1. We defend being Texan.
I’ve had a lot of stereotypes to defend myself against when I first moved to Japan; usually, the first word out of people’s mouths when I mentioned where I was from was either “Bush!” or “cowboy!”. Texas has quite the reputation across the globe, and it’s saying something that another US state can be recognized while not being a part of the usual settings of Hollywood movies: California and New York. Whether it’s some political news that makes Texas appear ultra conservative, Austin’s reputation as the capital of the weird, or something constantly reinforcing the cowboy image like Walker Texas Ranger, we Texans have a duty to educate others across the globe and set an example. We’re still proud.