You know, three and a half years ago we were mourning 9/11. It took
about 3 months though for people on this NG to start sniping at each
other, trashing New Yorkers, Southerners, Californians, etc.

I don't like much about dominant Texas politics but I love my
right-wing Texas cousins and not one of them is stupid. OK some of them
have some dumb ideas about the rest of the world but that's because
their culture is isolated and they live in an echo chamber of
xenophobia. But we Californians have our own echo chamber that
amplifies our own prejudices, not quite visible to ourselves but
perhaps painfully visible to ... Texans.

In the meantime, I'll say it again, my right-wing, evangelist Christian
Texas cousins are smart as whips. And furthermore, they're all
Americans. Human beings, too.

I just don't get this business of trashing whole States. (or countries
for that matter, but I'm staying out of the Francophobia hysteria).

This liberal, Arab-loving, Jew-loving*, ***-friendly, pacifist,
feminist, pro-choice, multi-cultural, French speaking, Camembert
eating, Champagne drinking Californian sends a great big smooch to
Texas (and New York too). God love every one of you!

And send us some chili, why don't ya?

Leila

*hey, I married one, but I loved 'em before I met him