David R. Stevens - Sin Perdón: Acquiescence with Murder

This has truly been quite the journey for me! And long, might I add. The word arduous even comes to mind ...

Due to my employment with the Federal Government presenting me the incredible experience of a lifetime, I have not only been afforded the rare opportunities of traveling around the world to places some can only dream about, but meeting deep thinking people that are vastly more educated than I will ever hope t o be.

Ive had the rare opportunity of traveling to Mexico City, on numerous occasions, and tagging-along on a guided tour of Chapultepec. Just being able to walk the halls, and wander from room to room, gaining an insight into where the Imperial monarchs used to reside was an invaluable experience in itself. Gazing over the wall upon the steep incline gave me a deeper appreciation for the daunting challenge that faced US military personnel during the so-called War with Mexico, whose sole task was to take the heights. But, at the same time, shame overwhelmed me when I heard, for the first time, from the Mexicans point of view, that we, as Americans, were storming a military academy consisting of teenagers - who fought as viciously and valiantly as they could to preserve the integrity of their school. Americans were there to beat them into submission, in order to steal vast land-holdings from the Mexican government land that the US wanted to add to its coffers on its ceaseless march to the Pacific Ocean, guided by some dreamed-up mandate some newspaper editor coined in the mid-1 800s.

But, I digress ... this is supposed to be the joyous sec tion.

There are quite a few folks that deserve an especially profound demonstration of gratitude for their interest and support, which I can never be able to repay. I hope that these humble acknowledgements will begin to show my deepest, warmest apprecia tion.

To my good friend, colleague, and fellow-worker, Vannie Parker, a great, big Thank You. Your non-biased, non-prejudicial insight was, perhaps, the biggest inspiration in my beginning (then continuing) with this project. Thank you, Vannie, for opening my eyes to the fact that there really are those who know the truth and chose not to be influenced by the rabble-rousing and dissonant individuals who would see all races continue to be at each others throats (in spite of piously preaching unity and equa lity).

Although there were only a small handful of fellow-workers that actually had any knowledge about my off-the-clock project, I need to thank Curtis Davis, for his constant encouragement. Each time he would see me, hed ask: Hows that book coming along . If there were dry spells, that in and of itself would motivate me to get back at it . Thanks, Cu rtis.

To librarians in public libraries and college campuses that assisted me in tracking-down archaic documents, manuscripts, and books no longer in print thank you. A particular note of appreciation to Ms. Claretta Crawford, Reference Librarian, Fort Leonard Wood, MO for that little bit of encouragement to keep at it, when I was beginning to wonder if anyone else really cared, or if it would really make any difference whether I saw this project through to fruition (or not). And, I would certainly be criminally remiss if I did not mention my dear friend, Barbara Musarrar (Ft. Belvoir, VA), who always , with but singularly few exceptions, was somehow able to locate all the old books, articles, micro-fiche, etc., I was requesting through the Inter-Library Loan Sy stem.

A very special, warm thank you to Professor Jess A. Arreola Prez, President, Colegio Coahuilense de Investigaciones Historicas, Saltillo, Coahuila, Mxico, and Dr. Flix D. Almarz, Jr., University of Texas at San Antonio for their most gracious accommodations in not only assisting me with additional facts and confirmation of stats and data, but also allowing me to include illustrations of the Battle of Puebla that forms part of an extensive collection which can be seen at the Recinto de Jurez , in Saltillo, Coah uila.

And, to those very select few who even knew about my quest, and made statements to the effect that they couldnt wait to see the final product ~ well, here it is! And, to all those who have a part in actually purchasing this behemouth: Thank you for your vote of confidence (or curio sity).

To all those who put-up-with my rantings about a forgotten time and place, please accept my apologies and my thanks. You were my sounding board, and I appreciate your interest even if it was fei gned.

My poor children, Jeremy and Jennifer, will easily fall into that category. If they were not being front-end loaded with trivial information and facts (that I just know were boring as the day is long!) which I found delightfully interesting, they were being dragged-off to historical places and sites throughout their young formative y ears.

Last, but definitely not least, to my bride of over thirty-three years, Lynn. Thank you. Of all the people I know, you had ample opportunity to tell me, on more than one occasion: Enough, already! Would you just give it a rest?! But, you never did ... you always listened, even when I, probably, told the same story, or recounted the same incidents, over and over again. Your rapt attention made me feel like what I was researching was really important and pertinent to where we live, now, and how we, as a global community, interact with each other, t oday.

To one and all a very big, heartfelt Thank you.

Dave Ste vens.

( 2008)