CULTURE...Part II

We live in the town of Mineral Wells, Texas. It’s not the end of the world…but you used to be able to see it from here!

Not any more. Our town is 60 miles west of Fort Worth, and the town between, Weatherford, has been eaten up with new comers. To the point that the “locals” no longer run the town. The once conservative government has been taken over by the new comer liberals.

There was a big fight about the courthouse lawn in Weatherford several years back, and at least the “locals” won this one. It had been tradition that each Christmas season a crèche was placed on the courthouse lawn. The new-comers had a fit. What were these people thinking of, putting a Christian symbol on the lawn of a public building? How shameful! It probably violated lots of folks civil rights. Well, on that occasion the “locals” won and the crèche remains every Christmas season!

But their town is over run. What was once a small, historical town in North Central Texas has become a bedroom community for the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. And it’s headed west!

By the way, as a historical perspective, this is the area of Larry McMurtry's Lonesome Dove. Our county, Palo Pinto, is where the Goodnight and Loving ranches were and where the Loving family still has a ranch today. Loving is buried in the Greenwood Cemetery in Weatherford. This place is keen on Texas history.

But, hey, back to Mineral Wells NOW. So far, our politics, while it is small town, and in some cases, not what you’d always want to call legal, it’s still ours. You know?

We just held elections for school board and for one place on the city council, and all the people who won were “locals”. In fact, most of them were born and raised here.

But…

We have one fellow on our City Council (I won’t mention names, but if you’re from here, surely you’ll know) but he ain’t from around here. He’s, well, from up North some place…likely the Midwest…but not from here.

Now it doesn’t much make a difference which way he came from, the difference is made in his attitude. He came here because of work…we do have some fine industry here. And after he’d been here a little while, he ran for public office.

He’s been on the City Council for years, ‘cause, I reckon, he hasn’t said things to most folks in the area that he’s said to my husband. When he first won his seat, he smiled a Raf at a high school band concert and said he just couldn’t get over this town with all its in-breeding!

"This is really the shallow end of the gene poll!" he said.

He went on to say that most of the folks here were on welfare (quite a number are) and that most are just plain dumb...not deaf and dumb, just stupid, I reckon. Now, I guess he said all this to Raf knowing Raf wasn’t from around here, either. The difference is, Raf didn’t come here trying to change us, but to fit in!

Well, now Mr. New Comer wants to run for mayor, and I’m afraid he will. With that attitude, do you think he should be mayor of this town? I don’t. Perhaps he wants to be king. Or maybe he just wants to show us “locals” how really stupid we are. What do you think?

I think, in fact, if he doesn’t like it here and considers it such a terrible place, perhaps he needs to go back where he came from…and stay there!

Those are my thoughts on the subject, and I’ll stick to them. And, if he runs, I’ll vote for almost anybody BUT Mr. New Comer!

Comments

TO BECOME said…
I feel for you. We have had some problems in our city also. There are some that want everyone to just let junk pile up all over their yards and do nothing about it. I, on the other hand think we need to keep our yards from being eye sores to those that come to our city. Well, it the election this past Saturday. They eyesores won. So I donot know what will happen or if in a few years ,I will even be able to find my way home. lol. I feel for you. connie from Texas (coastal Texas.
Carole Burant said…
Don't you just love these newcomers who arrive and think they can change a whole town with a snap of his fingers...if that so called politician does run for mayor, I hope he loses...badly!! xox
Pam said…
A very heartfelt post!

I found your post about the names of towns very interesting. There's a district of Glasgow (here in Scotland) called Auchinshoogle, which is quite nice! It's pronounced just as it looks: Och-in-shoogle.
Mrs. Goodneedle said…
This reminds me of an old joke about a new-comer who asks a local what the people are like in the town... the local wisely asks; "what were the people like where you came from?" The n.c. answers: "not very friendly, close minded and rude!" The local responds: "that's exactly what you'll find here, too!"
smilnsigh said…
BINGO!!!! We too live in a place, which is being overrun with 'newcomers.' Was conservative. With an occasional change over to home town Democrats. All peaceful and the like.

But not this new batch!

They come here from San Francisco and NYC and the like... Because ours is such a purrrrrrrrfect place to live and also to retire.

Yup, purrrrrrrrrfect.

But then they decide they have to tweak it and change this and that and... Grrrrrrr..

If it was purrrrrrfect and you say that's why you came, why change it???

The city was given to them 'on a silver platter', last election. Backs turned on our then government, including our son who was Mayor {and had been in local gov. for 8 years}. Backs turned and finger given to them, it seemed. And now, oh how the hue and cry is up. "Oh please ex-Mayor, will you run again and save us?"

