I’ve noticed that Texas has been in the national news again, and who knows, it may go to world news tomorrow. When the words “Texas” and “secession” are uttered in the same sentence, media magic happens … and the world gets one more reason to point and laugh at Texas and Texans. You know, ALL Texans, because obviously we ALL think alike.

I’m going to preface this by saying that the person in the following video does not in any way represent the majority opinion of Texans as a whole. We have some “interesting” individuals who hold extreme minority views running for governor. We always do. We also have crazy people. This particular rally had a crowd of about 200 people. It’s not like there were thousands upon thousands of people storming the steps of the capitol demanding we leave the Union. Normal Texans know that secession is not the answer to anything, and don’t hate the American flag –or America. Really. It’s true. I swear.

The people appearing at this rally will not be the next governor of Texas. It’s surprisingly easy to run for the position … for the truly motivated. Winning is somewhat more difficult.

But it is interesting to listen to what they have to say and notice the dichotomy between Republicans circa 2001-2008 and the more fringed edges of the party today.

Here’s the opening line:

“I hate that flag up there –that flag that’s above the Texas flag. That’s a United States flag. I hate the United States government.”
–Larry Kilgore

Then there’s Debra Medina, also running for governor, who said this:

“We are aware that stepping off into secession may, in fact, be a bloody war. We are aware. We understand that the tree of freedom is occasionally watered with the blood of tyrants and patriots.”
–Debra Medina

And this reportedly happened as well:

After the rally, lingering secessionists clashed with pro-health reformers holding another rally at the Capitol. Kilgore was seen yelling at some pro-health care reform advocates to “Go back to the U.S. where you belong.”

Anyway, it’s always good to keep tabs on what these folks are saying, but they aren’t at all the majority view, and I can’t see them becoming the majority view anything in the near future. It would be really nice if the news media wouldn’t do its best to make it seem like Texans, in general, support this kind of nonsense, but that’s exactly what many of the talking heads and their talking head experts did this evening. Made me a bit angry.

These secessionists really aren’t worth paying much attention to, aside from entertainment and to make sure they aren’t inciting any actual violence, and please stop attributing their delusional views to all Texans (or even most Texans). Generalizing about whole populations is wrong, no matter who is doing it.

And I just have to note this as well:

“When they raised her [Goddess of Liberty statue] to the top of this Capitol they wanted to face her south so she would forever have her back turned to that nation to the north that knew not liberty.”
–David Miller (Texas Nationalist Movement)

I’d be willing to bet good money the capitol building and Ms. Liberty facing to the south has a lot more to do with the beautiful view to had of the Colorado River (especially back before buildings couldn’t be taller than the capitol building) than turning our back on the north.

I should have been in bed hours ago. Dammit. I guess I’ll go take a nap now, since I have to be up again in an hour.