Look Out Texas

[thekarens]

I am openly gay, and a liberal and have lived in Texas 16 years and have never had to explain myself. Mostly I hang with like minded people, but when I don't we agree to disagree.

Seriously, if people only lived in like minded communities segregation would be alive and well. For change to happen you have to live in the communities that need change.

[salsabike]

I am openly gay, and a liberal and have lived in Texas 16 years and have never had to explain myself. Mostly I hang with like minded people, but when I don't we agree to disagree.

Seriously, if people only lived in like minded communities segregation would be alive and well. For change to happen you have to live in the communities that need change.

Well said. I have a Latino niece in Houston who is part of a passionately liberal arts community there, and they are definitely shaking up the place! Making the world a little better.

[Crankin]

I guess I just get so annoyed and upset when I see others being close minded, I just decided that I wanted to be where just about everyone thinks like me, even the person who waits on me in the grocery store. I know this sounds stupid. Maybe I burned myself out marching on the Boston Common and in Coconut Grove Park in the 60s and early 70s? I'd like to think my contribution has always been doing work that many others don't want to do, with populations that are often forgotten, wherever I have lived. I am sure you are all laughing at my reasoning, but I'm not going to lie.

[salsabike]

I don't know, Crankin--I don't find that reasoning laughable and I think it's understandable. Political frustration accumulates over time, and it gets harder to stand some of the same old ugly stuff. There's real comfort in being around people who care about the same things you do. I have often wondered how my friends in Arizona and Texas keep their heads from exploding given Governors Brewer and Perry. And I also believe that the work you do also helps make the world a better place. I would just say, though, that there are like-minded people everywhere, including states that appear to be conservative--they're not monolithic and you would find people in all those places who care about the same things you do.