By David A. Graham
It's only natural that a state whose existence springs from an independence struggle would have a stubbornly autonomous streak. And so it is with the Lone Star State, which ceased to be a separate country when it joined the United States in 1845--but still reminds anyone willing to listen that "it's like a whole other country." And if you don't like that--well, we'd advise that you "Don't Mess With Texas" (in this 2004 picture, Doris Howdeshell, the head of travel at the state Department of Transportation holds a T shirt with the warning). Here are just a few examples of Texans' natural contrarian tendencies.
