I had a whole different blog post planned tonight. I want to speak on the good that has come out of this flood. But now I feel compelled to instead attack head on hateful words I’ve read tonight.

I was born and raised in Texas. I will forever be a Texan in my heart. I love the state deeply. It’s more than a state… its a state of mind. However, I have truly grown to love Nashville just as deeply as I love Texas. Nashville is more than just a city. Its the people that make it so special.

All that being said, I was alarmed when a friend informed me she had read hateful posts aimed at Nashville on a Texas Artist’s Facebook page after that artist had sent out love to the city. Before I could look up the post, I ran into the same thing on yet another Texas Artist’s page!

I am literally sitting here stung.

There is a definite difference between the Texas Music scene and what you would call the Nashville Country Music scene. And I happen to be someone who likes both, and who has criticized elements of both in the same breath.

My husband is in the music industry, and to say I’ve grown jaded of it would be an understatement. But at the end of the day, I absolutely love it and I wouldn’t trade my life and the craziness of the music industry.

I wonder how many Texans know that on any given night in this city, you can find any style of music you want being performed live. We have rock bars, blues bars, jazz bars. We even have karaoke bars (groan). I wonder how many know that ALL types of music consider the Grand Ole Opry hallowed ground because of its history in music in general. I wonder how many realize that what they hear on the radio is perhaps only 2% of the music available in Nashville.

There is so much about this city that you have to come visit and experience in person to understand.

And the biggest thing within it is simply the people. We’re not all perfect, and you’ll run into your person who is in a bad mood or has a bad attitude, but on a whole the city is a friendly and open city. Yet at the same time, its a small community. It’s the strangest thing and it took me forever to wrap my brain around it! I am more likely to run into someone I know at the mall here than I am to run into someone I know at the store back in my small hometown in Texas. Nashville is the biggest small town you’ll ever experience. I even know some of the homeless by name, and I know if I were ever in danger they’d come to my rescue. How does that happen!?

As a teaser to my next blog post, I heard a story the other day about someone going out to help the homeless (who have also been displaced by the flood). Only they couldn’t find them… because the homeless were helping others themselves!

I’ve said it several times lately, but I mean it.  I have been humbled by this city more times in the last few days than I could ever describe. The giving spirit has been stunning. So while this city has humbled me…

…people in my own home state have stunned me with their hateful words towards Nashville. I know so many Texans in Nashville, and I am sure they would all be just as hurt as I am by words such as, “I feel bad for any folks dealing with the wrath of mother nature but…yes the Nashville sound sucks so bad God is trying to wash away the grand ol’ opry and hopefully CMT too!” or “Nashville can shove it! Stay Texas true!!“

I always thought that Texans were proud of their country and held themselves to a high standard. Yes, I read many rebuttals to these posts and others like them. People chastising these words, and standing up for Nashville.

“Feeling sorry for the city and the people of NASHVILLE and the destruction they are dealing with has nothing to do with OUR Texas artists and their music. Have a heart you losers. ‘True’ Texans know & understand the difference!“

I truly believe that last statement, but sadly its the ones that spew such hate that make the biggest impact. It is their statements that will give Texas a black-eye for a long time to come.  Their slaps leave a mark, and as a Texan I think the mark left on my emotions runs deeper than it does on others.

Please, Texas Music Fans, realize that this is about people’s lives. This is about caring about our fellow man, woman and child. This is about caring about our fellow Americans. Please take a moment to realize that before you confuse it or combine it strictly with what kind of music you like.

Anyone wishing to help can donate the the Nashville Red Cross by visiting www.nashvilleredcross.org/donate