The
Boomerang Boo October 2020
Why a Texan and a Californian would Never be Friends by Sam Kalmbacher
Illustration © Tara Sitindjak
With election season in full swing I thought it might be relevant to address a misconception some people may have about the United States: That it is sometimes seen as a cohesive unit and somewhat homogeneous. States have very diverse cultures, each with their own identities and norms, which I will elaborate on by using some of the more well known states as examples.
1965. On a state level, there are internal rivalries between the northern and southern parts of the state. On a national level, California shares a rivalry with Texas, which makes sense seeing that they are pretty much the antithesis of the other. These two states are essentially the Number 1 and Number 2 states in America, competitively being the two most successful states economically and population-wise. But what about some of the lesser known states? For instance, Pennsylvania is incredibly unique but it
In essence, America is a federation of 50 states with a powerful central government. However, individual states can have strong central governments as well. Texas, for example, has been afforded specific special rights. This is because for a decade in the 1830-40’s, Texas was an independent country. It controls its own energy grid separate from the federal government. Additionally, the traditional culture in Texas is still prominent (yes, people actually still wear cowboy hats and boots as casual wear), and is exported internationally. The state actually sees itself as its own cultural group. Although many would be quick to say Texas is a southern state, Texas is actually a Texan state which happens to be mostly conservative and in the South.
doesn’t get a lot of attention. It is one of the oldest states in the U.S., and has kept much of its traditional folk culture in rural areas, which are famously known as Amish or Mennonite people. Art lovers can find enjoyment in Pennsylvania at the nation’s best art museums in Philadelphia. History fanatics can appreciate being in the same city where the Continental Congress met during the American revolution. Pennsylvania also has some of the most intense (American) football fans in the U.S. Louisiana is another interesting and very unique state with its own cultural roots. It integrates French and Spanish culture intensely, and has its own cuisine called ‘cajun’ food which consists of seafood and alligator. Louisiana also has an interesting legal system, which is the exact same model as most of Europe (Civil Law) and is the only state in the country to implement this. Florida is special. I only partially mean this because of the Florida man memes, but to the rest of the country, it is truly an anomaly. Florida culture is extremely laid back, with emphasis on enjoying the Florida sun (aptly being named the Sunshine State). It’s a joke in the U.S. to comment on people’s ‘Florida tan’ after returning from vacation from Florida because of its amazing beaches. Florida also has an internal cultural distinction between Miami and… the rest of the state. I could go on and on about all the unique cultures in America, but I hope to have at least provided some insight into how some of the states see themselves and just how diverse America can be.
California on the other hand is the richest and most populous state, boasting the most powerful economy and technology industry in the States. This state is known for a variety of things: the accent, the countries’ best universities, the best surfing spots and beach culture, and of course, the most famous film industry in the world. California is also a very environmentally conscious state, being the first to regulate vehicle exhaust rates in
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