Diversity of Houston (West, China: home, live, versus)

[Vicman]

When my sister went to some "dance camps" outside of Texas, some kids asked her if she rode a horse to school :\

Originally Posted by PinkLadyK

You and I know that, but to the rest of the US, Texas is full of Texan cowboys.


Also, again, clearly there are more "rural-minded" folks than most of us thought.

[nana053]

Originally Posted by PinkLadyK

I thought it was more of a slam at Texans since we are apparently not welcoming to diversity. Which, see note above re: oaf, I guess is true of the majority of the country. Or more accurately, the majority of the electoral college.

Weird. I moved here from Illinois and Houston is extremely diverse and very accepting, imo.

Pearland has very integrated neighborhoods on the west side at least. In my neighborhood, I have several Asian Indian families, several Chinese families, several Mexican-American families, several African-American families as well as many white ethnics and white who were born in the USA (even some born in Texas). We all get along well, thanks. We even have block parties with the families who have children.

My grandchildren are getting older now, so many of their friends are not in the neighborhood, but with others who have the same interests who go to school with them. That is particularly true with the oldest who is a freshman in high school now. Still, she has a diverse group of friends even though she is not limited to our neighborhood.

My Pearland neighborhood is very similar to the one we lived in in Skokie, IL. Our Evanston neighborhood was more segregated due to income.

[Dopo]

Originally Posted by PinkLadyK

You and I know that, but to the rest of the US, Texas is full of Texan cowboys.
Also, again, clearly there are more "rural-minded" folks than most of us thought.

You realize that you are stereotyping "most of the country" by saying that "they stereotype Texans"

[Hopeful for Life]

Originally Posted by texas7

moving to Houston? if you don't like diversity, then Houston may not be the city for you. However, it can be one of the things you really love about the city.

How Houston has become the most diverse place in America - LA Times

There are TOO MANY foreigners here. I don't like to go the grocery store and watch an Islamic man boss his blanket wearing woman around. But, it's all too commonplace now.Too much immigration also means that we have become overpopulated.

[Sollaces]

The reason we came from the west coast and to a job in Texas was because we wanted our kids to be raised in a state that has all walks of life, all skin colors, a rich heritage, and every religion. This was the early 1980's.


The diversity makes our community richer and more interesting. Think of the different foods and ethnic cultures that are here. And it's not the 'Americanized' food, it's the real deal. Even the job market is diverse so if you want to work in your field, you don't have to leave the state if you don't want to. We have the coast, the hill country, big cities, great schools, and hospitals - You name it, we have it. Couldn't ask for a better place to live.

[Weatherguy]

Originally Posted by Dopo

You realize that you are stereotyping "most of the country" by saying that "they stereotype Texans"

They do, though. I belong to a number of hobbyist forums, and Texas bashing is a routine thing. Mainly, though, it's due to the perceived bigotry in this state. Unfortunately, our political leadership does come across as extremely bigoted, and this is really where people around the country get the idea that all people in Texas are redneck bigots. I keep telling them that the average person you meet here isn't that way at all, but it's not an easy sell.

I keep hearing from business recruiters that they're having some difficulties getting young people to move to Texas due to negative perceptions. Once these younger people interview, explore, and get educated about the reality here, they're fine with it. But as long as we have bigoted politicians, the stereotypes will not go away.

[Vicman]

Originally Posted by Hopelesscause

There are TOO MANY foreigners here. I don't like to go the grocery store and watch an Islamic man boss his blanket wearing woman around. But, it's all too commonplace now.Too much immigration also means that we have become overpopulated.

The United States has about 300 million people... that isn't overpopulated. We need immigration to keep the population stable, as native-born Americans are having less kids.

Why not remind the Islamic man that she can... and should... boss him around

[txdemo]

Originally Posted by Hopelesscause

There are TOO MANY foreigners here.

I would suggest that you move to a country less welcoming to foreigners.

[Thoreau424]

Diversity is a plus; a very good thing. And that comes from someone who used to dislike diversity (I thought it was horrible).

A person will not fully appreciate diversity until moving to where there is none (been there, done that). I grew up in Houston and am used to lots of variety and diversity, but currently live in a backwards, monoculture where everyone is essentially the same (and expected to be so too). I never would have predicted the issues that come out it, including lots of intra-white discrimination and regionalism. Everyone is put under the microscope, and if you are different from the "norm" in any way, and/or from a different area, you'll be treated as odd, inferior, and subhuman. Some people especially can't handle it, and will work to get you fired rather than change, grow, and mature themselves. It's f-ing weird as hell!

I'll never knock or devalue diversity again! It actually gets people to focus less on individual differences, and see the more common threads among people of all types.

[PinkLadyK]

Originally Posted by Dopo

You realize that you are stereotyping "most of the country" by saying that "they stereotype Texans"

Sure I do, on a philosophical level. But "most of the country" isn't on CD. We are all enlightened here (well with a few exceptions who I won't name but seem to do a fine job naming themselves . . . ) but "most of the country" is made up of the middle class. "Most of the country" does not philosophize about the rest of the country. They are too busy trying to make ends meet.