"Nothing is more difficult, and therefore more precious, than to be able to decide" ~Napoleon Bonaparte When looking out at the sunset, there is an unmistakable array of color. Although there is a vivid orange that illuminates the sky, the less intense colors help create the beauty of the event. This representation describes American culture. There may be a predominate tradition, but there are also other traditions that help make this nation beautiful. Being a part of a diverse nation, Texas contains numerous races, heritages, religions, and traditions. However, Christianity is predominating amongst the others. Provided that America is founded on Judeo-Christian morals and ideologies, we, as Texas citizens, are expected to adhere to the preponderating lifestyle, according to the Texas Republican Party. The State Republican Party’s Judeo-Christian centered concept of traditional values limits our private individual rights as Texas citizens. Traditional values being that in which is considered ‘righteous’ by definition of the church, and private individual rights being that in which we do in our private lives. In such a diverse nation, predominating traditions cannot rule over the lesser traditions. We would not be considered a free-country if this were to happen. After all, taking away the lesser traditions would take away from the beauty of our culture. In the 2010 State Republican Party Platform it states: "We support school subjects with emphasis on Judeo-Christian principles (including the Ten Commandments) upon which America was founded and which form the basis of America's legal, political and economic systems..." (Texas Republican Party Platform 2010, p-15) Education is a very important factor in which impacts one’s... ... middle of paper ... ...ple allowing our separate traditions to converge into what we called the American society. As we evolve we develop a more open society where it is okay to maintain one‘s own subculture. Having different beliefs is not the issue, it is finding common ground on which we could stand together. We, as Texas citizens, should be able to maintain our own religious beliefs, traditions, and lifestyles. We should be able to represent who we are openly without criticism. If anything should be emphasized, it should be cultural relativism, which is the theory that people should not judge the behavior of others using the standards of their own culture, and that each culture must be analyzed on its own terms. Works Cited 2010 State Republican Party. p-15, p-15-16, p-7., 2010. Web. 2 Apr 2011.
The American way of living and thinking in Texas have changed tremendously over the past century. Political ideals are one thing that changes with time, and have transformed with the changing times well. The Texas constitution of 1876 was a landmark for the state and has been part of the state’s history since then. The Texas constitution of 1876 is still in use today but with all its harsh restrictions it is considered one of the most confusing of all the state constitutions. The constitution became one of the most prominent changes to Texas education system and politics.
In cases having to do with constitutionality, the issue of the separation of church and state arises with marked frequency. This battle, which has raged since the nation?s founding, touches the very heart of the United States public, and pits two of the country's most important influences of public opinion against one another. Although some material containing religious content has found its way into many of the nation's public schools, its inclusion stems from its contextual and historical importance, which is heavily supported by material evidence and documentation. It often results from a teacher?s own decision, rather than from a decision handed down from above by a higher power. The proposal of the Dover Area School District to include instruction of intelligent design in biology classes violates the United States Constitution by promoting an excessive religious presence in public schools.
The Texas Legislature is far too archaic to provide consistent leadership for a state government; Congress has become too enmeshed with the executive branch and leaves blurry lines drawn in its separation of powers. The ideal legislature would be a modernized version of what the Texas Constitution created.
Texas is big! From the size of the state, to our trucks, and to our pride, there are countless examples of why “everything is bigger in Texas”. Even our state constitution is bigger! With approximately 87,000 words and 474 amendments, the current Texas Constitution of 1876 is one of the longest state constitutions in the United States. Compared to the United States Constitution with only 4,400 words and 27 amendments, one wonders how the Texas state and local governments can operate efficiently with such an overwhelming document. The length and detail of the constitution stem from the specific policies written into the document, making it statutory in nature. This specificity has resulted in a restrictive document that requires frequent amending.
The relationship between a local government and its people is typically a combined form of stability, as well as discordant moments of tension and rising-to-dramatic change. More specifically, the political climate of the local government differs depending on how those people view the three aspects of their governmental calls and needs: rights and responsibility of the people, obligations of their government, and limits on the local governmental authority.
Texas, being the second largest state in the United States, has a very large and ethnically varied population. Since 1850, Texas has had more of a population growth in every decade than that of the entire population of the United States. Texas' population is growing older as the people of the post World War II reach their middle ages. It's estimated that the people over the age of 64 in Texas will more than double by the year 2020 in Texas. Four out of every ten Texans are either African American or Hispanic with the remainder predominately white. There are a small but very rapidly growing number of Asians and fewer than 70,000 Native Americans. The diverse set of ethnic groups in Texas causes a big impact on laws and legislature in Texas.
The government of the state of Texas is a difficult and complicated institution that is composed of many different levels. The question comes in to everyone's mind at one time or another whether or not to trust the government. It could be that people believe that the officials will take advantage of their power, or simply people don't like the idea of being controlled by someone who is not a family member or friend. To avoid this centralized power, the government is divided into stages and this is a reasonable ground for trusting the government. Government runs this state and it does deserve to be trusted.
