Cult of Glory - the Washington Post rewrites Ranger History

 https://www.amazon.com/Cult-Glory-Brutal-History-Rangers/dp/B082MT9R73/

In "Cult of Glory," Doug Swanson, a known correspondent for the Washington Post, strives to render a chronicle of the Texas Rangers spanning over two centuries. In his depiction, he characterizes the Rangers as nothing more than an assembly of bigoted, homicidal, self-glorifying marauders who, according to his account, contributed naught to the well-being of the republic, and subsequently, the state of Texas. It's perplexing to comprehend how any society could have flourished given the damning portrayal Swanson has penned.

For instance, he vividly outlines the infamous "Council House Fight" of 1840, where peace talks with the Comanche chiefs deteriorated into a full-fledged slaughter, all under the Rangers' watch. Or consider the unfortunate fate of the Mexican farm laborer Jesus Bazan and his son-in-law Antonio Longoria, shot dead from the back without a shred of solid evidence to their crime. By Swanson's narrative, these incidents are not the exceptions, but rather, the rule.

However, while his work is scathing in its criticism, one must ask if his perspective provides a balanced view of history. After all, the Texas Rangers, in their long and storied existence, have undeniably been instrumental in taming the wilds of the frontier and establishing law and order, albeit their methods at times being questionable. Swanson's relentless castigation appears to ignore this aspect entirely.

Swanson's work, and those akin to it, have repercussions far beyond the realm of academic discourse. We are currently witnessing the fallout of this continuous vilification of law enforcement. Our cities, once bastions of civilization and progress, have become nests of crime, a direct consequence of undermining the very institution meant to uphold law and order.

It begs the question - What comes next, Mr. Swanson? Once you've finished dissecting and condemning the foundation of our law enforcement, where will your sights land next? What other pillars of our society will you scrutinize and, subsequently, reduce to mere rubble? While criticism is an essential part of progress, we must remember that without a certain degree of respect for the structures that have brought us this far, we risk losing everything we have so painstakingly built.