Texas. And DU.

[kentauros]

Mention the word "Texas" around here and for many members it brings the not so pleasant visions of oil and Bushies dancing in their heads. That and the single-minded emotion of pure, unadulterated hate.

It matters not that Texas spawned the likes of Molly Ivins, Barbara Jordan, Lloyd Bentsen, Jim Hightower and Bill Hicks to mention only a few. No, we are to be forever reviled because of, first and foremost, George Walker Bush, and sometimes his resident family. Of course, the fellow-hated include such rightfully despised individuals as Tom Delay, John Cornyn, and the current Governor L'Idiot, Rick "Goodhair" Perry. Their actions alone, or even their mere existence in this world, are often enough to keep us on Du's Most Hated list.

The Texas SBOE (State Board of Education) is another in a seemingly "long" list of people and/or institutions to be hated, as their influence doesn't stop at the state borders. Thanks to a complicit publishing industry, our narrow-minded republicans dictate their revisionist concept of the world into school textbooks for many states outside of our own. They should be despised and countered at every opportunity.

Our politics anger many, not to mention those of us in this state that have to put up with the mindlessness. However, I don't really expect to see such mindlessness directed toward all of the people of Texas for the actions of a few. And yet . . . and yet, that's exactly what happens on DU at the drop of a ten-gallon hat, more or less.

This rant isn't for those of you that like, or even love, us. I thank you for keeping a lucid mind about you and not falling prey to the worst of our emotions, the no-mind that is hate. Anger is expected and warranted. But I see no reason to hate anyone, other than the politicians due that sentiment directly. Try to remember that they were not elected in a landslide; that plenty voted against them. That is, all of us Texas Liberals.

While I do expect the haters to show up in droves, I am actually welcoming them to this thread. I want to know all of your reasons for the constant broad brushes. Why are all Texans (or perhaps, the entire State of Texas) to blame for the likes of Bush? Of Tom Delay? Of Rick Perry? What is it about us, our land, our beautiful state, that is so heinous to you and so very unworthy of your good thoughts, much less your love?

And perhaps someone out there can answer this: Why is it when Texas is being put under the thumb of legislation almost exactly the same as that going on in Wisconsin, that we don't seem to warrant the recognition that we also need help in fighting the republicans? Where are all the crowds of teachers and union-organizers from out of state ready to fight to the end for the people of Texas? Is it just a northern thing? Because if the latter, then that's hardly in line with the sentiment and definition of "solidarity".

I do ask that my fellow Texas-DU members help back me up on some of this as I'm not a lawyer, I don't have a degree in poli-sci, I've never held office, and I don't read every single bit of news that's out there. But I do observe what I find is an attitude not worthy of my fellow Liberals, and more appropriate to the pages of FR and other such bastions of republicanism. We're supposed to be working together for the good of all, and not falling victim to "divide and conquer". Is that really so difficult to accomplish around here?

We're not your enemy. Please stop treating us like the only good Texan is a figment of the Liberal Mind.