When I visited Texas last summer, I only expected to see my family and a few of the local sites. What I did see, however, was a unique perspective of a unique state.
On the morning of July 16th, my dad, my mom, and I set out on the interstate to drive to Nashville to catch our plane. Our journey began with a flight that was smooth and soothing. As we neared Houston, our plane flew over the Gulf of Mexico. I observed huge 500-ton ships and oil rigs that looked like toys from my plane window! Once we landed, my grandma was at the airport awaiting our arrival. It was so exciting to see my family for the first time since I was eight, especially my grandma?
On the first day that we were there, my aunt took us to West Houston to see the Galleria. The Galleria is the largest shopping complex in the Houston area. It has a large food court, three levels, an ice skating rink, two hotels, and three different sections! While we were there, we saw my dad’s first workplace, a restaurant called Zucchini's where he had worked during his college days as a waiter. We spent about four hours there, and we still did not manage to see the entire mall!
The next day, we drove down Interstate 45 to the Gulf of Mexico to visit Galveston. Galveston is still largely damaged by the aftermath of Hurricane Ike. Some parts of Galveston were still completely leveled when we arrived. Some surviving buildings, however, were some of the oldest, most historic houses that were erected in the early 1900’s. Then, we decided to take a ferry to a rural island called Port Bolivar. Once we disembarked the ferry, we were shocked at what we saw. The entire island, except for a few small homes, was completely destroyed by hurricane Ike. On our way back to Gal...
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...well. Just two blocks away from JP Morgan Chase was Minute Maid Park, home of the Houston Astros MLB Team. As we left the tower, we decided to take the downtown Houston Tram, which was installed just a few months before our arrival.
With little time left in our day, my dad decided to take me to the University of Houston campus, where he had attended college. We went to his old engineering building, where we met one of his professors. After that, we walked around the campus for a few hours, and then went to the new student center. As we were leaving the campus, I saw the football stadium, which was prepared for a Houston Dynamo MLS game.
My experience in Texas was definitely worthwhile. I especially enjoyed all the places I saw, the people I met, and food I ate. After my trip, I realized how unique Texas really is, from its land, to its people, to its food.
When we see Texas, we remember today mainly for its BBQ, Football and Black Gold, Texas tea. However, there is much more than just the usual itineraries that we find in most other states as well. Molly Ivins in her essay “Is Texas America” categorically states that, “Here's the deal on Texas. It's big. So big there's about five distinct and different places here, separated from one another geologically, topographically, botanically, ethnically, culturally and climatically” (Ivins). This is a true belief from Molly Ivins of how huge Texas was and how the demographics changed in each geographical location in Texas. The population of Texas and the demographics are two essential factors that include many important parameters in deciding the history of any state. The presence of many ethnic groups further adds to the diversification of
Fehrenbach, T. R. Lone Star: A History of Texas and The Texans. New York: The
In the late summer of 2005, a terrible tragedy occurred that changed the lives of many in the south-east region of the United States. A Category 3, named storm, named Hurricane Katrina, hit the Gulf Coast on the 29th of August and led to the death of 1,836 and millions of dollars’ worth of damage (Waple 2005). The majority of the damage occurred in New Orleans, Louisiana. Waple writes in her article that winds “gusted over 100 mph in New Orleans, just west of the eye” (Waple 2005). Not only was the majority of the damage due to the direct catastrophes of the storm but also city’s levees could no longer hold thus breaking and releasing great masses of water. Approximately, 80% of the city was submerged at sea level. Despite the vast amount of damage and danger all throughout the city, officials claimed that there was work being done to restore the city of New Orleans as a whole but many parts, and even the people, of the city were overlooked while areas of the city with higher economic value, and more tourist traffic, were prioritized along with those individuals.
Texas is a unique place with a colorful history of legendary cowboys and tall tales. The state stretches over the middle section of the southern United States. Texas has experienced shifts in governmental control within the United States. French, Spanish, Mexican, and Confederacy, and all having once been in charge, not to mention the time Texas spent as an independent republic. Texas has had many battles and wars within its borders, resulting in seven different constitutions within a span of fifty years between each document.
The expansion of agriculture and railroads helped form Texas’s present economy. The invention of the steam engine not only allowed people to move across the country in 7 days, instead of 6 months, but it also allowed crops and livestock to be carried to markets and places where they would be sold anywhere in the country. They could be moved to another farm in Texas as well. Since it’s such a large state, railroads were a necessity for travel, and general transportation. The railroad-building boom lasted 40 years. The production of cotton in Texas introduced some of the first slave-based cotton farms, and was the dominant crop for a very long time. After this event, Texas’s economy was forever changed.
