I'm new to Daily Kos (though I've read numerous diaries prior to opening an account) so consider this my inaugural entry, which is about my native Texas.
The name's John David, by the way. Nice to meet you.
I love Texas. I love its history, its food, its culture and its women. I was born there to a newly immigrated Filipino couple 31 years ago. I can't imagine calling somewhere else home. Maybe the Philippines, but let's save that for another day.
What I despise about Texas is the right-wing, libertarian stranglehold that's held this state in check for God knows how long. I'm surrounded by plenty who believe dark skin is a sin, Islam is the invention of Satan and Obama is out to turn America into another Soviet Union. If ignorance is bliss then it must be euphoria in the reddest of red states.
And let's not forget the secession fever that's infected everyone from Amarillo to Brownsville. Texans who advocate breaking away from the Union (again) apparently don't know their history or have any sense of logistics. Texas has failed as a sovereign republic in the mid-19th Century and was on the losing side of the Civil War. So what makes Tommy Teabagger think the Lone Star State can stand on its own the third time around?
I assume plenty of East Coasters and a number of Californians think Texas is full of idiots whose brains were rotted away by years of watching Fox News. That's not the case. Silent but determined to fight the good fight are those like myself who idolize Molly Ivins and listen to Mike Malloy. We may be the minority, however, that won't deter us from engaging our conservative foes. Please, don't count us out.
I'll try my best to write as often as I can. I'm sure when there's something I want to share, I'll share it with you.