Excuse Me, But Some Folks in Texas DESERVE to Be Bashed

[McCamy Taylor]

The last time I tried to alert DUers about some of the problems that those of us who live in Texas face, I was told in no uncertain terms that I could not criticize the state in which I live. However, two bits of news today are so entirely typical of Texas, that I have to comment on them.

First, the Arlington Independent School District refused to allow its students to watch President Obama's address to children. Now, keep in mind that Arlington is no rural community or lily white suburban school district. The city is located between Dallas and Fort Worth, and it is the 7th largest city in Texas and the 50th largest in the country. According to wiki, their demographics are as follows:

The racial makeup of the city was 67.69% White, 13.73% Black or African American, 0.55% Native American, 6.01% Asian, 0.14% Pacific Islander, 8.94% from other races, and 2.94% from two or more races. 18.27% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arlington,_Texas

That is a pretty racial diverse population---but that did not stop the schools in the city from censoring the presidents speech. Why did they do it? Some schools have claimed that "politics" have no place in public schools. However, the Arlington School District was planning to bus children to see former president George W. Bush at the same time that it was boycotting our current president.

The decision to not show the speech live to school children became national news when it was learned that the district had previous plans to bus about 500 fifth-graders to attend an event with former President George W. Bush. The event, which is scheduled later this month at the new Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, will be an announcement about a volunteer initiative for the 2011 Super Bowl.

"In retrospect, I can see how the district's decisions concerning these two events could be seen as favoring one event over another," McCullough said in his written statement. He later said, "I apologize that my decisions on behalf of the district have disappointed or hurt people."

http://www.star-telegram.com/804/story/1606157.html

What does their decision tell us? The Arlington School District either 1) made a political decision to promote Republican politics and discourage Democratic politics (best case scenario) or 2) wants its student to think that only white presidents count. Racism or political bias, take your pick. This is not atypical in Texas. A whole host of suburban schools in this area decided not to let kids see their president.

Obviously, all of Texas does not feel this way. The kids in Fort Worth ISD got to see the president.Bud Kennedy, columnist for the Star Telegram had this feature today.

A retired Air National Guard general called Thursday with three worries.

"Something bad’s gone wrong in this country," said retired Brig. Gen. Tom Daniels, 62, of Fort Worth.

"Something’s wrong in Arlington. Something’s wrong in Austin. And something’s wrong in America."

He flew missions in Vietnam. In the Pentagon, he served proudly under President George H.W. Bush — "whom I loved," he added.

"Now our country chooses a black man as president — and suddenly, the governor is talking about secession? And Arlington is boycotting the president? They won’t even let children see him in school?"

http://www.star-telegram.com/news/columnists/bud_kennedy/story/1604709.html

As a long time resident of Texas, I want to say that what happened in Arlington is not atypical for this state. A sizable proportion of the population has always been---there is no nice way to put it, so I will just say it---- red neck . Keep in mind that this is the state whose police departments funded their Christmas parties by illegally preying on out of state black motorists. (See my journal "Driving While Black in Small Southern Towns" at http://journals.democraticunderground.com/McCamy%20Taylor/371 )

This is the state whose governor is attempting to win re-election on a platform of secession. And don't let anyone fool you. Whenever anyone down in Dixie uses the "s" word, there is always racial politics involved---

But I mentioned two disturbing bits of news. Today's newspaper also featured this grim statistic about the very wealthy Lone Star State.

Texas continues to have the dubious distinction of leading the nation in the percentage of medically uninsured people, according to census data released Thursday.

About 25.1 percent of Texans lack insurance, up from 24.1 percent, based on two-year averages comparing 2007-08 with 2005-06 census data.

Mississippi I could believe. That state is poor . Alabama---sure. But Texas? Texas is filthy rich.

The economy of Texas is one of the largest growing economies in the United States. In 2006, Texas was home to six of the top 50 companies on the Fortune 500 list and 56 overall, more than any other state. <1> Texas has an economy that was the second largest in the nation and the 15th largest in the world based on GDP (nominal) figures. As the largest exporter of goods in the United States, Texas currently grosses more than $100 billion a year in trade with other nations.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Texas

When a state has this much money---and still allows a quarter of its citizens to go without healthcare, it is not a case of can not so much as will not .

All is not reactionary in Texas. Remember the gay bar that was raided and the patron who was beaten not too long ago in Fort Worth?

Fort Worth, TX — An internal investigation into what went wrong during a June inspection on a gay bar in Fort Worth, Texas has resulted in three firings.

In a statement released Friday, the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) announced two agents and one supervisor have been fired and two additional supervisors have been disciplined.

