Talk about somebody completely missing the point.

We are, I believe, discussing the cultural, rather than the geographical, south.

I agree with macallan25, SWTXBelle, and shinerbock on this.

I would pretty much say that anything east of the Brazo River could (might/use to) be considered culturally Southern. Or at least linked to the ways and traditions of the South as it may be historically "stereotyped" and or classified. The rest of Texas - bless it's heart - would be considered "western". Or simply "Texas" at best. Not that there is anything wrong with that.

I like how you think i'm "taking jabs" at the south because I said that I was thankful that El Paso was not considered "southern." Ohh big deal. And seeing as how El Paso is still connected to Texas, and Texas is considered the "south" well then so is El Paso.

If stating that you were thankful El Paso was not considered part of the south was not meant to be a slam at the south - then what was it you were trying to convey? And to further complicate things, you then provide a geographical defense of El Paso as a southern city - seemingly contridicting your earlier assertion that you were thankful El Paso was not southern. Huh???
For the record, I believe you will find no arguement with the idea that El Paso is a part of the cultural and geographical Southwest. Geography is more apt to change than culture. At one time, Texas extended all the way up to what is now Colorado! El Paso has more in common with, say, New Mexico, then it does with east Texas on just about every level.
If I were to state "Thank God I'm not an Alpha Phi" - wouldn't you consider that a slam at Alpha Phi? (Not that I ever could - Syracuse Triad Forever!) I believe that is why your earlier statement was seen as an insult. If you did not mean to insult the south, you might wish to reword it. If you did, well, then at least own it!

In terms of Texas, the Southern line probably ends around Dallas, though I believe in smaller towns in Texas the line may go quite a bit further west.

The statement "thank GOD its not in the south", is obviously not neutral.

The South has a bigger dick than the North.

True story.

Yup- sums it up in so many ways, and at a level of discourse some of our northern bretheren will surely better understand.

There's no way that I'm reading all the posts in this thread, so if this has been noted already, sorry:

Couldn't you really debate "non-southern" areas of any southern state? Is the Research Triangle in NC southern? Is Alpharetta, Georgia? The DC suburbs in Northern Virginia?

Anyway, why limit this "is this part of the state really Southern" debate to just Texas?

The research triangle is not southern. Most of the northern Atlanta suburbs are also not southern. You make a valid point.

Florida south of Ocala shouldn't be considered Southern, either.

I also feel like Texas is just Texas...not North, not South, and not West. It has its own culture. I like Texas...I don't really dig the South that much (even though I grew up there).

I love everything about the South except the sins of our forefathers in regard to race and how addressing those sins keeps everyone living in the past racially without addressing the present.

Alphagamuga, the sins you speak of are the sins of all Americans. A little discussed fact is that the Emancipation Proclamation freed slaves ONLY in the parts of the CSA not under Union control. Slavery continued to be legal in four states of the Union until the passage of the 14th Amendment. There were several Union generals who kept slaves until after the passage of the 14th Amendment. Many cities in the north passed laws making it illegal for newly-freed slaves to move into the city. Victors write the history books, so they have made the south a scrapegoat, but the fact of the matter is no area of the country is free from the scourge of racism.
Continue to love the south, and understand that racism unfortuantely knows no geographical or cultural boundaries. I remember well the busing riots in Boston in the 1970s. Accusing one region or another of being more racist may make someone feel superior, but I believe it prevents the kind of thoughtful reflection that will enable us all to rise above it.