The ACLU Is Warning Americans That Thanks To Republicans Its Not Safe To Travel In Texas

[argyl]

23. I lived in the Hill Country/San Antonio area from 5th to 11th grade.

I just loved it. The Mexicans there were not a persecuted minority but an essential part of the community. No prejudice meant,they called themselves Mexican and expected us to do the same. They would refer to us as Anglos.
There were German, Czech, Polish and Italians who came to form their own communities after receiving land grants. They came without slaves and were vehemently opposed to slavery. Needless to say they didn't fit in well with slave holding Southerners and there were lynchings in the Civil War era. And even in the 60's they kept part of their culture. I attended a number of events where the food was sausage and sauerkraut accompanied by accordions playing polka.
But I'd come to the area from suburban Houston. I thought everyone was white. And I was fascinated with my new classmates and soon grew to love them dearly.
Mexican Homecoming Queens, Head Cheerleaders, Anglo Homecoming Kings wth Mexican Homecoming Queens and vice versa, all normal. And none of the Mexican kids I knew were undocumented. Same for their parents.
I didn't accept them, I loved them. As did most other students.
There were Anglos who didn't like Mexicans and Mexicans who didn't like Anglos but they were in a very small minority. It was a special place, almost magical to my young mind, a place where a special melange of people could live in peace as neighbors.
And then I moved to the Dallas area.