The TABC said agent Christopher Aller and agent trainee Jason Chapman were fired Friday. Both men participated in the June 28 bar raid on the Rainbow Lounge that resulted in the arrests of six people for public intoxication and sent one man, Chad Gibson, to the hospital with a severe head injury. The agent's supervisor, Sergeant Terry Parsons, who had reportedly taken an early retirement, was also fired, effective September 2.

http://www.chicagopride.com/news/article.cfm/articleid/8195409

But why is it that the things which have to be apologized for seem to happen so often in this state? Stonewall happened 40 years ago in another, more progressive state. Why did Texas wait to have its "Stonewall" moment in 2009? Why was James Byrd Jr. dragged to death in this state? Why was a Black girl in Texas sent to juvenile detention for "shoving" a teacher but a white girl got probation for arson? Why were 47 African-Americans in the small town of Tulia railroaded for crimes they did not commit? Why was an Hispanic youth beaten and raped by white kids in the Houston suburb of Spring so severely that he spent a month in the hospital and eventually committed suicide? Why

In 1996, two years prior to the murder of Byrd, guards at the Brazoria County jail in Texas gained international notoriety when they forced predominately African inmates to strip and lie on the floor of the jail. A video tape of the pre-Abu Ghraib torture incident showed a police dog attacking several of the naked prisoners, one of whom could be seen being bitten on the leg. Guards prodded prisoners with stun guns like cattle and forced them to crawl along the ground. Then they dragged injured inmates face down back to their cells.

http://uhurunews.com/story?resource_name=white-terrorists-attack-africans-in-texas

In a dirt poor state you could blame the racial tension on the effects of poverty, which tends to divide working class ethnic groups. But Texas is swimming in cash. There is no reason that any one group has to believe that something given to another group is something taken away from them---

Unless political forces are hard at work attempting to make them believe just that.


RIP

[aikoaiko]

1. "some folks" does not equal the state of Texas

[TheMadMonk]

12. Bullshit. When the state of Texas REFUSES TO SANCTION "some folks"...

...then the fucking state of Texas by implication endorses their actions.

When the state of Texas disproportionately punishes equal crimes on the basis of place of ethnic origin or skin colour then the fucking state of Texas explicitly endorses the actions of "some folks".

But the state of Texas isn't really the problem here. It's the FUCKING STATE OF THE ENTIRE GODS BEDAMNED FUCKING COUNTRY.

When 30% of the populace can be convinced not only to hold a razor to their own throats, but to then draw it slowly to the side you have a fucking major problem.

[aikoaiko]

16. almost every state refuses to sanction some folks who deserve sanctioning

and certainly Texas is not the only state with a disportionate amount of ethinic/brown skinned minorities in prison.

There are a lot of "blue" folks working hard in "red" states like Texas and Georgia and bashing the whole state is bashing the good work of good folks.

[boppers]

2. Does Texas want outside help?

The Texas bashing is indicative of the problem, but how can those of us in other states be part of the solution?

[McCamy Taylor]

3. Good question. I suggest economic sanctions. Texans listen to money.

BTW, I just observed something on Hardball that you will see in the south. A self professed liberal showed extreme reluctance to criticize the south for its continued history of open racism. Specifically, the guy from Austin claimed that Wilson would have said the same thing if McCain was the Democratic president. Which is so untrue. Did they yell "liar" at Clinton? Wilson felt empowered to act like a punk, because in the south when whites beat up minorities, a big chunk of the population applauds them (as long as the national news does not pick up the story).

No one should ever allow misguided feelings of patriotism to blind them to their neighbor's misdeeds.

[scentopine]

5. Gov. Rick Perry Is Sarah Palin Without Breasts and

you are right on all accounts. Thank you for being brave enough to say it out loud.

Texas politicians are (for the most part) less than pond scum.

Neil Bush and Silverado Disaster
GW Bush and Iraq disaster and a host of other disaster
Phil Gramm and Global Financial Collapse
Enron Disaster
R. Allen Stanford billionaire fraudster
Tom Delay Human Disaster and Side Show Freak
Governor and School Board DO NOT Believe in Dinosaurs
Kay Baily Hutchinson Big Whore for Big Oil Disaster (suck in those dollars Kay)
Karl Rove disaster

Trillions and trillions and trillions from the treasury into their own pockets.

All millionaires or billionaires all of them equivalent to human fecal matter regarding the health and well being of our nation.

