“Come to Texas†urged countless advertisements; newspaper articles; and private letters in the late nineteenth century. Expansive acres lay fallow; ready to be turned to agricultural uses. Entrepreneurial Texans knew that drawing immigrants to those lands meant greater prosperity for the state as a whole and for each little community in it. They turned their hands to directing the stream of spatial mobility in American society to Texas. They told the “Texas story†to whoever would read it. In this book; Barbara Rozek documents their efforts; shedding light on the importance of their words in peopling the Lone Star State and on the optimism and hopes of the people who sought to draw others.Rozek traces the efforts first of the state government (until 1876) and then of private organizations; agencies; businesses; and individuals to entice people to Texas. The appeals; in whatever form; were to hope—hope for lower infant mortality rates; business and farming opportunities; education; marriage—and they reflected the hopes of those writing. Rozek states clearly that the number of words cannot be proven to be linked directly to the number of immigrants (Texas experienced a population increase of 672 percent between 1860 and 1920); but she demonstrates that understanding the effort is itself important.Using printed materials and private communications held in numerous archives as well as pictures of promotional materials; she shows the energy and enthusiasm with which Texans promoted their native or adopted home as the perfect home for others.Texas is indeed an immigrant state—perhaps by destiny; certainly; Rozek demonstrates; by design.
#760520 in Books Counterpoint 2002-09-03 2002-09-03Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.00 x 1.10 x 6.00l; 1.18 #File Name: 1582432546416 pages
Review
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. Richard Baker and Werner Erhard...By C. HintzIn the pop-psych of the 60s and 70s who else was around for Richard Baker to RELATE to? Now; the BMW makes sense! In the wake of Clinton/Monica; even Richard Baker makes sense. He had his groupies and wanna-bes.San Francisco Zen Center survived. All three locations survived. We (almost) all survived. Amazing!This book is MORE than it appears to be on the surface. It is very painful to read until it is no longer painful. It becomes therapeutic after a fashion; dragging the shadow-makers out into the light and revealing them to be just like us - in our most delusional moments. Of course it was unfortunate that Zen Center started out as a Sole Corporation of Richard Baker. Except the Suzuki part managed to remain as Baker departed. There were a lot of errors made - by everyone who was there. The ship went adrift for years. This book allows that sense of shared responsibility; or lack thereof; to finally emerge and presses us with the question: "Why were the voices kept silent?"That is the rub. I disassociated - as a transient participant - in 1982. Therefore I missed 'the perfect storm.'If you are a Zen wanna-be; this is a MUST READ. It's amazing; 30 years on; how many of us keep the practice and stay to the path. Today; I again donate to ZC - it is worthy of that - but rarely attend. If you are in town; drop in for a visit.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Definitely recommend!By C. MoyerFor anyone interested in Zen; this is a mind-blowing book. As well-written as a good mystery and full of Zen gossip stretching from Suzuki-Roshi up through Richard Baker-Roshi and subsequent leaders of the San Francisco Zen Center; it contains everything you could possibly want to know about the goings-on at the retreat center; at Tassajara; and elsewhere. Riveting.5 of 5 people found the following review helpful. Helpful for students of the WayBy S. MurrayWhile I visited Green Gulch once many years ago; I was not involved with the San Francisco Zen Center. I have been a practicing Lay Buddhist for over 30 years. I have seen problems in groups I have attended. While they were not as severe as those at the San Francisco center; they point to a huge question for Western Buddhists: Where is the line between blind trust in a teacher and opening your heart to the teaching? SHOES OUTSIDE THE DOOR shows what can happen when blind trust is given to one person. While it is easy to center all the blame on the teacher; the book does a good investigating many people involved in the mess. To their credit; some of those involved admit that they ignored large; bright red flags; others (including Mr Baker) seem to have learned very little. Some showed awareness that for a teacher to overstep his/her bounds; the student must understep his/her bounds. One lesson that became clear to me as I read about these problems was that many in the leadership of the San Francisco Zen Center ironically ignored a central teaching of their founder: Keep the beginner's mind; the mind of humility; the mind that says "I could be wrong." The one missing thing in this book may have been beyond the scope of the book: What about the consequences of being too wary of Zen teachers and not opening up the heart to the many teachers who have kept the beginner's mind?
