Why are Texas people so proud? (Alamo, Jefferson: live, military, reputations)

[nycricanpapi]

I do not want to bash TX or anything, I just want a straight answer on why the Texas people are so proud from being from TX. I would appreciate if you guys do not get offended by this question, and I also would appreciate if someone can answer my question. Thanks

[lonestar2007]

This is a funny post. Why don't 'you guys' give us a reason we shouldn't be proud to be from Texas?

[TexasHorseLady]

What always puzzles me is why people from other states aren't just as proud of their states. I don't get it.

[lothartheterrible]

Because we are.

I could go into a long shpiel about it, but I do not really need to; we just are.

In contrast, as TexasHorseLady pointed out, we do not quite understand why, to some people, it is so hip to dislike where you live.

Plus, I've met plenty of New Yorkers who are fiercely proud of being from the Apple, so I suppose it's just a matter of disposition.

[scarmig]

I think it has a lot to do with the fact that, for some reason or another, be it culture, history, media exposure, but Texas is very representative of a vital aspect of American culture. You have, essentially, four basic American culture types. Yankee, Southerner, Californian, and Texan. There are others, to be sure, but that's my experience in my travels those are the general types of American culture recognized around the world.

And let me tell you, the treatment you get as a "Texan" is vastly different than the treatment you get as an "American". Vastly. Night and day. It's pretty much gotten to point that, whenever I travel and people ask, "Are you American?" I say, "No, Texan" because I'm almost certain to be treated better.

Why this is, not sure. I think that people like the culture of brazen, in-your-face freedom. They are fascinated by our gun culture and the Texas political and military history. The idea that a whole culture can proudly embrace, "bigger, better, faster" is very enticing when governments around the world are constantly stifling, diminishing, and degrading every detail of people's personal lives (not that the Texas government doesn't do the same, but perceptions are hard to break).

[TexasHorseLady]

Originally Posted by scarmig

The idea that a whole culture can proudly embrace, "bigger, better, faster" is very enticing when governments around the world are constantly stifling, diminishing, and degrading every detail of people's personal lives (not that the Texas government doesn't do the same, but perceptions are hard to break).

Yeah, but we still know it's WRONG for the government to do so, and will say so right out loud.

[TexasReb]

Originally Posted by nycricanpapi

I do not want to bash TX or anything, I just want a straight answer on why the Texas people are so proud from being from TX. I would appreciate if you guys do not get offended by this question, and I also would appreciate if someone can answer my question. Thanks

I truly don't mean to be flippant nor condecending -- if this OT is indeed on the level -- but IMHO, anyone who has to ask this question would probably never be able to understand the answer. Even if there was an easy one to give.

As LtT said, we just ARE! LOL Of course, there is much more to it than that...but one has to be "to the manor born" I suppose, to comprehend it.

Texas was a rough frontier when opened to settlement and it took men and women with a pioneer spirit and toughness to do it. Among the American states, it has a very unique history...

Yes, there were other states which were "nations" at one time, but only Texas fought for and won its own independence. Maybe those volunteers at the Alamo were just a bunch of old boys who liked to fight...but dammed if they didn't give worse than they got and go down fighting. Establishing a valor legacy for all time. And a standard.

Then, dealing as equals with the U.S. government, negotiated its own way into statehood.

Later, we became an original member of the Confederacy and, right or wrong as to cause (which my screen name ought to be a tip-off as to where I stand! LOL), it was the Texans who most distinguished themselves on the battlefields. "No soldiers have brought greater honor to their state as have my Texans"...said Gen. Robert E. Lee. Or, "Texans! The troops of the other states have their reputations to make, but the sons of the defenders of the Alamo have only to maintain theirs" -- Jefferson Davis, CSA president.

Although yes, certain lucky circumstances lead to that Texas emerged relatively better off than our southeastern cousins, but it still took a new hardy pioneer stock to take advantage of all this potential wealth. Overwhelmingly settlers from the devastated eastern states looking to get a new start (a fact which gives Texas its essential Southern character and affiliation today) came in, drove the cattle, planted cotton, and then, later, discovered oil.

And of course, it goes from there. Bottom line is, it was tough bunch who settled and made Texas. If you were a son/daughter of all that, wouldn't you be proud as well...?

God Bless Texas!

[I LOVE NORTH CAROLINA]

Originally Posted by nycricanpapi

I do not want to bash TX or anything, I just want a straight answer on why the Texas people are so proud from being from TX. I would appreciate if you guys do not get offended by this question, and I also would appreciate if someone can answer my question. Thanks

Beats me, I'm a native Texan, and I don't see it as anything too brag about. I want out of Texas

[TexasReb]

Just to add...

I agree totally with what other fellow Texans have said, in essence, why do so many non-Texans seem to be so obscessed with what we think of our own state? And why do so many of the same seem almost resentful about it? Jealousy...? And I honestly don't mean that sarcastically...

Texans -- at least in my observations -- do not go into other state forums and bash them. As THL said, we sometimes wonder why they are not equally proud of their own states. This is one I have always wondered about, myself.

[TexasReb]

Originally Posted by I LOVE NORTH CAROLINA

Beats me, I'm a native Texan, and I don't see it as anything too brag about. I want out of Texas

There's always I-20 East. Or Southwest Airlines! And Delta too, is ready when you are.