2007 Stock Show All Western Parade
by Pete Wann
Click on any of the images to view larger, or to view in a sequence.
I’m a fan of Anthony Bourdain’s show on the Travel Channel, “No Reservations.” If you haven’t watched it, I highly recommend it. Tony has a very open, but also skeptical perspective on things. There’s no room for BS in Tony’s world, particularly when it comes to food. In a recent episode, he visited the Texas/Mexico border and samples food and culture on both sides of the river. In addition to some pretty interesting insights into life on the border, he also said something that has helped me start understanding things here in Texas a little better. Effectively he said that if you take the Travel Bureau’s motto “It’s Like a Whole Other Country” literally, then Texas is a lot easier to understand if you’re not from here.
To that end, I went out this morning with my wife and dog to the Stock Show’s All Western Parade. Before, I would have scoffed at all the hicks riding their horses/burros/longhorns/wagons and made fun of them for deliberately living in the past. Since I’ve started of thinking of Texas more like a Texan thinks of it, as if it’s separate from the rest of the country, it’s starting to make a little more sense and is also becoming more enjoyable.
Today I watched the parade with that in mind, and I enjoyed seeing people who were obviously enjoying themselves, and are also rightly proud of their lifestyle and the things they’ve achieved. PeteG got some great pictures, I hope you enjoy them, and I hope you’ll come out to the Stock Show to experience some of it!
Tags: downtown, parade, stock show
3 Comments, Comments or Pings
James M. Johnston
Ugh…can you see how horrified that poor calf looks!? This is one part of Fort Worth culture that I feel no pride in. In fact I wish it would disappear into the annals of history like the rampant crime and violence of Hell’s Half Acre.
The Fat Stock Show and Rodeo is really nothing more than a giant bloated celebration of torture. If you don’t believe me then do a little research on the practices of the so called sport of rodeo.
And as far as the “stock show” part; where do you think that stock ends up? Here’s a hint: it’s not on a happy family farm munching on grass. The majority of them will end up in the cruel hands of the factory farming industry where they can look forward to a life of being fattened in a high density feedlot and then hung by their back legs and bled to death.
I already know that in this country and especially this state that my stance is not popular. Nevertheless, no one can argue the cold hard facts about rodeos and factory farming. They exist solely as industries to exploit animals with no regard to their well-being. This is a researchable, verifiable fact.
The real question is do you really care about innocent beings that have been proven to feel pain and go through emotional stress just the same as cats and dogs?
If you actually have the balls to do some research and see where I’m coming from here are some links for you:
http://www.sharkonline.org/?P=0000000349
http://www.bucktherodeo.com/
http://www.idausa.org/facts/rodeos.html
http://www.farmsanctuary.org/issues/factoryfarming/
Jan 13th, 2008
SteveB
I love the shot of the northbound horses with flags on the bridge w/downtown in the background. Hold your ground with the Chamber of Commerce and make them pay big.
Jan 17th, 2008
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