Dear Texas,
We need to talk. I've always been proud of you. I've been proud that you're a part of my heritage and my ancestry. That I'm a sixth generation Texan. That "Tejas" means "friend" or "ally." That we have cool stuff here that you can't find just anywhere. Just ask Jerry Jeff what he likes about Texas...he'll tell you it's the wide open spaces, it's everything from the Sabine to the Rio Grande. Bluebonnets, Indian Paintbrushes, Saturday nights in Del Rio...you get the idea. Kevin Fowler will tell you that he's a hellbent, 100% Texan 'til he dies. Willie Nelson croons about Beautiful Texas. Pat Green sings Songs About Texas, because he likes Texas - ain't it fine here? Waylon Jennings, Ernest Tubb, George Strait, Restless Heart, Asleep at the Wheel, Mark Chesnutt, Gary P. Nunn, Ray Wylie Hubbard, ZZ Top...they all sing about you. I could go on for days about musical tributes to you. DAYS. Our pride is a part of who we are as Texans. I am also finding that this pride is our downfall as well.
Can you listen to me for a minute, Tejas, my friend? I need you to hear the words of one of your native children. We're supposed to be friendly, welcoming people here. I've always heard people that visit from out of state speak of your beauty as well as the kindness and hospitality of your people. I have always thought the world of you, and thought that no state could possibly top you and the iconic status that you've always held in my life. Right now, you're embarrassing me.
I left you for a few years and lived north of the Mason Dixon Line. I know. This is a sin and a travesty in your eyes! But can I tell you how kind the people were to me in my second home? How they accepted me as one of their own? How they thought my Texan accent was charming? How they didn't care where I was born or where I grew up, only that I was a decent human and I was happy to be a part of their community? How I still love and miss my second family from the north, and they love and miss me? Can you hear me? Do you understand what I'm saying?
I need you to understand that I'm angry with you right now. I'm embarrassed by the behavior of your children. They are not emulating friendship, nor are they being welcoming. International civic organizations are asking "are you a native Texan?" on their applications to join. INTERNATIONAL. Do you hear me? They are asking people that want to donate their time, money, and talent to make your communities better places to live questions about where they were born. What?? How does this matter? Why the need for the exclusive practices? Do you understand at all why this is so, so very wrong?
People are flocking to you from all over the country. We just moved back a little less than a year ago. I was so excited to come home to you! I expected for both of us to be welcomed back with open arms. Quite the opposite has been true. "The climate for new businesses in Texas is perfect! We welcome people that want to bring cash flow to our communities!" Do you? Really? Or do you want to continue to discriminate against people that weren't born here? Do you want to purposely run people off that are trying to better your communities and your state? What are you thinking right now? I'm confused and angry. There are people that want to love you, and your children are pushing them away. There are people that want to help maintain your land and save your precious natural resources, and your children are too proud to accept their help. These "foreigners" want to give you their blood, sweat, and tears to make you better. And they're being shunned. I've seen and heard it myself, so I know it's not just a vicious rumor someone started to muddy your name.
Get it together, my friend. The world is changing. You have the opportunity to change for the better. People love you. Not just your children. People from all over the country...hell, the world for that matter want to love and help you. I'm tired of you allowing your kids to be assholes. They're kinder and more welcoming to people from other countries than they are to people from the same country that shares your land. Nice work being a friend and ally. As much as you'd like to believe that you can do it by yourself, it's pretty damned cool to have friends. Allies. Sometimes, you might even learn something new from someone that "ain't from here" if you just calm down for a minute and accept everyone as a friend. We're all human, Texas. We all want to love you and help you. I hope you realize that sooner rather than later. It's not me, it's you.
With hope,
Your native child, Sunny
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