(This is a really interesting piece, worth reading the full extended entry. - promoted by Karl-Thomas Musselman)
"This is not Jasper, Texas."
I have heard that phrased used more than once, in conversations referring to how Bryan and College Station are not as racist as other places. That phrase is actually ridiculous when you think about it because it is comparison based on what is well known as the location of one of the most racist events in recent history. What that phrase is really saying is that there are racist here but we have not yet dragged anyone behind a truck.
When you listen to conversations or read the comment sections on the local newspaper you will see code words. These are words that are used in place of the racial epitaphs and the racist language, and give people of privilege the plausibility deniability of saying that they are not racist. Even the names of the cities, Bryan and College Station, have themselves been turned into code words.
After a showing of support from the community, through emails and phone calls, we have shown that the community determines "community standards." The Bryan-College Station Eagle has made the decision to publish the wedding announcement of Robles-Scroggs in the Sunday edition of the Eagle. The announcement will be on the "wedding announcements" page, and will probably be found on the right side and lower half of the page.
Paul Robles and John Scroggs of College Station, Texas, were married on Tuesday, August 26, 2008, in a small ceremony in the city courthouse located in San Francisco, California. The ceremony was officiated by Dr. James Rosenheim of Bryan, Texas, and witnessed by Ms. Ginny Lowe of Loveland, Colorado. Both Mr. Robles and Mr. Scroggs have lived in the Bryan/College Station area for nearly 20 years, both having attended and currently work for Texas A&M University. Mr. Robles is the son of Dolores Robles and the late Frank Robles of Victoria, Texas. Mr. Scroggs is the son of John W. Scroggs and Eulia Rae Scroggs of Corpus Christi, Texas.
