Behind the Lines
The Secret of My Secession
Rick Perry is not the first Lone Star politician to embrace the myth of Texan autonomy. Let’s hope he’s the last.
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13 comments
Saturday, December 12th, 2009, 6:15 am
Spencer says:
While at UTEP in a political science class we had to research if Texas could survive on its own if it left the Union. All of us in the class in one fashion or another agreed that Texas could easilly make a go of autonomy if it chose to. And in my opinion if the nation keeps going as it is the idea in Texas will grow and in the future may be put to a statehood vote.
Tuesday, July 7th, 2009, 10:29 am
morequalthanothers says:
I wasn’t born in Texas and I didn’t get here as fast as I could. I barely got here (car trouble), but when I did, I have never left. I went on to eventually teach Texas history and it is certain that there is no other state more proud of its heritage and so willing to defend its legacy than Texas. The article made me cringe, however, in the thought of sticking with Sam Houston’s ideologies. In the beginning of Mr. Burka’s article, he pointed out that Houston was afraid of additional confrontations with Mexico and not having a hard currency. I think it’s safe to say that we no longer have to worry about the threat from Mexico unless we are referring to illegal immigration. Currency is another issue and one that I am too simple minded to understand the complexities of value and inflation. I do know that Texas left to her own devices would solve the problem illegal immigration in record breaking legislation. I wish we could secede. What have we got to lose? Would the U.S. not take us back if we failed in some capacity? Personally, I like the thought of telling the President "no" if it did not align with the will of Texas. Lamar was indeed concerned more with manifest destiny to the point that he became rather abrasive to the native Indians already here, but I liked his philosophy better than the thought of staying where we are because we are afraid of Mexico or can’t print our own money.
Sunday, June 7th, 2009, 7:28 am
Stephen Simecek, Kempner says:
First, Texas is not going anywhere. There are two reasons for this: 1. Texas can’t afford to leave the U.S. 2. The U.S. can’t afford to let Texas go. For the United States to lose Texas would be like a man cutting off his head. On the other side of the coin, the head can’t live without the body.
The legalities are of no consequence here. Not a day goes by that I don’t thank the patriots of 1836 for "illegally" rising up against Mexico. I personally would love to see an independent Texas, but I would also love Texas to continue to propser, and there in lies the problem.
When Perry made his comments on April 15th, he knew that Texas was not seceding. The other 49 states know it, too. But it plants a seed, doesn’t it?
The real issue sounds something like this:
"Mr. Obama, the arguably most powerful and influential state in the union is being led by a man speaking of secession. Why?"
No one is aking why, and we all should be asking that.
Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009, 11:10 am
jonathan says:
Opps - typo.. I meant Paul, not Paula... My apologies.
Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009, 11:06 am
Jonathan says:
Paula,
You mistake the historical context of Perry’s comments. They don’t reflect Lamar - but more of Stephen F. Austin. IF you remember correctly, the Texas Revolution was started because the citizens got fed up with Santa Anna ignoring the Mexican Constitution. Not unlike today’s Tea Party activists who are tired of an over reaching and burdensome federal government that has nothing but contempt for our constitution.
As Thomas Jefferson said - "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants"
Thursday, May 28th, 2009, 9:04 am
EastTexan says:
"Let’s hope Ricky Perry is the last Lone Star politician to embrace the myth of Texan autonomy?" Gee, maybe we should keep our options open. Or maybe we should have just stayed a part of Mexico, and Mexico a part of Spain, and the US a part of the British Empire. Gee, maybe the USSR should have stayed together.
Thursday, May 28th, 2009, 8:46 am
dave says:
By all means, Texas secede!
So Long Pardner!