Molly Ivins was an author and political commentator, who has gained recognition for her ability to use satire and irony to discuss serious topics and messages. In Molly Ivins essay, “Is Texas America,” she ponders about unsuccessfully trying to “…explode the myths about Texas” during her journalist career (Ivins 782). Although Ivan discusses Texas as a massive and diverse state, and how the true Texas stereotype cannot be generalized and summed up into one area or type of Texan. However, throughout her article Ivins still continues to emphasize on a general stereotype of a white Republican male. Even though Ivins failed to deeply analyze the topics she discusses, such as homophobia, racism, and Texas identification, there are sources that do
Political culture is broadly shared values, beliefs, and attitudes about how government and society should function. Gov. Rick Perry speaks supporting strong Texas state government and minimal federal government intervention. Based on Texas’s founding origins, and experiences and orientation toward the marketplace (pro big business), who should participate in government, and the role of government. The three state political culture categories are moralistic, individualistic, and traditionalistic. Texas is a mix of traditionalistic and moralistic according to our textbook. The moralistic New England Puritanism view of the common good, government should promote public good. Individualistic view of government to provide order and protect property
Texas is unlike any other culture in the United States. Inside the state of Texas, many different forms of dialect, ways of life, and even land forms can be found. Texas in unique because it is both a culture and a co-culture. Both platforms are very important to overall life in Texas. Texas residents are also very ethnocentric. Texas as a whole is considered a culture because, most residents share certain traits and beliefs. For example, Texas is set apart from other states because of the strong pride that comes with being a resident, their unique dialect, and the love for football. As a co-culture, Texas is represented by differencing land forms
By adding social issues to the conservative agenda, the New Right weakened the establishment’s movement, contradicting and discrediting its fundamental principles. The new social agenda contradicted Old Right’s belief in limited government and individual rights. Today, the New Right continues to grow and the Christian Right continues to gain political power. Republican candidates are considered politically dead unless they secure the support of the Christian Coalition. Before the New Right comes to embody “conservativism” within American political discourse, Old Right conservatives must discard the dissenter’s social initiatives and reclaim the establishment’s conservative agenda: remove the New Right’s social agenda, return to establishment’s conservative ideals, and develop policies based on limited government, free market, and individual liberty.
The United States is a spiritually and culturally different nation, may be the most religiously different state in the world. It seems hard for any of the people in the United States to see that persecuting church-driven state could ever increase its horrible head again. Earlier to the ratification of the bill of rights, various states, like Massachusetts were still pursuing those who had other faiths. Therefore, leading those who faced discrimination escape to Rhode Island. In 1791, the first ten amendments were ratified, which were named the Bill of Rights (Karen O’Connor & Larry J. Sabato 2006).
At this time, religion played a major role on the educational system in the sense that all types of religious groups were represented in the American school system, but they were challenged with how they could be loyal to their religions beliefs. With the 'Pledge of Allegiance' present, some people felt as though the values of Americans and the "Creators'" beliefs should be taught in the classrooms. Of course, others felt that religion and school should be separate. As a result of disagreements such as these, many problems arose.
An individualistic political subculture relies on the marketplace, limited government role, and does not like the government intervening in peoples individual lifes. A traditionalistic political subculture view the role of government as maintaining traditional values. This two political subcultures truly identify Texas. A lot of the stuggles that African Texans faced can be because of the way that Texas people think. They are very traditional and like to stay true to their values and they certainly do not like change. Since back then a lot of the Texan citizens were pro slavery they weren’t very happy that African Americans were free so they did things like segregation laws to stop them from being completely free. Also the Individualistic trait of the government not being involved was a big part of why African Texans took to so long to gain their rights. White supremacy did not like the government making laws in favor of African Americans. I think also the conservative views that Texans have had to do a lot with white people not wanting any change in Texas, and they knew that if other races like African Americans were treated equally then that meant a lot of change was coming to Texas. They knew that new cultures and religions could be created and as a traditional, individualistic, and conservative state they don’t like new changed they like to stay traditional. The African Texans could also have different ideas, and they knew that if they let them get their rights easily Texas would no longer be going to be ran by their
When the Bob Bullock Texas State History museum opened in March 2001, it advertised itself as “The Story of Texas.” It still calls itself the story of Texas in letters chiseled into the top of the building, on its Web site, on signs directing visitors to the museum, and even on the refrigerator magnets you can buy in the gift shop. When I first saw the slogan, I wondered how there could be “the” story of Texas, since Texas has been culturally diverse throughout its history as a part of Mexico that became a separate nation and later a state. Shortly Texas will have no one group as a majority. I grew up in the Rio Grande Valley, where the great majority of the population, like me, is Mexican American. How was this new museum going to present my story? I had to go and find out.