Succession? How about rounding all these scum up and sending them to Gitmo. Its the only right thing to do and the only reason to keep that place open

[Justitia]

4. Two bits of news? Did you write about the Atlanta gay bar raid yesterday?

Did you write about the more timely raid on the gay bar in Atlanta too yesterday?

http://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta/atlanta-police-raid-gay-136646.html

Or did that simply not fit into your "Bash TX" narrative?

[DFW]

6. To say we are a "wealthy state" doesn't tell the whole story

There is a lot of money in Texas, but if it isn't spent to better
the conditions of the people of Texas--as in ALL of them--then all
the money in the world doesn't do us much good. Vermont is poor, but
if you're poorly off, all those church-going Christian patriots won't
lift a finger to help you out. The tiny and modest statehouse in
Montpelier, on the other hand, would.

We could use a 1% sales tax, and spend it on education and a modest
statewide health care system, but taxes, as Rick Perry and his
crowd would tell us, are kommanism, soshalism, and ground for
secession, even if Texas vote them in themselves. Who needs
logic when there are churches and flag-waving as a substitute?

[girl gone mad]

7. I've been watching the town halls this summer.

Sorry, but the dimwits are everywhere. They make up a large percentage of the population of almost every state (possible exception: Hawaii).

There was an influx of Baby Boomers to the state during the oil rush years, so we may have a slight majority of these nuts, but to pretend that this is a Texas-centric problem strikes me as delusional.

[TBF]

8. They didn't show it down here at Pearland ISD either -

We're a fast-growing Houston suburb of about 90K. Yet I did hear that they bussed kids in Dallas to hear George Bush talk...

[Aragorn]

9. prejudice

is the number one reason. And IMO so many state agencies are political arms of the Rep powers that no one can get away with even criticism anymore. Arlington ISD - my old school! 1 of my FB friends still teaches there, across the street from my old office. She wouldn't say anything directly against it, even on FB. I have had my share of retaliation for speaking out.

What can other states do? I almost think it would take outsiders helping folks register to vote to make anyone even notice.

[Tx4obama]

10. There are dumb asses in all states.

Just keep in mind:

1) In the 2008 presidential election over 3.5 MILLION Texans voted for Obama

2) The cities and counties of Dallas, Houston, Austin, El Paso, San Antonio along with others were won by Obama.

3) A recent article stated that since the presidential election Texas has moved from the red category to PURPLE.

4) Gov. Rick Perry was voted into office with LESS THAN 40% of the total votes. What he thinks and says does NOT represent the majority of Texans. Also, the majority of Texans polled said that they would NOT vote for secession if it were on a ballot.

Texas and Texans should not be stereotyped by what a few people, groups, school districts, or politicians say or do.

[CTLawGuy]

19. how many electoral votes (the votes that really count)

fom TX did Obama get?

[Tx4obama]

28. what counted is that

what counted is that President Obama won the election even without the Texas EVs.
And what counts NOW is the support that Obama still has here in Texas.
2012 is coming and Texas is turning BLUE :)

[donheld]

11. Is there any state the doesn't have it's nut jobs?

NO

[Name removed]

13. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[lefty2000]

17. Cowboy

Former large animal veterinarian Baxter Black once quipped that a cowboy is somebody who will hold his hand in front of his face and say, "I bet you can't hit my hand before I move it!"

[Paladin]

22. Your Drooling, Blanket Hatred Of An Entire State Is Making You Look Bad.

Just thought somebody---in this case, a thoughtful, 5th-generation Texas Democrat---ought to let you know.....

[polichick]

30. 5 generations - no wonder you're so touchy about Texas...

...and no wonder you got bent out of shape when I suggested that living in other states offers some perspective. Good grief.

[Paladin]

31. I'm Touchy About Flagrant Ignorance And Prejudice...........

....whether it's directed against Texas, racial minorities, sexual preferences, or any number of other matters. I stand by all of my previous comments.....

[polichick]

32. The op wasn't directed at "Texas" - but was instead about some fucked up "Texans"...

Pretty funny how personally you take it.

[Posteritatis]

27. Denial claims not to have any. (nt)

[GivePeaceAchance]

14. I think racial politics is the best way to phrase it. It exposes it for what it is....

The 'r' word on its own just gives them an excuse but showing it as political tool blows the cover.

[uponit7771]

15. My cousins kid attends school in the Arlington ISD, there WILL be more noise about his decision

[saltpoint]

18. Take the case of Billy, in Larry McMurtry's THE LAST PICTURE SHOW.

Great novel, if any of you are looking to find something worth reading, or something about Texas worth reading, this book is a summer peach.