"Nope." He is finally enjoying his life as business owner and family man and is gonna' stay this way, for the duration. Let someone else come along and find a white horse and ride in to *save them.*

Am I bitter? You bet your sweet 'patoootie,' I am bitter!!!!!!! Our family has worked for the betterment of this city for a half a century. To be kicked in the stomach, in that way, has left me with a very, very bitter taste in my mouth.

Mmmmmmm... a different side of Mari-Nanci,hu? Yes! Mari-Nanci has many sides, and not all of them, are sweet.

Mari-Nanci
Anonymous said…
I live in Palo Pinto county and never pay much attention to the politics in Mineral Wells or Weatherford, although we go there to shop sometimes.

I too am sad to see so many people moving into Parker county and turning it into another Ft Worth suburb. But I am curious why you would consider the newcomers "liberals?" I know that liberal is a relative term but I'd bet my bottom dollar they are overwhelmingly Republicans.

-Bill
Sue Seibert said…
I don't often respond on my comments page, but, Bill, here goes...I have talked to this Mr. Newcomer and quite a few others. They mostly appear to be tree-huggers and tax-raisers! To me that spells liberal.
Terry said…
Dear Sioux...Glad the boys and Turtle got back alright and I hope you gave them some anniversary cake.
Princess is still here so I guess I had better send her back before that Ron sends Judge Judy over to investigate!..Love Terry
Dawn said…
I'm sorry he's such a jerk! How sad. We have so many people moving here to Colorado from all over and I must say it's not the same place it was 35 years ago (of course, I'm not a native either!).
Felisol said…
Dear SiouzSue,
I am truely grateful for your prayers, they've meant a lot to our family as we yet are not yet "Home Free".

I liike your engagement in local politcs. If we want to keep our democracies alive, We are obliged to thank and take stands also in the open.
I am not familiar with American politics, particular not the local one.
What I am concerned about is the global ongoing secularisation.
Norway has a huge cross as main symbol in her flag. May 17. is our "Freedom Day" which is celebrated with lots and lots of childen marching with their flags, singing songs to praise God for our country and asking him to bless us as a people. Imagine that were forbidden..
We also celbrate Christmas and the other Christian feasts both in schools, churches and in public.
"Keep on to what you have got, so that noone shall take it away from you," I think that's about correctly translated form Paul's letter to Thimothy.
To me it's likewise natural that a local society must take care of it's youg, old, ill and poor ones.
That's a Christian duty.
God bless you.
Tammy said…
I lived in Temple Tx from 1990 to 1995...it was a transient little town...I don't mean bums...I mean people moving in and out...so we did not feel like strangers in a strange town...here in Ohio everyone is pretty much established so we are new comers here even after 2 and a half years...
Sheila said…
Hi Sioux,
I just read your last two posts with great interest. This is the second comment I have typed, the first came across as a rant.
Just know I agree with most of what you have said.There will always be people who think they know more or know better than the rest of us.
I just wonder why they move to an area because they like it, only to start denigrating it, and trying to change it as soon as they can.
Keep speaking your mind, it's the only way...!Hugs
xx
Pam Aries said…
There's a new Sheriff in town....ha ha! THe same thing is happening here too. I live in Mt. Pleasant..just over the bridge from Peninsular Charleston... In 15 years it has come froma darling sleepy little beach town to METROPOLIS! Dang..Run by those Damn YankS! Hey..I'm kidding..but not really! heh heh
Dawn said…
I finally got the Nixon post up and running!
Susie Q said…
It is always the case...new folks move in and begin to turn the city into what they just left. I have been *the newcomer* often as a military wife and always tried to do my best to become a part of the community and enjoy the culture and the *way they do things*. Part of the charm. I am probably not explaining myself too well...
And Heaven help everyone when the newcomers enter politics! Egad!

Hugs,
Sue
Dawn said…
Thanks so much for your comments on my Nixon story. Thanks for the reminder about the dog ears incident. I couldn't remember the context of that note I took, but now I do. How great that you got to shake President's Bush's hand (the current one), and love the story about his SS class. I feel so bad for them that they get such awful things said about them. I guess it goes with the territory - it began with Clintons, though most of it was probably true! I don't know how many times at the grocery store I see on the rag mags that Laura is leaving because of his boozing. How many people believe this trash?

Have a wonderful Sunday!
Lila Rostenberg said…
Change is not easy...we have a lot of new "wealth" coming in to our "perfect" little town! The new entrepenuers and developers want to build exclusive condo's and ritzy shops in our funky little town and they want to go up-ward...even more than 2 or 3 stories..not having "skyscrapers" is what has kept this area so charming...right!?
Change is hard.
Barbara said…
Interesting to me that you live near Fort Worth as that is one of theplaces that I have been to in Texas.

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