Nearly 45 years ago one of the most powerful and damaging weather phenomenon’s ever to be recorded slammed into the shores of the Gulf of Mexico, a storm that effected people far and wide. Camille formed on August 14th just west of the Cayman Islands and rapidly intensified overnight becoming a category 3 hurricane approaching the island of Cuba. The storm trekked north-northwestward across the Gulf and became a stage 5 hurricane and maintained its strength before making landfall on the Mississippi Coast on the eve of August 17th. The devastating aftermath in the weeks to follow induced by the winds, surges, and rainfall took the lives of 256 people, and caused an estimated damage of 1.421 billion dollars.
Texas went through a great amount of political change from being dominated by the Democratic Party during the 1960s and 70s, from the Republican Party taking over in the 80s. One of the big reasons for this change was due to the political party’s views. Throughout this essay I will discuss the changes of the political stances in Texas as well as the present day factors that affect America.
Houston is the city that I used to live in on the outskirts of Houston; however, after I have blogged about Houston since day one I have learned a great deal in Houston and where it came from. Houston is a diverse city which is main up of all kinds of race, ethnic background, and religious. It is a great city to settle down and have a family in the suburban. It also a great city to start a career in the medical field, due to all the hospitals around the area. Houston is the “fourth most populous city in the nation” and “the largest in the southern U.S. and Texas.” Houston also has many places that you can go and explore and different attractions you can go to spend time with friends and family. Did you know Houston has “More than 90 languages
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.
Austin era, DRT, DAR, etc. Yes, my family is recognized at the Alamo and San Jacinto monument. I am concerned though that Perry mainly wants a decrease in federal power for personal gain: “a wolf in sheep 's clothes.” This 2009 Governor Perry interview lays some of the groundwork for recent radical discussion of Texas seceding from the Union, which Gov. Perry does not support. I believe in working together within the system and not fracturing relationships between minorities, whites, federal and state governments. Texans trade a high state sales tax for no state income tax. We (Texans) provide minimal services to our growing minority population. Recidivism is high and yet we do little to address substance abuse, mental illness, and lack of education as these are up to the individual. This is great if you happen to be well educated, white, and well to do. I was lucky enough to be born into this situation. Sometimes it is cheaper to address a cause instead of repeatedly dealing with the repercussions. Poorly educated and minority Texans if energized to vote can change the political makeup of Texas, and the demand for services in the future. My GOVT 2305 course pushed minority education and voting. With Texas demographics changing, if voter turnout changes current political powers do not reflect these differences.
Democrats, Republicans, and Libertarians are perhaps three of the most prominent political parties within Texas. Within the pages of their party platforms, we see that each possesses a unique philosophy, with specific viewpoints and recommendations for shaping or reforming government policy. To be sure, the people of Texas face many challenges, two of the most compelling issues being the crisis in healthcare and in education. Not only are we lacking in these areas as Texans, but also on the national level. The parties’ stance on these two major issues defines them, giving us insight into the mind and intentions of each.
Have you ever been to Texas? I have been once. My trip to Texas was unbelievably awesome. I saw many of things on my way there. While we were there, I had loads of fun. Many things happened while we were there. Texas was the coolest place I have ever been.
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.
When I was seventeen years old and going into my senior year of high school I was given the opportunity to go on a trip to Spain with my school. It was a two week trip during the summer, visiting different cities and historical sites throughout the country. While we where there we went to see a Flamenco dance show in Seville which is about an hour and a half outside of Madrid, the city where we were staying. It was a Wednesday around one o’clock when we left and the ride up there was really beautiful. We were driving through the country side passing some small villages on the side of the road. We arrived there around 3:30 and sat down for the show. It was really cool they had all the ladies with their bright dresses and fruit in their hair dance around while we ate lunch. And the show ended around five and we started to head home. On the way home we were driving through the countryside along side a small village when all of a sudden we heard a loud bang and the bus started slowing down. After a couple of ...
My Great Grandparents on my grandma’s side all were from texas and pretty much all of my family is in texas. One of my great grandparents was Dennis Williams he worked as a roughneck which is a person who works at an oil rig. He married my great grandma Louise Warren who worked as a bartender and a waitress most of