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Now I don't want to start a flame war, but we had a saying growing up for those days when you were nearing 110 degrees. It went like this:

Las Cruces so far from heaven, so close to El Paso.

We were literally taught in school to not like Texas, but Texas is so big and generally obstinent (and I must confess I am now a Texan living in Austin) that they have not even noticed a rivalry with New Mexico. It is a one way unrequitted bitterness which only ascerbates the situation.

This is not a history lesson, though it sounds like one. You should recognize that the history about to be laid out is one of legend, tradition and stories told by old men out on porches. Accuracy or actuality is not important anymore... Also it is my theory, many may not share it, the further North and the further west you go in the state the less I have found New Mexicans subscribe.

Here is my story:

Thus it begins, the Rio Grande created a geography of two sides, and much followed from that. In old american history the tigua, the comanche, and other Texas Tribes used to raid the Pueblo and Navajo taking any unfortunate soul who could not get inside and pull the ladders up as a hostage.

As territories of Mexico one became independant before the other. Thus placing us on opposite sides of a war once again. There were many attempts by Texan "armies" to take Santa Fe and the Mexican state of New Mexico.

Upon Annexation there was a bitter battle as to the lines of Texas and New Mexico. Many Texans really thought the western lines of Texas should follow the Rio Grande North to Colorado. (some further) This as you will see never really died.

As the "great war" came, Texas fought on the side of the south, New Mexico on the side of the North. There was one civil war battle fought at Glorietta in Northern New Mexico.

As agrarian states New Mexico being upstream led to many bitter negotiations over water and West Texas.

Come the railroad New Mexico aggravated Texas by winning the Gadsden Purchase. Not only did we get that sliver of land but it came with bonus silver and uranium mines.

As Texas boomed with oil, New Mexico remained New Mexico. A little known chapter is one where a group of Western Counties in Texas threatened to seceed to New Mexico to avoid Texas Taxes. They were of course encoraged.

A Texan will often regard a New Mexican as a Mexican. This turns even more sour if you are hispanic (which for disclosure I am not by blood, but may be by geographic proximity.) It is easily forgotten by a Texan that you and your family may have been living in New Mexico for 1000 years, where as he is actually from Michigan and moved to Houston in 1975 to avoid the growing rust belt.

Then there is football... you have a rivalry, we are a laughing stock used by UT as a 75-0 warm up each season. They fool people into going to the game by billing it as UT vs Aggies and forgetting to tell that it is the New Mexico State Aggies.

Lastly there is always a few too many Texans who in winter abuse our mountains wearing jeans, chaps and a cowboy hat skiing far to fast in what is generally regarded as the "Texas Death Wedge."

Thus the one way rivalry exists and festers. There is rarely a poll, or stat or forbes list where New Mexico places above Texas. They are our obnoxious more successful brother in law who flaunts their wealth. We would care less exept they visit so often on the Holidays.

Thus Bush should not flaunt his Texas heritage as it will sour many to think of giving Texas one more feather in her cap. The good news is, as much as a New Mexican may flinch to pull the lever for a Texan, they would become downright ill to pull it for a North Eastern Blue Blood Trust Fund Baby like the type that infect and have fully spoiled Santa Fe.

-- lates
-- jrawk