You Don't Speak Ill Of The Dead In Texas
Carpetbaggers don’t get to rewrite our culture. There are lines we don’t cross. That should’ve been one of them.
https://www.lonestarleft.com/p/you-dont-speak-ill-of-the-dead-in
In Texas, the vast majority of elected Republicans are transplants. We joke about this sometimes, calling them “carpetbaggers,” but mostly it’s in good fun. They move here, often from blue states, throw on a cowboy hat, and run for office, frequently talking about “Texas values.” We roll our eyes, say things like, “My culture is not your costume,” and “We were here first.” But deep down, we get it. People are just people, and everyone’s trying to find their place.
The problem is, somewhere along the way, our Texas values started getting replaced. Not honored. Not preserved. Replaced. What we’re seeing now, especially in moments like what happened yesterday on the House floor, isn’t some authentic expression of Texas grit or honor. It’s performative cruelty dressed up in boots. And it has nothing to do with the respect, decency, or quiet pride that once defined what it meant to be Texan.
But, what are Texas values?
Ask around and you’ll hear words like independence, grit, and loyalty. You’ll hear about standing up for what’s right, even when it’s hard. About keeping your word, honoring your roots, and helping your neighbor when the storm hits.
It’s not just cowboy talk. It’s a deep cultural current that runs through this state, from the Panhandle to the Valley. Texans pride themselves on plain dealing and quiet dignity.
You treat people with respect. You show up when it counts. And even when you disagree, you don’t go out of your way to humiliate someone, or kick them when they’re down.
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I worked for him back in 1978/79
He was a democratic sheriff for 38 years
The larger-than-life archetype of a Texas sheriff was known for keeping peace in the Panhandle
Wearing handmade boots and a Resistol hat, Rufus “Rufe” Jordan was the larger-than-life archetype of a Texas sheriff, a position he held in Gray County for 38 years. Rufe stood a bulky 6-foot-4 and could be tough when the situation demanded it. According to local lore, four inmates once jumped Rufe in the county jail and he whipped all four in less than a minute, no weapons used. But his intimidating appearance was a facade: Rufe was widely known as a soft-spoken, tenderhearted man who would help anybody in need. So, when Dallas-based photographer Kent Barker visited in 1982 to photograph the sheriff in his office, it was no surprise when Rufe’s poodle, Honey, jumped into his lap. After Rufe died in 1991, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice honored his legacy by naming its Pampa prison the Rufe Jordan Unit.
https://texashighways.com/culture/history/sheriff-rufe-jordan-kicks-back-with-honey/
You just couldn’t find a better representation of Texas for me
ETA:
I was among the 20,000 people who marched down Congress avenue to reclaim the Capitol for Ann Richards … her daughter was among the best and brightest stars that shined over Texas
