I admire it, but I don't get it. Perhaps you Texans can explain it. I'm a born-and-bred PNWern. I love my region... but have no particular affinity to my state. So, what gives?

I think it stems from our history. We were an independent country, after all. The Texas revolution for independence was fought by folks who settled or came to Texas looking to prosper. Sort of a 'go west, young man'. After independence was achieved at the cost of many lives and some battles and incidents that catch the imagination - think drawing black beans - and lend themselves easily to myth-making and you hear the stories from pre-school age it tends to develop an aura which easily forms pride. Add to that the sheer diversity and scope of the geography from the old south feel and pine forests of east Texas to the arid cattle country and wild west feel of the western half, pride gets ingrained into residents.

Thanks. Well thought and with passion. Trying to wrap my head around it...but so far not. I'll keep trying.

Pretty sure I posted this in the Texas forum...it's now in the Sandbox. Hmmm.

One thing I wanted to bring up. There were some Texans with Native American origin and some of Mexican-Native American origin who also fought in the war for Texas Independence...many or their ancestors had been in Texas long before either Anglo-American or Spaniards arrived in Texas. One of my great-great grandmothers had a Texas-born uncle who was residing in Texas during the War for Texas Independence and he died (he was either killed during the battle or else executed after surrending to the Mexican Army) at Goliad. Her uncle's heir's (her brother) family received free land for this later on from the Republic of Texas. Sam Houston, an early leader in the revolution against Mexico (which then included Texas), had always intended to bring Texas into the USA as a state. Eventually he successfully convinced both Texans and the US government to admit Texas into the union. Unfortunately Governor Houston was unable to convince enough Texans to stay in the union when the Civil War started.

That is true Linda. My phrasing was poor in that it left out the large number of those people. You only have to read the roll of those in the Alamo to recognize the large numbers who participated in the fight for independence from Mexico. Not to mention the number of who had migrated here from the U.S. who had wives and families and in-laws who had established homes in Texas long before the Anglo group began arriving.