Ask someone from 49 of the other states "Are you a (fill in statehood of your choice) first or an American?" and usually, you'll only get a puzzled look as a response. Some will say "American!" but mostly, the response is, "Isn't it the same thing?" I think the only other state where I've heard it's possible to feel this way is Virginia, though I think this heritage has been lost, long ago. I could be wrong.
For those of you who've never experienced it, Texans have a surprising loyalty to their state. Yes, it's pride and most outsiders think it's annoying. (Jealousy, I think, is what prompts that feeling.) Texans unashamedly proclaim Texas's superiority throughout the nation as its own little nation within itself. Makes one weep just thinking about it.
Our school children don't just say the pledge of allegience every morning; we say the pledge to the Texas flag as well. "Honor the Texas Flag: I plege allegience to thee, Texas one and indivisible." Do you know your state flag pledge? Now before I start in on all the reasons we think we're so great, that's not the focus of this article.
The real focus is this: why do we have and purposely foster this culture in Texas? In fact, I think we not only know we have this culture, but have worked even harder in recent years to propetuate it. Let me say this: it's not a snobby culture. Oh sure, it might be in Dallas or in Houston, but its not elsewhere in Texas for the most part. I think Texan culture is one that welcomes outsiders to learn and partake of Texas and all of its splendor. We don't want to lord it over you; we just want you to acknowledge it and enjoy it too. I think we love nothing more than to hear that someone moved here and feels right at home and loves Texas too.
We want you to see our East Texas piney woods, with their curvy roads and hilly terrain -- extentions of the ozarks. We want you to visit the Hill Country, with its bluebonnets, steep pink granite uplifts, and glorious vineyards. Travel West Texas, where you'll find a couple of snow-capped mountains, desert, and clean, pure air with a sky so large you can't pack it all into a photo. North Texas does small-town America like no one else. And the middle of Texas has surprising culture -- like a life-size globe theater, modeled after Shakespeare's theater in England. And I know your states all have splendor as well -- this is the USA, by golly! But for some reason, the fact that people came to Texas for a start they couldn't get in America and then gave their lives to set her free and make her a nation -- that's inspiring. Only New England has that heriatage and sometimes I think we as a country turn loose of the meaning of that too quickly. Texas wants to keep this history and accompanying pride alive.
So as you drive through, past cattle ranches sprinkled all over this state, you'll see our five point star put up everywhere (from purses to bits and bridles, to living rooms to iron gates). You'll see our flag flying as high as the US flag -- and legally too. You'll find people who want to preserve our speech patterns -- distinctly different from other southern speech, with a warm all its own. You'll find all sorts of symbols of our pride. And go ahead, ask someone the question: "Are you a Texan or an American first." Any native will tell you, "I'm a Texan first." In fact, you'll probably have some emigres tell you the same thing.