[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.

[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.