Sam Houston in the Battle of San Jacinto during the Texas Revolution.

The logo, a star with "Houston 1836" emblazoned on it, depicts a silhouette of Houston riding a horse.

"We believed, and many people still do, that 1836 was a great name because it symbolized the founding of the city, and we thought people would rally around that," Luck said. "But obviously we hit a bit of a raw nerve within the Mexican-American community."

Are the Philidelphia 76's a slam against the English People? Of course not. 1836 represents freedom and liberty gained through sacrifice of patriots many of whom had Spanish surnames. There should be little sympathy for those who are offended about being reminded of a defeat againt the dictator Santa Anna.

posted by Liberty @ 7:59 PM