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Texas, Our Texas, All Hail Our Mighty State
R. Alex Whitlock
I am a quite proud Texan. Despite the weather and some of the kooky politics that go on here, my car is proudly fashioned with a "I wasn't born here, but I got here as fast as I could" bumper sticker (we moved down when I was two).
I am one of the few people that notice when the Texas flag is raised lower than the US flag (we have an exemption to that general rule because of our former nationhood), I believe that Texas is home to much of the best music in the country and the geographical, ethnic, and cultural diversity of this state make it truly one-of-a-kind.
That said,
this is a bit much:
Students in Texas public schools will be required to recite a pledge of allegiance to the Texas flag beginning in the 2003-2004 school year.
A new Texas law mandates that students recite the Texas pledge after reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag.
At a convocation Wednesday for teachers in the Northside Independent School District, teachers were given a card that has the words to the Texas pledge.
It's every district's right to do as they see fit, and I'm disinclined to suggest that Texas needs to
leave the union, but I'm inclined to give the teachers a bit more control over their classroom. It's one thing to require the pledge to the stars and stripes, as we are a nation that lives and dies together.
Texas, despite our beloved "It's a whole nuther country" slogan (which I like), is not actually a nation unto itself anymore and we live and die with the rest of the country.
Observations
Oh, come on... The Texas Pledge takes about ten seconds to say. I said it all throughout 7th grade (Cy-Fair required it then, I think) and it struck me as a healthy expression of state pride. I've known too many people who don't even know the Texas Pledge to believe that it shouldn't be recited in school.
Sure, I'm for giving districts and teachers lee-way, but I don't see any compelling reason to give them discretion with the state pledge. This is Texas, gal-durn it!
There's a part of me (the constitutionalist) that likes the assertion of state power inherent in this legislation.
Gawd bless Texas. :)
Okay, okay, you guys have won me over!
I'm such a tough sell... :)
*GAG* As a native Louisianan, I feel compelled to mention that this is merely another example of the state of Texas's being flown with itself. . . let me not hurl. :)
Do NOT mess with Texas!! You SO don't want to go there!!
: )
Camille,
Hey, I'm a native Louisianan too, but you don't see me refusing to awknowledge the greatness of Texas.
LONG LIVE TEXAS! WOOOOOO! SAY THAT PLEDGE!
Owen,
It'd be easier to acknowledge "the greatness of Texas" if the state wouldn't act so goddamned superior. You sound suspiciously like an adopted Texan. :) By the way, where in Louisiana are you from?
Camille,
I was born in New Orleans, although I move here when I was three (kind of like George Dubya moving to Odessa when he was two). I was certainly glad for the journey.
And you have to admit that it's hard for Texas not to act superior when it so obviously is. :)
Ahhhh, you were infected by Texas from an early age. That explains it. *grin* Alas, alas. Hmm. You must've raised the IQ in both states when you moved. *ducks* :)
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