Cole, Robin - author of Born Again Texan
By: Dominick A. Miserandino
With so much focus on Texas in this election year, Robin Cole gives a humorous and unique perspective on the Lone Star State.
DM) What is a "born again Texan"?
RC) First of all, a native Texan is any person born inside the borders. We
claim them all! Some folks have lived here almost all their lives except for
the accident of having actually been born in New York, and they remain
Yankees in the eyes of natives. I was interviewing a lady and asked if she
was a native, and she responded, "No, my goodness, no. My husband is, but I
just moved here when we married -- let's see, that was fifty-seven years ago.
No, I'm not a native!" I was born and raised in Texas, but left for a mere 30
years, and when I returned, I was truly born again. My hair got big, I got my
accent back, I laughed out loud and I was a BORN AGAIN TEXAN! A born again
Texan is anyone who truly loves the state with all its quirks and foibles. I
was born again when I came home and saw the bluebonnets in bloom, the
long-horn steers, and Neiman Marcus! I want to give hope to all wanna-be
Texans around the world, and therefore I propose that they join me as born
agains. As the saying goes: Texas is a state of mind!
DM) You once said, "Religion is political, politics is sport, and sport is
religion!" What do you mean?
RC) In the First Commandment for newbees and visitors, what I mean is that
religion has political overtones. For example, when you are visiting a
church, you must wait until everyone else is seated, lest you mistakenly sit
in the pew where the Jones family has sat since they donated all the stained
glass windows. We grow up knowing how to play politics. Texans are good at
shaking hands, kissing babies and-- most important -- winning! Born again
Texan George W. Bush is making his way toward the White House right now
saying, "Read My Daddy's Lips!" Texas sports are followed with a fanatic
furor. In my chapter "The Reason for the Season", I explain that after I left
Texas, I was confused by what other women referred to as "football widows."
I never stayed in the kitchen while a good game was going on in the living-
room. When I was growing up, football was more central to Thanksgiving than
the turkey!
DM) Did you vote for McCain or Bush?
RC) No! I'm still laughing too hard to vote. This is the best political year
since we lost the dynamic presence of the spelling bee champ, Dan Quayle, and
the King of Boring Charts, Ross Perot! George W. is blessed with the
creative English language gene of his father. Former Governor Ann Richards
said, "George Bush can't help it if he was born with a silver FOOT in his
mouth."
DM) Do you think George W is succeeding entirely on his father's history?
RC) "Dubya" has many friends of his own in Texas and around the country. His
mom and dad are involved in his campaign and certainly have had a great
influence on him. I believe we will see him grow as a candidate, and he has
definitely tried to distinguish himself from his father. But George Senior
may have to stop calling his son "my boy!"
DM) Why do you think people around the world seem to have a love affair with
Texas?
RC) When people 'round the world think of Texans, they think of cowboys, oil
wells, and the soap opera "Dallas" (which is still in re-runs in much of the
world). I also have discovered that they know more about some of our Texas
history than they do about American history in general. The movie "The
Alamo", in which John Wayne led the defenders, is well known. I also believe
that the western wear, the music, the entire cowboy culture lures many
tourists here every year. And, of course, if a person meets and befriends a
Texan anywhere in the world, he has a friend for life.
DM) How much of what the public sees of Texas is myth and how much is
reality?
RC) Well, we don't all live on big ranches with oil wells. We are independent
and proud of our state. My granddaddy used to say, "Don't ever ask a man
where he's from. If he's from Texas, he'll tell you, and if he's not, you
wouldn't want to embarrass him."
Talk to other readers about this story.
|
