Represent your state!

[Mr. Heartbreak]

What's wrong with toting guns and waving flags?

 

 

We already had that discussion in another thread. 

I guess it's always been pretty easy to defend so-called "traditional" values. Not too many people are against the flag, apple pie, or whatnot. I'm all about defending the minority view or the underdog.

 

I think it's a matter of your perception; you might be seeing what you want to see. 43% of Texans voted for President Obama, so you're overlooking the fact that nearly half the state isn't what you think they are.

Fair enough. Not sure I'd want to be an Obama voter there, but I'll grant you the stats.

 

As for the "live and let live" part...that might be the coolest thing you've ever posted here!

[Mr. Heartbreak]

You watch too much television.

And this "spend(ing) a great deal of time and energy criticizing the place they have gone to, while talking incessantly about how great their home state is..." attitude is certainly not limited to New Yorkers and Texans.

 

I will tell you this, the time I went to London and wore my Jeans and Boots indicated to me that the English can readily identify Texas and guess what? Didn't hate me.

I don't know that I watch all that much television, but I've seen a fair amount of stuff on the TV and internet that makes me want to stay on this coast. You're right about that attitude not being limited to NY or TX, though...my parents had some friends from Germany, and one of them did nothing but praise Germany (and how it had all these things that the U.S. didn't). Got real old, I guess.

 

As for London, the English have a long love affair with the whole western mythos, especially cowboys. I think of Bryan Ferry's Prairie Rose and some of Elton John's early stuff. It's downright weird. I guess that for them, it would be cool to be able to dress like that and look badass.

[ripthisjoint908]

Mr. Heartbreak: Zappa is a pretty conservative guy, correct? I don't know too much about his personal life/beliefs.

[Sweet Papa Crimbo]

I don't know that I watch all that much television, but I've seen a fair amount of stuff on the TV and internet that makes me want to stay on this coast. You're right about that attitude not being limited to NY or TX, though...my parents had some friends from Germany, and one of them did nothing but praise Germany (and how it had all these things that the U.S. didn't). Got real old, I guess.

 

As for London, the English have a long love affair with the whole western mythos, especially cowboys. I think of Bryan Ferry's Prairie Rose and some of Elton John's early stuff. It's downright weird. I guess that for them, it would be cool to be able to dress like that and look badass.

 

Goes back a LOT further than the early 1970's. You can thank John Wayne, Edna Ferber and Larry McMurtry, but it's more accurate to consider the general history of this state. The Alamo was legend before the Movie, and the Texas Oilman was a legend before Giant.

The Texas Rangers (the police force, not the baseball team) are legendary. But so is the RCMP. The American oil industry actually started in Pennsylvania, but do you think of Titusville or Spindletop? The Alamo is as famous as Bunker Hill. The name of Travis is almost universally known...the  line drawn in the sand. Unless you are interested in American History or are a scholar, the name of William Prescott is probably lost upon you.

Was it self promotion?  Or a confluence of events?

 

So the pride Texans have for their state is rather easily explained.

 

And after having dealt with people who fled their Rust Belt ridden wasteland states to come south for jobs and the weather, I can tell you the "if you don't like it, go home" attitude is often an honest sentiment that is warranted as a response to boorish behavior.

 

Nothing to  see here. Get on about your business.

[Mr. Heartbreak]

Mr. Heartbreak: Zappa is a pretty conservative guy, correct? I don't know too much about his personal life/beliefs.

I almost hate to derail this thread further, but since you asked...

 

Of course, FZ died about 20 years ago, but in some ways he was considered conservative for a rock icon: wife and kids, definitely a patriarch type, and quite the free market businessman. Vocally anti-drug, to boot.

 

On the other hand, check his comments regarding Republicans in general - the song When The Lie's So Big - and Nixon and Reagan in particular - Dickie's Such An Asshole for the former, and the infamous video of You Are What You Is, showing the latter in the electric chair, which MTV ultimately pulled. In 1986, he said, "The biggest threat to America today is not communism. It's the turning of this country into a fascist theocracy, and everything that's happened during the Reagan administration has put us right down that pipe." 

[ripthisjoint908]

I almost hate to derail this thread further, but since you asked...

 

Of course, FZ died about 20 years ago, but in some ways he was considered conservative for a rock icon: wife and kids, definitely a patriarch type, and quite the free market businessman. Vocally anti-drug, to boot.

 

On the other hand, check his comments regarding Republicans in general - the song When The Lie's So Big - and Nixon and Reagan in particular - Dickie's Such An Asshole for the former, and the infamous video of You Are What You Is, showing the latter in the electric chair, which MTV ultimately pulled. In 1986, he said, "The biggest threat to America today is not communism. It's the turning of this country into a fascist theocracy, and everything that's happened during the Reagan administration has put us right down that pipe." 

 Getting so off topic...but that's ok. So basically he was a conservative in the sense he was a traditional kind of guy, with no intentions to stray away from that, but hated the way the "conservatives" ran the country because they did nothing to actually preserve that way of life, they only sought to shoot the country in a less productive direction?

