2008 Woodie Awards
Mama, don't let your babies. . .
Texas' star shines bright despite some tarnish from president, death row
By Dylan J. Elmore, Madison High School
Issue date: 6/30/08 Section: Back Page
Originally published: 6/29/08 at 10:24 AM CSTLast update: 6/30/08 at 11:32 AM CST
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Because of the rising concern of global warming and other environmental and social issues, people are just as quick to associate Texas with the Longhorns as they are gas-guzzling SUVs, the death penalty and President George W. Bush.
Some Texans fear the Lone Star State is losing its legendary swagger; others say it's just a target of random hyped-up media criticism.
Patrick Cox, associate director at the Center for American History at the University of Texas at Austin and a sixth-generation Texan, said people will always take pride in saying they are from the Lone Star State.
"Just because we're Texans doesn't mean our religious and moral standards are any more or less American," Cox said. "We have been a really big part of the American experience, historically and culturally."
Culture is one of the reasons Eloyen Jireh, 38, decided to move to San Antonio from Colorado last year.
"I had really high hopes for Texas," Jireh said when recalling her first visit at 17.
"I pretty much took it upon myself to be successful, but I knew the environment that Texas could provide me would help."
Larry Remmler, a 57-year-old horseshoe blacksmith, said people will always be attracted to Texas because of the rodeo, the horses and the locals.
"People that have never visited Texas want to live here," Remmler said.
Many Texans have become famous or notorious on a national scale, but one person who always has the eyes of the world is George W. Bush.
With a FOX News approval rating recently dropping to 29 percent, Bush's reputation is affecting Texas all the way from the White House.
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