I have read with great interest and delight the many diaries expounding on the South and its current Redness.
One common thread among many of these diaries, which tend to be about the South from a Southerner's perspective, is that they don't seem to recognize that today's south is as different from the South in which they were born and raised (or learned about from 40-years-old Dylan records if they are "experts" on Southern culture living in NY, Boston, or SF)as today's California is different from the California where I grew up listening to those same Dylan records when they were current.
I started to do some research on the "new" south and quite by accident came upon an Asian American weblog that summed up my attitude and beliefs so succinctly that here it is reprinted for you without further ado:
...much props to worldlyman, for so eloquently explaining the appeal of houston to those who could not believe it! when i was younger, i could not understand why in the world my parents chose houston over LA after grad school, and it is only with time that I realized what a hidden gem this city is. granted, it has its downfalls, but what city doesn't?
i do find it funny that houston has street signs in chinese (along bellaire) AND vietnamese(near downtown), when i believe monterey park residents threw a fit over the sudden burst of asian storefront signs in their community!--
houston...for now :) Friday, July 19, 2002.
"Viet friends still have that lingering impression that it's (Houston) still a goofy, FOBby, redneck, deep southern, backwards country town that you always hear about."
by AAX
There are not too many "rednecks" who actually live in Houston. Some people do have Texas drawls, but that does not make them rednecks. Some of these white Texans have far more gracious manners than the Asians who bump in supermarket aisles!
When it comes to redneck culture.......I actually see far more many trailer home parks off the freeways of Los Angeles (such as those in south I-5 and the 710 freeway, for starters)than I do in Houston. Sure there are skid houses along I-45 and east I-10 in Houston but thats more dignified than trailer parks in Southern California. (Houston trailer homes are much more hidden or are out in places like Baytown).
Houston has been a transient town for quite some time. Lots of people from Britain, New Jersey, California, Florida, Nigeria, Vietnam and such. There is not much that is actually "backwards" about it. It is economically conservative with a capitalist C, true.......but SOCIALLY it allows FOREIGN LANGUAGE street signs to be placed. (Chinese street signs in Houston but not along the San Gabriel's major Chinese route, Valley Blvd?Hmmm.)
Houston has Gay Film Festivals, Gay Parades, weird but wonderful Art Car shows (started only by Houston), odd Orange Shows and other eccentric artsy qualities. (Houston is one of the top four US cities for having weird public art).
Houston has a decent representation of Gay as well as Asian politicians. Houston is also one of five US cities to have a nationally-syndicated liberal Pacifica station.
So how "backward country" is all that? Houston is more progressive than is San Diego. San Diego is only more progressive when it comes to environment and certain preservation issues.
At least Houston has a gestalt to it. Its not always obvious in its many elements. In contrast........Los Angeles is so easy to see for what it is.......there is much more to a city's quality than just Asian Entrenchment. Blacks and Latinos in Houston frequently shop and are welcome and more comfortable in the Asian supermarkets than they are in California's Asian supermarkets....or are non-Asians frequenting Asian supermarkets no longer a problem with Asian California snobs?
I have no trouble getting jerk chicken in the Third Ward area, but I would be afraid to do the same in Inglewood....
Look at Auchan, the French Hypermarket that targets customers from all over the world for a less than rich ethnic group. One of the managers said that Houston blends its diversity better than any other city...Auchan is steps ahead of the usual ethnic supermarket....gotta see it to believe it...
As much as I like living in SoCal nonetheless, I do look forward to returning to vibrant Houston when my personal business here is finished.
Once you get older, things like cost of living, ease of getting around, and global warming (which Houston is well-equipped to handle, to say the least) become more important than California Dreaming (or California Scheming, depending on one's personal agenda).--
worldlyman, Thursday, July 18, 2002