I had the same reaction to Karen's writing. As we on occasion disagree with her, there must be some way to stop her delightful essays wiping us out..
Although she performs a great service with her attachments, she is even more effective with her analytical and her fun pieces. Not to mention devastating when she combines analysis with fun.
Although she is truly 'ma petite cabbage' - perhaps we could get her quarrelling with that Indian cousin of hers. That would get them both out of the immediate action.
I'll leave it in your hands.
Harry
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Keith wrote:
Karen,
What a delight it is to have you on board! You're up there along with E. B. White as far as I'm concerned.
Keith
At 08:24 24/03/03 -0800, you wrote: <<<< Cousin, I personally wouldn't live in Texas again as long as state law allows wearing guns in churches, an unnecessary and symbolic overreaction to a problem, and symptom of legislative obsessive-compulsion disorder. Although I haven't lived there since 1992, I have good memories of Texans themselves, and those haven't changed even if the sociopolitical culture has. Believe it or not, there are Democrats in Texas and liberals in Texas and there are people protesting the Iraq war in Texas. They just don't have very big microphones.
Texas has many endearing qualities, like the jocular friendliness of most of its residents. There is camaraderie to surviving Texas summers and humidity, to say nothing of neighborly efforts to defeat the villainous advance of fire ants and the insidious invasion of giant cockroaches. Santa Ana had nothing on these multi-legged guerrilla warriors. I wouldn't call this camaraderie a raison d'etre, but it does unite Texans across all political, social, religious and cultural groups. If there was a party called Defeat Fire Ants and Cockroaches it would undermine the GOP stranglehold on Texas much as Ralph Nader's Green party stymied the Democrats in 2000. Those quirky independents.
Because Texas has such a large cultural image about it, it has become really more than the sum of its parts. Something like Notre Dame is the 'center of Catholic culture' in the US, but then Boston might argue with that. We buy into the myth because it is often charming and still expansive, a remnant of the unbounded expectations about the West and the promise of being a 'new plus old' society. It's probably the last place where swaggering in public is accepted in self-depreciating good humor. Swaggering in the kitchen is also encouraged, but not in the bedroom, where 'the womenfolk' have the last word, which is why swaggering does not occur where women may overhear and laugh.
Texas does retain the right to secede from the Union in its Constitution however, and I personally know a few Texans who have recommended it. Like California, they have an economy and intrinsic identity that would be sustaining. They have a deep water port, world class medical centers, a strong university system. They are short on timber and water, but have plenty of oil, cattle and have a well-placed space facility. They don't make whiskey like Tennessee, but gulf shrimp more than compensate for that and there are German descendents who make beer. BBQ and Tex Mex will last beyond a government collapse. Looks pretty good so far.
Perhaps that is part of the overall Bush-Rove plan, to send lucrative corporate defense contracts to Texas firms and stockpile resources so that an independent Republic of Texas can be declared in 2008. Until then, why tilt at windmills in Texas? Bubbas and rednecks exist everywhere, even in the misty citystate of Portland, Oregon, where I have run into more than my fair share of bigots, closed-minded and chest-thumping provincials. Before the economic bust, Oregon was part of the chain of West Coast states many semi-jokingly wished could become their own Republic of Pacifica or something, along with British Columbia, due to their economic ties and similar philosophies. We even have our own rednecked, loudmouthed radio hate mongers, and I nominate one of them, Lars Larson, to be on the first one-way experimental launch to Pluto.
It would be nice if all morons and bigots resided in one place. Then we might precision-bomb them. Sadly, they do not. -- Fondly, and testing your limits to be teased, Cousin Karen.
PS If you don't have a big grin across your face right now I failed in my mission. That phone ringing soon will be me with Plan B.
****************************** Harry Pollard Henry George School of LA Box 655 Tujunga CA 91042 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Tel: (818) 352-4141 Fax: (818) 353-2242 *******************************
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