Recently, there have been several articles concerning a growing secessionist , anti-government movement, that has thrust Texas into an unwelcome spotlight. Thanks to a few opportunistic far wrong-wingers, like
Chuck Norris, of all people, there has been a spate of ill-will, and i am being generous, directed at my state, in the comments on these articles.

I have been a critic of my home state, in a humorous way, for many years, and a few times here in vineland. But the sheer ferocity aimed at Texas, and Texans, has been fueled by these accounts of secession. It is painfully apparent that the intention is to paint Texas as a state populated by nothing but hate-filled, ignorant ass-holes who are advocating bringing down the union and reviving the 'Ol Southern Confederacy, or better yet, an new , improved Republic of Texas. Certainly there are those who embrace a delusional desire to make Texas independent, regardless of legalities, and that the vast majority of us would be against them. They live in this fantasy of a Texas and /or South that never existed in the firsts place. They have this idealization of Texas that is lost in legend, and largely false bravado. Please do not think I am not proud of my state, I am, and for many valid and honest reasons. But I am dead-set against opportunists and con-men playing on the image of a Texas that never was !!!

We are Americans, just like the rest of the country. And while we have been blessed with an over-abundance of idiots, ass-holes, knuckle-draggers and just plain 'ol dumb-asses, we are no different than any state in this Union. I have had the pleasure to have traveled to a good 2/3rds. of this country, to work and have been in close contact with the inhabitants of different states, and believe me, Texas does not have a corner on the market when it comes to ignorance, and hate-filled people who cannot tolerate 98% of the population of the United States. I have encountered stump-jumpers in every state I have worked in, from the east coast to Alaska (ok yall, be sweet).

Ignorance and stupidity know no bounds, or state boundaries. Take a good look and some of your towns folk, and even some of your neighbors, hell even a few family members. I bet your going to find more than one or two who are more than qualified to be a knuckle-draggin', stump-jumper, and that includes both sexes, folks. Mrs. knuckle-draggin', stump-jumPer is just as ugly (you know better than that) and hate-filled as her spouse...or boy-friend (girlfriend?), and every family member in her...family.

Naturally the point I'm trying to make is, look at yourselves before attacking an entire state you may know little or nothing at all about (my profound apologies to Alaska). We have great universities, that have graduated doctors, lawyers (now, I said be sweet), nurses, engineers and any other professional type you can name, including some damned fine writers and journalists. Just a personal note; my sister has her Ph D. in nursing, and is a professor of nursing at Tarleton State University here in North Central Texas.

Now, let me say that i will welcome your views, but i will take a very dim view if you decide to use my article as another venue to attack and disparage my state. Yes, we have our share of problems God knows we have more than our share of fools and ass-holes, but does not every state ???

luv,

ron

We Are All The Same...An Addendum:

Since I wrote this article, I have had to answer the same friggin' crap that this article TRIED to address. Now, call me sensitive, thin-skinned, or just call me...Ron, but, as I commented on an article just yestrerday, and again this very morning, 'here we go, yet a gain' !!!

Now, I am adult enough, and reasonably intelligent enough (I DID say reasonably...didn't I???) to realize that not everyone is going to be adult enough, nor reasonably intelligent enough (I DID say reasonably...didn't I ???), and that these 'good' folks are going to believe just what they want to believe, regardless of what I say.

But I did think (yea, I did too) that if only one person would drop their pre-conceived prejudices against Texas, and Texans, this would have been well worth the exercise, and not to mention a vast amount of wasted time...my time !!! Oh, but what a FOOL ( tha't fool, not TOOL) was I !!!

Of those that have read this article, and have stopped laughing at me long enough, will please re-read it with this addendum, and share it with someone you loath...love, i will be eternally grapefru...greatful. To those who have not read it, and thus cannot re-read it (for some folks, ya just gotta spell it out, ya know), a pox on all you dold hearly...Hold Dearly (the pain meds just kicked in, do ya know, OY) !!!

luv,

ron