Home > Black Sheep Betty > Archives > 2009 > January > 21 > Entry
Too proud to be Texan? No such thing.
I was out with some new girlfriends last weekend, and they made the mistake of introducing politics to our conversation. Needless to say, their politics were NOT the same as mine. I try not to delve into politics too much on my blog in order not to alienate readers. But I can’t let this particular issue go - and really it’s bipartisan anyway.
Out of all the topics we disagreed upon, the statement that floored me the most was, “That’s the problem with Texas. Texans think they’re better than everyone else, and Texas’ economy is one of the worst.”
What? I couldn’t stay quiet. My immediate response was, “We are better.” And then, “What? We have one of the best economies right now. We have businesses coming to Texas because we’re flourishing. People move here from California because they can experience a better quality of life for less money.”
I’m a sixth-generation Texan. No matter where I may live in the future Texas will always be home. Most native Texans (and many transplants) do have immense pride in their state, but I don’t believe it’s a downfall. It’s part of who we are. Remove the ego, remove our identity.
I lived in Phoenix, Arizona for 6 months when I was 19. It’s amazing how much being a Texan was just part of who I was. I sure as heck couldn’t hide my accent (Why would I?). I was proud to be indentified with my state. I went out of my way to let people know where I was from.
Our pride shouldn’t blind us to our faults, but it can help us rise above them. Who can hear the stories of the Alamo and Goliad and not brim over with pride that we live in this great state? We were our own country once. That’s pretty awesome. We’re the only state who has a legal right to secede (not that I’d suggest it - We tried that once and it didn’t work so well).
A recent example I can think of is the Texas Ranger statue debate. Many Wacoans balked at the idea of a huge statue of a ranger holding a gun looming over our interstate. And they were right that it would be gaudy. But I was all for it. Maybe I’m not as sophisticated as the next person, but the bigger the better. I loved the idea. I couldn’t think of a better way to say, “Don’t mess with Texas.”
Also, while Bud Light is my favorite flavored beer of choice, I like a good bottle of Lonestar every now and then, too. Not only does it also taste good, but that Lonestar label also just makes me feel special. Lol.
So, I embrace my Texas pride and encourage you guys to do so, too.
As Davy Crockett said, “You may all go to hell, and I will go to Texas.”
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Comments
By AGH
January 21, 2009 12:18 PM | Link to this | Report comment abuse
I once had a tattoo artist from Florida ask my husband why every Texan wants a tatto of Texas as he was getting his Texas tatto. It was really mind blowing, we definitely knew she was a transplant. Don’t even think she’s still around Killeen anymore. Can’t help it but to be proud to be from Texas, it’s in your blood!
By robin
January 21, 2009 12:54 PM | Link to this | Report comment abuse
remember this…
anyone can become an American
BUT you HAVE to be BORN TEXAN….
By "Sticken To It"
January 21, 2009 5:02 PM | Link to this | Your friends comment just shows her ignorance. It just kills me when people try to talk politics &&null=" class="abuse">Report comment abuse
Your friends comment just shows her ignorance. It just kills me when people try to talk politics when they dont have a clue what their talking about. I for one steer clear of the topic because i dont typically know what im talking about… Texas has one of the best economies in the nation right now. Both of my folks are yankees, so i thank god everyday they moved to texas before i was born. Texas has always been and always be one of the most unique states in the US.
By Jeremiah
January 21, 2009 10:39 PM | Link to this | Report comment abuse
I don’t mean to be a rain on the Texas pride parade here, but while according to the census and workforce datasheets, Texas is by no means floundering in the economy, we are also nowhere near the top. I will agree that having pride in your state is a good thing one must also remember that pride comes before the fall. And lastly The whole “We have the right to secede” thing…..Is a common misconception. Any “Free and Independant” state may so with to scecede from the union. So this right is not bestowed soley on Texas. But what was a right of Texas was to be divided up into as many as five seperate states if need were to arise. (Ok I’ll step off my Hisotry/Political science soapbox.)
By Jeremiah
January 21, 2009 10:42 PM | Link to this | Report comment abuse
Oh one more thing……I can’t drink Lonestar anymore…..It’s not even brewed in Texas….They moved it in with the rest of the Pabst line in Wisconsin.
By Black Sheep Betty
January 22, 2009 10:13 AM | Link to this | Report comment abuse
Jeremiah, I stand corrected as far as Texas being the ONLY state with the right to secede (again I wasn’t advocating it). It still sounded cool though; I had just remembered that wrong. (>: Thank you for catching my error. … And it is weird that LoneStar isn’t brewed in Texas anymore, but I still feel like I’m showing my Texas pride by tipping up a bottle with Texas on its label.