Billy is a deeply genuine good human being. He suffers from some cognitive deficit. But. As a Bond villain is really bad, Billy is truly good. He is astonishingly and refreshingly and reassuringly good.

Other Texans people the landscape of Billy's home town -- Thalia, Texas. Billy is under the benevolent protection of the town's wisest citizen, Sam the Lion.

Billy uses Sam's broom to sweep the sidewalks of tiny Thalia. This in a Texas where wind thrashes everything, blowing dust everywhere.

There is more of Texas in Billy's wielding of that broom against the prairie wind than in any politician's campaign brochures.

[polichick]

20. Well, I sure sympathize with you. We once planned to move to Texas...

...bought a house and everything, but finally decided not to raise our kids in a place with so many ignorant flag-waving racist right-wing blowhards ~ and we never moved into that house.

Any Dem who has spent a lot of time there knows that Texas has some very fine people and WAY TOO MANY throwbacks for comfort, whether they want to admit it or not.

Bless you for being able to put up with it. I have a hard enough time in PA. I'd move to Vermont if I could stand the cold.


(On edit I should say, any Dem who has spent a lot of time there and has also lived in other states.)

[Paladin]

23. Be Happy In Your Prejudice.

3.5 million Texans voted for Obama. Irreversible cultural and population trends will bring Texas back into the Democratic fold in our lifetimes. But don't let facts like that deprive you of the obvious joy you derive from your hatred.

(Oh, yeah---extra points for the snotty "has also lived in other states" add-on, a direct slap in the face to Texas Democrats. Pretty much what I've come to expect here at DU.....)

[polichick]

25. That's ridiculous - I've lived in a lot of states and most of my family is in...

...the deep South.

I've lived in Louisiana too and love New Orleans, but you get out of the city and many people despise Obama because of his color.

It is what it is ~ no sense in pretending.

[Paladin]

26. Your Initial Comment Was Directed At Texas.

Not the deep South. Not Louisiana. If you don't realize that every state in this country contains racist knuckle-draggers with problems about Obama, then you're the one who hasn't lived in enough places. And I don't have to "pretend" that there are millions of Democrats in Texas, or that the state is trending toward blue---those are facts....

[polichick]

29. It's a matter of scale, percentage...

We have tons of throwbacks in PA too but you don't have to run into them every day, which makes it a bit easier for liberals.

Unless you're in Austin, it's almost impossible to avoid them in Texas. That's the point.

If you can handle it, more power to you.

[Paladin]

33. And Where Did You Acquire All This "Knowledge" About Texas?

Earlier in the thread, you said you avoided moving to Texas. If you've never even lived in the state, where the hell do you come off, spouting a line like "Unless you're in Austin, it's almost impossible to avoid them in Texas"? I would never dream of shooting my mouth off about how things are in Pennsylvania, having visited your state exactly once (Gettysburg was breathtaking, by the way).

3.5 million Texans voted for Obama. They weren't all from Austin......

[polichick]

34. I've spent a lot of time there for business...

...which is why it would've been convenient to live there. The state has an enormous number of bigoted throwbacks. Unless you're one, you shouldn't take it so personally.

Edited to be more polite.

[Paladin]

35. Fair Enough. That's Some Experience You Didn't Mention Earlier.

And I don't take the "bigoted throwbacks" thing personally here at DU---unless a thread depicts the entire state as fitting into that disgusting mold. And that happens here, over and over again---this thread was supposed to draw the proper distinctions, to just trash SOME Texans, and you see what's happened. I didn't have fuck-all to do with the Bush clan carpet-bagging their way to Texas to get in on the energy business and politics, decades ago. And I never cast a vote for a Bush family member in my life, nor for any other Republican. And to come to what's supposed to be a supportive, Democratic forum like DU and be treated as if I'm part of the problem element in Texas, when I've got a lifetime of experience and accomplishments to prove otherwise, doesn't sit well with me. And you'd better believe I take it personally, just like the rest of the Texas DUers do. Don't expect us to just put up with it, anymore.....

[PVnRT]

21. How's the view from that high horse?

Care to tell us where you live? I'm sure we can dig up some dirt there.

[Avalux]

24. "some folks" in all states deserved to be bashed.

Yes, Texas has some very unique political problems and this issue with Obama's speech hit me where I live - my children were denied the right to watch the speech by the Superintendent of the NISD (a gigantic school district).

Best I can do at this point is organize against Mr. John Folks, a good 'ol Republican asshole. He will know the ramifications of his decision to deny the speech. Best all of us Dems who live in Texas can do is work our butts off to move this state in the right direction.

If you want to bash 'some folks' in Texas - put Mr. Folks on your list.