A Complaint from a Loyal Texan
I'm a loyal Texan. Texas adopted me back in '67, and it's treated me like its own son…but ya'll are beginning to get on my last nerve.
Louisiana has four federally-approved Indian casinos and 43 state-licensed casinos: Oklahoma has over one-hundred Indian casinos: Arkansas, with which we kind of share a border, has 3 state-licensed casinos with a fourth pending: New Mexico has 23 casinos---all Indian related.
Texas, on the other hand, just has three Indian casinos: the Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino in Eagle Pass, the Tigua tribe of Ysleta del Sur Pueblo has the Speaking Rock Entertainment Center in El Paso, and the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe has Naskila Gaming in Livingston.
To make matters worse, the state has fought these tribes trying to shut them down, but the courts have upheld their rights to operate in Texas…small victory.
What we need are more Indian tribes in Texas…well…that ain't going to happen.
I attribute the lack of casinos in Texas to religious folks…particularly Baptists. Now, I try not to be too critical of Christians…wouldn't be prudent, and for the most part, they do a lot of good in spite of their bumbling, fumbling ways.
I checked the Bible to see if I could find out what the book had to say about gambling---crickets. Casinos? Crickets.
Well, where did these folks get the idea that gambling is a sin?
The closest I could find to a passage about gambling was the following: "But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs." - 1 Timothy 6:9-10.
Oh come on! That argument against gambling is pretty weak, and I doubt if it would stand up in many courts. My opening argument in opposition to tying casinos to sin would be, “I ain't trying to get rich. I just love gambling.”
And another thing. I don't like to make accusations without solid evidence, but I'll make an exception in this case: I suspect we need to check the pockets of some of our politicians to see if they have any dirty Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, or New Mexico money in them.
Okay. That's not my main point in support of casinos in Texas. My main argument is: “MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS!”
That's right. Tend to your own soul and leave mine out of your opposition to gambling. “Butt out!”
Some folks argue that if casinos are available some folks will become addicted and ruin themselves financially. “DO I LOOK LIKE I GIVE A FIDDLY DEE?” Nope.
I just want to hear the jingle-jangle of the slots and the scream of the jackpot winners---
Sorry, it's an old guy thing.
enough