Yankees vs. Austinites (Houston, Atlanta, West: homes, school, living in)

[car957]

Originally Posted by mm57553

I think the biggest difference about Austin is that people think they are "joking" and don't mean anything by the comments, but that doesn't make them any better. That's like telling a racial joke but not considering it offensive because, heck, it was just a joke.

That's an interesting statement as I just returned from delivering two days of seminars in MA area. I was jokingly antagonized about Texans, former President Bush and people who live in mobile homes. Did I enjoy it? No, but I wasn't offended (I was irritated but I would never let them feel like they were irritating me).

A racial attack against a person is far more egregious and harmful than statements about my Southern culture or heritage.

At the end of the day I invited everyone to visit Austin and our state. That's the way I was raised and overall, it was a productive trip.

Some people wear their hearts on their sleeves and others don’t. In the end I really couldn’t care if you are from New Hampshire, New York or New London, Texas. Treat me with the same level of respect and dignity that you desire and we’ll get along fine. You want to joke about my culture – fine, just don’t become upset because my jokes are better. Just don’t make it personal or against my family or ethnicity.

[centralaustinite]

Originally Posted by car957

That's an interesting statement as I just returned from delivering two days of seminars in MA area. I was jokingly antagonized about Texans, former President Bush and people who live in mobile homes.

Yes, do not wear burnt orange on Venice Beach (California), we learned that the hard way. The USC fans were "friendly" hecklers but we quickly found ourselves facing a barrage of ugly words about President Bush, the war, etc. Not pleasant. That was two years ago. Saying "but we're from Austin" did not help a bit.

[TexasHorseLady]

Originally Posted by jwnulife

Interesting. Are you speaking for Texas, as a whole, or just the Austin area?

Well, I was born in East Texas, have lived in North Texas and Central Texas, we were here before Texas was Texas, have ancestors who fought at San Jacinto and in the War Between the States, and I don't consider Texas to be part of the South. So, no, not just Austin. Texas is Texas.

I don't care where someone is from, as long as they're glad they're here! (Or, at least, as long as they aren't complaining about how here isn't just like there and thinking that we should make it just like there. Ummm . . . no.)

[jread]

Originally Posted by TexasHorseLady

Well, I was born in East Texas, have lived in North Texas and Central Texas, we were here before Texas was Texas, have ancestors who fought at San Jacinto and in the War Between the States, and I don't consider Texas to be part of the South. So, no, not just Austin. Texas is Texas.

I don't care where someone is from, as long as they're glad they're here! (Or, at least, as long as they aren't complaining about how here isn't just like there and thinking that we should make it just like there. Ummm . . . no.)

Exactly. I was born in Port Arthur and grew up in Orange, so I disagree with the person who said people from Jasper would disagree Yes, I saw rebel flags where I grew up (have never seen one in Central Texas, ever), but it still wasn't "Southern". We had our fair share of Southern food, but there is still a ton of Southwestern influence even on the Texas/Louisiana border. We had a lot of Cajun influence as well. However, once you get as far as Austin it changes considerably. Austin is a Southwestern city in every respect... there is nothing "Southern" about it at all. We put salsa on everything and Jalapenos are used in the place of pickles. You find tortillas and avocados in almost every household (regardless of ethnicity). Some people here have a slight "twang" but no "drawl" to speak of, and I'd even say that having any accent at all is rare in the Austin metro.

As you said, though, it's not just Austin... it's Texas in general. Texas has a very unique history that is all its own, and that is what we identify with. We don't talk about civil war battles, we talk about the Alamo and San Jacinto.

[twange]

Yea, Texas is its own thing. If I had to pick how it "felt", I'd say it feels more Western to me. At least Austin/San Antonio does, culturally and geographically. Houston is a bit different, Dallas etc...

As for the North/South rivalry not too much. It's more pronounced in the S East states because of the Civil War. Texas fought for the Confederates but did not host many battles on its soil and was not considered a "Cotton State" (not to the extent as say the Carolinas, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi etc.). Although the last battle of the Civil Wat was fought in Texas, after Robert E. Lee surrendered. Texas was known as mainly as "supply state"(soldiers for calvary). And there was a significant majority of the people (25%) not in favor of sucession. In fact, the largest population of "anti-sucession" sentiment was with the large German population in the Texas Hill Country. Eventually, they got on board and joined the confederacy. That must be where Austin got some of its anti-establishment roots

The blood spilled on Texas soil was primarily between Texans, Mexicans and Indian tribes like the Commanche.

[texastea]

Originally Posted by jread

Texas has a very unique history that is all its own, and that is what we identify with. We don't talk about civil war battles, we talk about the Alamo and San Jacinto.

Nice summary, jread

[twange]

Another way to look at it:

I'm from Ohio, a state consisting of about 45,000 sq miles. I would roughly divide it into 3 main cultures: Great Lakes(manufacturing town with more N East-like qualities like architecture, art institutions and old money), Appalachian(South E and Southern regions that border W Virginia and Kentucky) and Midwestern(middle and western parts of the state bordering Indiana). Now, Texas is about 269,000 sq miles or roughly SIX times the size of Ohio. Each region of Texas is like its own state, with sub-regions inside of that...

[ctmoving]

Originally Posted by jwnulife

How do Austinites feel about Yankees, in general?

I'm moving to Austin from CT and have spent a lot of time there. They don't hate Yankees! It's true....they would dislike you much more if you were from Cali!! Don't worry, Austin is a great place and you will be shocked by how friendly everyone is! So different from the northeast....it will be a nice change- trust me!

[verybadgnome]

I would agree that for the most part Texas is not really "the south" in the classic sense. Still there is the Confederate Heroes holiday (an oxymoron if you ask me unless you like the idea of 2 countries instead of 1) that is still celebrated on Robert E. Lee's birthday. I use the term 'Yankee' on myself with some of the born and bred Texans and they'll give me a slight ribbing for it but no more.

[mm57553]

Originally Posted by jread

Exactly. I was born in Port Arthur and grew up in Orange, so I disagree with the person who said people from Jasper would disagree Yes, I saw rebel flags where I grew up (have never seen one in Central Texas, ever)

You can't be serious. You realize that Hays High School just recently (like within the last 3 years or so) stopped flying the Confederate flag in front of the school. And the fight song is "Dixie."