Okay, that's it: I'm tired of the Texas bashing.

As many of you know, there are a LOT of Kossacks from Texas. Some still live here, some don't, but we're here right alongside you, fighting for what we're all supposed to believe in.

The recent rash of diaries slamming the hell out of my home state have pissed me off.

Real people live here. Human beings, with lives, feelings, hopes, dreams, disappointments, children, homes, educations - strangely enough, the same things people have in, say, California or New York or Florida.

Are many Texans Republicans? You bet they are. But hell, so are most people from Louisiana. Alabama. Arkansas. Mississippi. South Carolina.

Get my drift?

Look, us Texans love our state, just as you love yours - maybe even more so, considering the state pride that we grow up with. Bash our politics all you want - we do it, too. But when you bash the people that live here, and write them all off as stupid, redneck, idiotic, or, in the fine words of an earlier diarist, autistic, you do nothing but alienate the very people who are trying to turn our state's politics around.

Texas has some wonderful things, you know.

If you're interested, you can learn about them.

We have beautiful rivers here that are great fun in the summer.

We have Austin, land of the `weird'.

We have South By Southwest, an amazing arts festival.

The Riverwalk in San Antonio is a great place.

You can visit the breathtaking Hill Country - beautiful all year round.

You can check out some great live music.

Please, don't kick us in the face. Learn about us, respect us, and understand us. We'd do the same for you, no matter where you lived.


[Update]Edited to add a few more links for your surfing pleasure.

Hippie Hollow - clothing optional park in Travis County, near Austin.

Remember the Alamo? We sure as hell do. Ha!

We love our football in Texas.

We have Big Bend - gorgeous!

We've got our own music genre! Check some of these guys out.