Wednesday, May 27th, 2009, 12:20 am
Carl says:
I have been a faithful reader of Texas Monthly for many years and I find it disappointing that someone like Burka is writing for such a great publication. I also find it offensive that you describe organized & lawful demonstrators as "anti-tax activists". I was in attendance to one of these rallies, unlike the mainstream media, and I was surrounded by doctors, lawyers, local business men/women, etc...(you know, THE RICH) URwise is correct in calling out your liberal silliness and attempt to take a cheap character shot. Thanks to what’s left of the Constitution we can still protest our government, and anything short of that is TYRANNY. Your description of Lamar as someone who spent money radically and out of control sounds a lot like the guy you voted for sir. TEXAS is a great state and when we believe in something we stand up and let our voices be heard so please, stop treading on your fellow Texans and contorting the truth.
Tuesday, May 26th, 2009, 12:14 am
Name Withheld, Plano, TX says:
Sorry, URwise, I still disagree. The key of the article is an evaluation of Perry’s reasoning to hint at secession, which should be focused on how national taxes are spent and whether Texas is in line with America’s decisions in spending money. If we’re upset about Texas education, what is a secession going to accomplish to resolve the quality of education for Texans?
I didn’t launch into the education topic, since it’s not the article’s theme and Elaine jumped on the illegal reason without justifying it. However, low SAT scores for Texans are far more likely a result of ’teaching to tests’ which has been going on for several years now, instead of providing the best possible education to each student with a stronger curriculum. Improving education isn’t a simple problem. No one has mentioned the multiple issues which surround quality education here, such as at-risk kids, whether families in general take enough responsibility in ensuring their children keep up with their studies and stay in school, and the messy topic of school vouchers.
I still say that Elaine missed the point and I’m not convinced she knows the meaning of secede, when the subject is about Perry’s glib hint of the old idea to break away from the United States. As Burka noted, that isn’t even a legal option.
Monday, May 25th, 2009, 9:12 pm
wes says:
I hate to say this but, Perry’s for once was right. Berka you are dead wrong.
Monday, May 25th, 2009, 8:44 am
URwise says:
Name withheld from Plano...your reply is indicative of a liberal....attack a collateral issue and avoid the central theme of Elaine’s argument where any idiot can see is "spot on" in suggesting we are spending a ton of money trying to educate illegal’s. Burka’s article is as usual a liberal rant which he skew’s Perry’s comments and in attempting to weave a historical precedent to our current situation. Sorry Burka you failed.
Monday, May 25th, 2009, 1:57 am
Name Withheld, Plano, TX says:
I think Elaine (the first commentator) could use some additional education, so perhaps this person shouldn’t be one to judge reasons why SAT scores for Texas students are low. This person seems to imply that the education is going downhill (“dumbing downâ€) as of late, so perhaps this person is young and a recent high school graduate, admittedly under-educated, or actually believes they are intelligent but have no experience in writing a convincing argument.
What is it about young women, Elaine? And what does the complaint about the Texas low SAT scores do to say Burka is wrong about the rest of his article? Elaine, you forgot to explain the key point of the article, which is Perry suggesting seceding from the US. Secede or not secede, what the state chooses to do with the education dollars isn’t under federal control, so it would be safe to say that seceding doesn’t solve the education problem.
Perhaps you should go back to school and get some sentence structure, written argument, and dictionary usage lessons. Case in point: “succeed away†– does Elaine know the difference between succeed and secede, and fully grasp the whole article, conceptually and historically?
Burka has done a fantastic job again, providing a great historical background to a current hot political topic. I’m on the “Sam Houston†side, myself, Paul.
Saturday, May 23rd, 2009, 6:55 am
Elaine Luman says:
Paul Berka is right, but only about one thing. SAT scores for Texas students are low. There is an obvious reason for this problem. Instead of spending our financial resources on prepatory classes for high school students, we are dumping millions of dollars and dumbing-down our curriculum to accomodate the overwhelming number of illegal aliens who have no right to be here. We are feeding, clothing and semi-educating a culture that does not value education, especially for young women. I am not a racist, but I am definitely an ethocentrist. Charity is a wonderful thing, but Texas and the federal government were not created to be the charities that they have become, thanks to the warm and fuzzy federal bleeding hearts. Succeed away.
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