First of, kudos to to Jem6x. He brought to my attention the declaration of Texas secession, and laid its racism open for all to see.
Rick Perry is a putz. Always has been, always will be. When he beat Jim Hightower for Texas Ag Commissioner, I saw that the game was over. Texas has hosed its own self big time.
So Jem6x inspired me to write a little, well big, LTE to the Austin American Statesman. So I did borrow from a public domain document, through him. Credit where credit is due. It is in LTE form so no block quotes.
Below the fold.
Dear Statesman,
At the recent so called tea-bagging party and protest, our illustrious Governor Rick Perry brought up the idea of secession. The rhetoric rose as he spoke and he received supporting cheers and chants of Secede! Secede! Well, Texas has seceded from the USA before. It didn't have a very good outcome. Many Texans died at the hands of the United States Army. Texas joined the largest military force ever to do battle against the United States of America, and they didn't just lose, they were decimated.
Why did Texas secede? Here is are a few quotes from the Texas Legislature's "A Declaration of the Causes which Impel the State of Texas to Secede from the Federal Union." February 2nd 1861.
: "...a commonwealth holding, maintaining and protecting the institution known as negro slavery-- the servitude of the African to the white race within her limits ...", "In all the non-slave-holding States, in violation of that good faith and comity which should exist between entirely distinct nations, the people have formed themselves into a great sectional party, now strong enough in numbers to control the affairs of each of those States, based upon an unnatural feeling of hostility to these Southern States and their beneficent and patriarchal system of African slavery, proclaiming the debasing doctrine of equality of all men, irrespective of race or color-- a doctrine at war with nature, in opposition to the experience of mankind, and in violation of the plainest revelations of Divine Law.", and another "That in this free government all white men are and of right ought to be entitled to equal civil and political rights; that the servitude of the African race, as existing in these States, is mutually beneficial to both bond and free, and is abundantly authorized and justified by the experience of mankind, and the revealed will of the Almighty Creator, as recognized by all Christian nations; while the destruction of the existing relations between the two races, as advocated by our sectional enemies, would bring inevitable calamities upon both and desolation upon the fifteen slave-holding states."
That is why, at the core,Texas seceded from the United States of America, for slavery. Now if Governor. Perry wants to follow in that great Texas tradition, I wish him the best of luck. It's just that a couple of words come to mind, sedition and treason. Oh yes, and also the phrases foot in mouth, and, what were you thinking?
I grant that supporters of President Bush are feeling put out at having the Republicans fall out of power in Washington. These concerned citizens at the tea-bagging parties have a legitimate gripe when it comes to deficits and taxes, although I don't recollect any such protests at the deficits built up by Presidents Reagan, Bush, and Bush. To me, these tea-bagging protests seem to be born of two reasons: sour grapes, and dissatisfaction with the final repudiation of the Texas Legislature's Declaration to Secede, that is, the election of an African American President. Could race be a factor in some peoples unhappiness with President Obama? I hope not. That would reflect poorly on the past 148 years of progress in Texas.
I have never thought of Governor Perry as a particularly good Governor, but now I am quite embarrassed by his behavior. The political fringe has picked up this idea and wants a plebiscite for Texas independence from the United States of America I dare say that millions of patriotic Texans that think in the 21st century, (well at least the late 20th), would overwhelmingly dismiss such an idea with great prejudice, and vote against such unpatriotic rubbish in great numbers. I am sure even Governor and President Bush would not support such a terrible and seditious idea. While Texans do have an independent streak, I very much doubt that the percentage of Texans that are Texas first, The United States of America second are even remotely near half the voting population. Zogby polls place it at around 22%.
Governor Perry brings me to consider something that I have never done in my entire life, vote for a Republican. If it comes down to Governor Perry and Senator Hutchinson in the Republican Primary, although I think that Senator Hutchinson is in the bottom 5 of worthwhile US Senators, I will vote for her in an effort to rid Texas of a horrible leader and throwback to Texas' racist past.
On the other hand, if anybody deserves Texas, Mexico should have the right of first refusal.