Ode to Texas

I love living in a culture within a culture.
The fact that foreign countries know more about Texas than any other state really says something. We have our own stereotypes, and really an entirely separate element of our culture separate from the rest of the country.
I recently read some funny "You know you're from Texas when..." things I'd like to share.

You know you're from Texas when...

It's so hot that potatoes cook underground and all you have to do for lunch is to pull one out and add butter with trimmings.

It's so hot farmers are feeding their chickens crushed ice to keep them from laying hard boiled eggs.

You only know five spices: salt, pepper, Ranch dressing, BBQ sauce and ketchup.

You no longer associate bridges with water. (*cough* TRINITY RIVER *cough*

You can say 110 degrees without fainting.

You learn that a seat belt makes a pretty good branding iron.

You discover that in July it takes only two fingers to drive your car.

You attend a formal event in your best clothes, your finest jewelry and your cowboy boots.

People grumble about Noah letting coyotes on the ark.

Baptism is referred to as "branding."

Finding and returning lost sheep isn't just a parable.

You know what real Mexican food tastes like.


Most of the rest of them were mostly about our accents. Seriously, world, get over the word "y'all." It's not that big a deal.
Also, did you know that it is illegal to urinate on the Alamo? This is important knowledge. Good thing it's not a college town...

Anyways, while this is all fun and good, it brings up something that I've noticed. With the advent of the internet and mass media, things like accents and state cultures are starting to become less and less significant.
I realized that other day that I know exactly how to speak in a Texan accent, and I choose to do so when around the right influences (see also: Grandparents) but I fit just as comfortably into the "American" accent. As large as the United States is, the fact that we all see the same media, and our kids are raised by the television, individual accents over small areas are starting to disappear.
I'd be all tore up inside if I didn't have a little slice of redneck to call home anymore. As it is, Dallas is hardly Texan.

I guess on the whole it means that technology has made a "one world culture" possible.

You know, I was just watching Star Wars, and they differentiate people groups by what planet or even what solar system they come from. Is it possible that our planet could become just one single culture, with hardly any differences except in remote areas?

I would be sad if all of those mini cultures were to disappear because of technology.
What's funny about all this is that America takes pride in its ideals of individualism. Yet the individual disappears when everybody watches all the same TV.