Apologies for my poorly worded, underworded statements above. I
typed a few scattershots about Texans I have known during halftime
of Dallas-Seattle. My wife gave me NBA League Pass as a gift. I
religiously watch the games every night so that she/we get our
money's worth.
I love texas and texicans. I waded through James A. Michener's two-
volume "Texas." I especially enjoyed his shorter work "The Eagle and the
Raven" about Sam Houston and Santa Ana. I was puzzled why
Michener, who had so many historical facts, chose historical fiction
as the vehicle for his contributions. I think I understand. He KNEW
the characters well enough to portray them beyond the historical
reference
Michener portrays early Texan Alamo defenders as escaped convicts,
ne'er do-wells, hotheads, etc. Not unlike Australia, Texas was settled
by folks on the run.
"The History of the King Ranch" by Mona D. Sizer and "The History of
Padre Island" gave me a sense of what early Texans were like. Early residents had to be soldier/entrepeneurs to protect their interests. The
Indians of Padre Island were fierce cannibals.
My ill-advised post above tried to hint at the individualism of Texans
as a faint indication of why so many Texan Jehovah's Witnesses have
turned "apostate."
But like California, Florida and other states, Texas has received a sizable
migration. JW's in the 60's especially flowed into the state to "serve
where the need is great." Many of these were folks not well accepted
in their home congregations. Serving where the need is great became
an opportunity for a fresh start and renewed reputations. Law enforcement in frontier areas
of the United States are well aware of the escape syndrome. It applies
to JW's as well.
In the mid-60's I was a young man on the public speaking list in south
Texas. I got to know the presiding overseers of many of the congregations.
Almost to a man they resented the intrusion of the circuit overseers. These
proud older men were Texans in the traditional sense. They didn't
"cotton to" outside intrusion. They did not openly rebel, but neither
did they suck up. All of them were on the verge of being replaced, but
seldom were. Martin Jensen, Douglas Cornelius, John Fisch. These
were men's men.
The distances in Texas are staggering. Washington, D.C., Brooklyn, N.Y.
might as well be in the former Soviet Union. The last battle of the
civil war was fought after the war was over at Palmetto Ranch, Texas.
No one is south Texas knew the war was over.
The "south" won that meaningless battle. 100 years later Circuit Overseers told us
we were doing things "our way" not Bethel's way. So isolated we were/are.
It's just a theory, folks, and a flawed and poorly developed one at
that.
tms