Don’t Believe It – It’s Not True

I can’t remember the last time I saw a woman with big hair. (For all of you who don't know what that is, it's a big, over-teased hairdo women used to wear.) But if you listen to the talk shows, watch any modern-day movies, or catch the out-of-state news on TV or read an out-of-state newspaper, Texas and/or Texans are portrayed as stupid, dump hicks with their women weary over-teased, out-of-date hair styles. It’s just not true. They apparently have been watching too many reruns of “Dallas.”

Well, I’m here to tell you Big Hair, just like Big Foot, went out of style quite a number years ago, even in Texas.

And as far as the ignorant, syrupy, fake southern drawl goes—I haven’t heard someone sound that awful since the Dukes of Hazards or Daisy Duke.

Texans don’t talk with a slow, dumb sounding twang in their voice. Yes, we do have a southern sound of genteelly when we speak, but it isn’t long, brassy or country hick sounding. It’s soft and sweet like a southern breeze with a hint of the south in it’s tambour.

And another thing, if you think everyone in Texas is wearing cowboy boots and hats, than I’ve got a piece of swamp land in Arizona I’d like to sell you!

Cowboy hats and boots aren’t the norm, it’s the exception not the rule, especially in the city. Men that wear cowboy boots and hats as everyday attire, as a rule, are working ranchers, farmers, ranch-hands, farmhands. A big brim hat is a necessity to keep the sun out of the eyes and off the neck. However, you will find men dressed in jeans, boots and hat in other states also, so it’s not just a Texas thing.

The best place to get look at a large number of hat and boot wearers is to attend the state or county fair, the Fort Worth Stock Show, rodeo, or a western days function. There you will get your fill. So if you make a to visit Texas, don’t be disappointed if you don’t see very many men wearing cowboy hats and boots–it’s a myth and perpetrated by the old show “Dallas.”

I might add, in the smaller communities around Texas, you will find the County Sheriff and most of his deputies wearing a cowboy hat, cowboy boots, and a BIG silver buckle. Why? I think it goes with the territory and may have something to do with the Texas Ranger image. They are the “good ole boys” and you don’t want to mess with them. They will say howdy, be respectful to women, and even hold the door open for a person to pass through. But don’t dis them or, you could find yourself looking out on the other side bars or something worst.

We Texans aren’t ignorant or simple folk as we have been portrayed. And, we’re not a bunch of country bumpkins that just fell off of a turnip truck either. We are intelligent, educated, fun-loving, hard-working, and family-oriented, just like most people in the world, and maybe more so. We honor God, our country and our flag. We are proud to be known as a US citizen and proud to be called a Texan.

Come visit our big state and meet some of the friendliest and proudest people in the world—then judge for yourself.