Re: What do they teach them in those schools?

John: Thanks for the post and the link on the infamous 1967 Tierra Amarilla Courthouse Raid. I am a member of one of the original families of the Tierra Amarilla region -- one that was ripped off by the Santa Fe Ring.

As much as the loss of land hurts, what hurts even more is that many people now think of the people of the Tierra Amarilla region as nutballs and revolutionaries. Many, many, people of that area did not support Tijerina. He was recognized by many as a drifter and troublemaker who had no stake in the region's problems. He siezed an opportunity to stir up a lot of trouble and make a name for himself. Many of those people, to this day, welcomed the arrival of American government because the governments in Mexico City and Madrid were too remote and cared nothing for the region. Many are in today's military, and are veterans and are proud of U.S. Citizenship.

Tijerina served time in the Federal Pen for destroying government property, then faded into obscurity. His attempts at remaining in the spotlight are ridiculous.

The Courthouse Raid was not a revolution in any sense of the word, as there was no widespread rebellion and almost all of the people of the region painstakingly avoided any involvement. The raiders were just a few of Tijerina's most devoted followers who shot the place up trying to free some of their fellows. The National Guard involvement was an overreaction by then Gov. Cargo. The entire episode was an embarrassment to the law abiding people of the Tierra Amarilla region who today still eschew any involvement in radical politics.