My grandfather died in 2017. Three years before he died he sent me a letter with his idea for a novel, which I think about a lot. It poses a scenario similar to the one Russia was facing in Ukraine at the time, cheekily transposed to the United States. I had always assumed my grandfather had fairly conventional politics, but the concept seems like it would be controversial. I had an interest in secession movements at the time as well, so to see him thinking like this warmed my heart. Anyway, I wanted to share it with you all.
11 May, 2014
A Novel I Can’t Write
“If the Brazos were the Dnieper”
Proposition: Texas, with a government and a population majority annoyed and rebellious against a Democrat-controlled Congress and administration, and led by the ambitions of the bible-belt tea party movement, decides to secede from the union and become the Sovereign Nation of Texas. The oil-rich east Texas regions lead the movement, threatening to cut of natural gas supplies to the remaining 47 contiguous states. The Galveston seaport blocks U.S.-served tankers, under whatever flag they fly, and invites Venezuelan petroleum to market Texas fuel on the world market.
USA reaction is violent, but tempered by the Texas
NationalGuard, the Texas AirNationalGuard, and the Texas Rangers, all under the control of the Governor (now president). Fort Leonard Wood, a major federal facility, is torn by dissention and scandal, and is occupied by the dissidents, freeing a huge supply of military equipment to the dissenters.Amid wild public enthusiasm in Texas, the cattle-raisers of the western prairies are in danger of losing their U.S. market, and refuse to join the rebellion.
Meanwhile, Mexico and all of Latin America welcome the addition of a wealthy, resource-rich and labor-hungry addition to their ranks. Annoyed with U.S. federal immigration policies, they propose new policies and trade arrangements.
Other conservative southern U.S. states, reviving the term “Dixie” but knowing that is impossible, enjoin their congressional representatives to hinder whatever U.S. federal policies one attempted against Texas. The U.S. military establishment, long including many southern-born personnel at every grade and rank, is torn by conflicting opinions and is slow to respond.
Jordan -- Take it from here!
Papa