TEXIFORNIA OR MEXAS

NRO's The Corner ^ | 1/9/04 | John Derbyshire

[William McKinley]

I am getting some very interesting sub-harmonics in my reader e-mail about the immigration thing. People are angry all over; but I am getting a fair amount of e-mail from people who are NOT angry, don't see what all the fuss is about, and are fine with massive illegal immigration from Mexico. A disproportionate number of these what's-the-fuss people write from Texas. Is Texas "special" in this regard? As compared to, say, California? One reader suggests that Texans have a much better-rooted sense of who they are than Californians do (heck, Texas was briefly a nation, wasn't it?), and so are comparatively insouciant about sharing their land with their neighbors. Is this right? If so, it throws an interesting light on GWB's attitudes.

[Squantos]

OK.....is this act by GW mere generation of revenue from illegals more than it is of any benefit to either the employer, the illegal or citizen ?

Stay Safe !

[Dog Gone]

Speaking as a Texan, the hispanics here, at least politically, seem quite different than those in California. There's no IN YOUR FACE WE'RE TAKING OVER DAMMIT attitude.

Now, granted, we have hispanic activists and most of the elected leaders of the Rats who kept running across the border to stop redistricting were hispanic.

But those idiots are out of the mainstream, and they certainly don't represent the average hispanic in Texas who seems to pretty much blend in with everyone else.

[Squantos]

I'd like to learn the facts before I get too crazy either way about this.........truth be told I am ignorant of either side of the issue aside from being angered that illegal is now new term for immigrant.

Stay Safe !

[LOC1]

What Bush proposed pretty much reflects the ambivalence most Texans feel about illegal immigrants.

The first illegal immigrants in Texas were Anglos, when Texas was a part of Mexico. We thought of ourselves as OK folks, so it is not surprising that we now think of the illegal immigrants from south of the border as also OK folks. The vast majority of the are. They work hard, are honest, and take care of their families.

Those who complain just don't want to compete with someone who really wants to work.

[Unmarked Package]

In my experience, the degree of assimilation into the community and local culture is the factor that most shapes the views of citizens regarding immigrants. Texas definitely is more of a culture than a piece of geography. It’s difficult to fully describe what the Texan culture is because it has many aspects that accommodate several races and ethnic roots, but it’s easy for native and assimilated Texans to spot someone who is resisting assimilation.

Someone could write a book about what it means to be a Texan, but one character trait that I have observed in white collar and blue collar workers alike is willingness to work hard. Especially in team situations, exhibiting laziness among Texans will get your butt kicked, figuratively speaking, more often than not. Illegal immigrants living on the social welfare system are especially irritating to Texans for the same reason. However, we place much greater emphasis on examples of immigrants who are willing to work hard and they fit right in with that aspect of Texan culture.

I’ve lived in six states of the USA from New York to California and two foreign countries, including a Moslem nation, but I haven’t seen a stronger sense of identity and community than that exhibited in Texas. Illegal immigrants that move in and out of Texas are not likely to add to that sense of community and are a source of the greatest resentment from residents. However, immigrants who are comfortable with the culture and chose to make Texas their home quickly lose the label of immigrant and take on the title of neighbor and friend.

[LJPenney]

I am a Texan. I am ticked. All my Texan friends are also ticked. We are all totally ticked Texans.

[TommyUdo]

"One reader suggests that Texans have a much better-rooted sense of who they are than Californians do (heck, Texas was briefly a nation, wasn't it?)"

Yes, and Mexicans fought alongside the Texans at the Alamo. Just like there were Mexicans who were in favor of the Bear Flag Revolt in California. This very revolt is now protested by "Latino" groups as a celebration of Anglo "Imperialism."

Maybe Texans are better versed in their Great State's history than the people of "Okiefornia."

[itsahoot]

Lots of room left yet.

7.7 acres per head, don't seem like a lot of room to me.

Cattleman’s ranch located in area where ranches seldom change hands. Good cow country. Also great hunting for dove, quail and deer. Beautiful headquarters. Well watered.

273.18 sections @ 8 cows per section = 2,185 animal units

137,000 deeded acres (surface only) - $10,400,000

[itsahoot]

Texas reverts to a Republic. Not such a bad deal!

A dream I longed for over the past twenty years or so, but just a dream I am afraid.

[Nea Wood]

There's no IN YOUR FACE WE'RE TAKING OVER DAMMIT attitude.

You nailed it! That's exactly why Californians are so enraged. But here's the scary part. As California goes, so goes the nation.

[dalebert]

Guest workers have to be documented. Thats the good part.

[Dog Gone]

A dream I longed for over the past twenty years or so, but just a dream I am afraid.

I don't want to get pegged as part of the outlaw group supporting Texas independence, nor do I think that's a very good idea.

But being curious as to what that group based its claim on, they're basically right.

Texas was, without question, an independent nation, and recognized as such. They negotiated a treaty to join the US. The treaty was validly passed in Texas, but it never got the 2/3rds vote required by the US Constitution, which is required for approval of a Treaty, basically because of the controversy over slavery at the time.

So the Senate called it something other than a treaty, and slipped it in under a slim majority vote.

In hindisight, that's ludicrous. It was a treaty, and Texas was never validly admitted as a state.

However, Texas was happy to be admitted, and to be fighting it today is only fun in the abstract and for sport.

But to a stickler for details, Texas is not validly part of the USA.

[Joe Hadenuf]

I was thinking it should be Texico and Mejifornia.

And in the not too distant future, we can just call it Meximerica.

[Joe Hadenuf]

The illegals arriving in Texas are a better class than those in California.

LOL! We've heard that one before, "Texas criminal illegal aliens are more honorable".

Thanks, there are five people here laughing and adding their own jokes. Thanks for the belly laugh. Appreciate it.

[american spirit]

Is that why we have our own power grid and don't we have an embassy somewhere?

[William McKinley]

Hey, if it has a government more along the lines of what we should have in accordance with our Constitution, that wouldn't bother me at all. We could even invite in Canada.

[Iris7]

You said, "If Illegal aliens are allowed to vote, even in local elections, it will be another unmistakable signal that American citizenship, and therefore America itself, is finished."

True, in a sense. Remember that "America itself" has a different definition for every observer. From my point of view, "America itself" has been finished off three times already, and we are now on America IV.

Besides, the changes Aristotle and Plato discussed in "democracy" still occur. Another interesting parallel from the past is the spread of Roman citizenship with the change from Republic to Empire. The more things change the more things stay the same, I'm afraid.

Also, don't worry about the voting. The "vote fraud" you have seen is nothing compared to what is to come with computerized voting. Like Comrade Stalin pointed out, "It does not matter who votes, it matters who counts the votes!!"

Hang on, we are in for interesting times!!

[Iris7]

"I guess I could have just screamed at the TV like I usally do."

No point in screaming at the TV. The thing is only there to rot what little brain you have. Turn the (literally) damned thing off. Better yet, break it up with a hammer. Do not replace it.

[Iris7]

You said, "exhibiting laziness among Texans will get your butt kicked, figuratively speaking, more often than not."

Not too sure I can agree about the "figuratively speaking" part! Most Texans I know aren't much for "figuratively" anything! Good bunch, got a brother in law who is a native Texan, as good a man as I have found.

[Joe Hadenuf]

I am a Texan. I am ticked. All my Texan friends are also ticked. We are all totally ticked Texans.

LOL! Don't feel like the lone rangers down there, were ticked in California too.

Bush's plan is a ticking time bomb.