[Mr. Heartbreak]

 Getting so off topic...but that's ok. So basically he was a conservative in the sense he was a traditional kind of guy, with no intentions to stray away from that, but hated the way the "conservatives" ran the country because they did nothing to actually preserve that way of life, they only sought to shoot the country in a less productive direction?

Well, I don't think anyone would ever have accused Zappa of being a traditional kind of guy...not with kids who he named Moon Unit, Dweezil, Ahmet and Diva.

He did like the idea of being a father and was a proponent of capitalism, as he wanted to sell his music. Politically, I would say he was center-left: pro-civil rights, pro-choice, in favor of taxing churches, anti-establishment in many ways. Like most of us, not that easy to pigeonhole. Considering the times, it's not surprising that he was sexist and what we would now consider homophobic, as was most of the country.

[ripthisjoint908]

Well, I don't think anyone would ever have accused Zappa of being a traditional kind of guy...not with kids who he named Moon Unit, Dweezil, Ahmet and Diva.

He did like the idea of being a father and was a proponent of capitalism, as he wanted to sell his music. Politically, I would say he was center-left: pro-civil rights, pro-choice, in favor of taxing churches, anti-establishment in many ways. Like most of us, not that easy to pigeonhole. Considering the times, it's not surprising that he was sexist and what we would now consider homophobic, as was most of the country.

I see. And like you said for that last bit, that was a product of the times. Not necessarily the person.

[Sweet Papa Crimbo]

I see. And like you said for that last bit, that was a product of the times. Not necessarily the person.

 

How come when I said the same about  myself, Louieb called me out and got a chorus of support?

[ripthisjoint908]

How come when I said the same about myself, Louieb called me out and got a chorus of support?

Well I wasn't part of that chorus of support, but I did read it all. I didn't join in because I felt in the middle about it. There are so many things that people believe that can be credited to the times they grew up in. And I get that. It was common to be homophobic until not long ago. Does that mean everyone over 40 is or has to be against gays? No. It's just common. But just as people are a product of their times, there should always be a time in everyones life where they sit and say "All outside factors aside, what do I think is moral and humane." And after that discussion with yourself, you have your own opinions. Not mommy and daddy's opinions, or Sunday school teacher or whatever.

[Mr. Heartbreak]

Yeah, we are truly influenced by our surroundings, our culture, parents, and so on, but ultimately as adults we choose what to believe, what to reject, etc.

I think if Frank Zappa were still alive, he would have no problem with gay marriage, but would continue to lampoon gay men relentlessly. He made fun of everybody, and although it seems like a contradiction, you can be supportive of someone's rights while still criticizing or satirizing their behavior.

So, anyone else have some comments about their state?

[Hixter]

The Alamo was legend before the Movie

Speaking of English fondness for the Alamo, perhaps the foremost expert on the subject is none other than Phil Collins. He became enthralled by Disney's depiction of Davy Crockett as a child in the UK and now has an outstanding collection of memorabilia and recently penned a book about the Alamo. I think he still flies into town every year on the anniversary of the battle.

 

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/q-a-phil-collins-on-his-alamo-obsession-retirement-20120531

[Tweedling]

?..... you can be supportive of someone's rights while still criticizing or satirizing their behavior.l

Does that not qualify as a bigot? (which I believe is one of the most overused and misused terms today)

Also, let it be known, I'm a big Zappa fan.

[remphish1]

This thread is certianly taking a different direction then I was hoping! I have been to all 50 states and found many positive and negatives about all states but I appreciate them all in some aspect.

[Lammycat]

Colorado

 

Denver

An established close-knit grassroots community of artists, musicians, and business owners are thriving with new contributions and a growing economy.  Cool museums, restaurants, tons of music, professional sports (every kind), great record stores.  Our mass transit was lagging, but our light rail system has been growing faster than just about anywhere in the country.  A distinctly Mexican twist in the local culture, with a generous helping of Vietnamese, Russian, Ethiopian, and all of the other exceptions to our Anglo-caucasain reputation.

 

Good brief synopsis. Don't forget that there are more weed shops than schools and Starbucks combined and that weed is pretty much legal. Plus, I live here.....

[lamradio]

Everyone is happy where they live until they move, and that's usually when the bashing comes out.  I loved living in Boston, but when I look back, most of the people there were generally rude (not everyone), it was cold as balls in the winter, and the cost of living was ridiculous.  Pretty much the same for Los Angeles although the weather was great year round.  

 

Currently I'm happy to represent beautiful upstate South Carolina.  Low cost of living, mountains are a short drive away, a few hours from the beach, people are friendly, and the weather is nice year around (doesn't get too hot where I am).

[Mr. Heartbreak]

This is kind of interesting: survey of areas where people say they don't feel safe, or at least the "index of well-being" in general is pretty low.

http://247wallst.com/2013/04/09/ten-cities-where-americans-dont-feel-safe