Deep in the heart of Texas, in Nederland, Texas to be exact, lies the headquarters of the fastest growing, most serious secession movement in the United States since the end of the Civil War in 1865 – The Texas Nationalist Movement. Although TNM traces its origins back to 1995, it was catapulted onto the national stage when Texas governor Rick Perry threatened to secede from the Union while participating in an April 15th Tea Party (tax revolt) in Austin.
And it surely does not hurt that TNM is led by 35-year-old Daniel Miller, the group’s very bright, articulate, charismatic, politically sophisticated president. The goal of the Texas Nationalist Movement is nothing short of “Independence. In our lifetime.” according to its state-of-the-art website texasnationalist.com.
What truly differentiates TNM from stereotypical Southern secession movements such as the League of the South is its laser-like focus on Texas independence rather than on such spurious, divisive issues as Christian fundamentalism, abortion, and gay rights. One of the reasons the League of the South has proven to be so ineffective as a secession organization is that it is in too many unrelated businesses – evangelical Christianity, right to life, Southern history and culture, the Confederate flag, and the song “Dixie.” That’s a lot of inflammatory baggage to carry, and unfortunately, some of it is tarnished by the taint of racism. The Texas Nationalist Movement is only about peaceable Texas independence, but that’s enough!
In a recent article in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram by Dave Montgomery, Daniel Miller was quoted as saying, “We maintain an open-door policy. If you’re about freedom – individual freedom – and liberty and Texas independence, we call you brother or sister.” Miller proudly proclaims that TNM “includes Hispanics, African-Americans, women, lifelong Democrats and union members.” Continuing he notes that, “We don’t argue race; we don’t argue Democratic or Republican.” And the movement predates the Age of Obama by nearly 15 years.
Texas provides fertile ground in which to sow the seeds of secession. A Rasmussen Poll conducted on April 16, the day after Rick Perry’s widely publicized threat to split with the United States, found that 31 percent of Texans believe Texas has a right to secede from the Union. Eighteen percent actually favor secession. That is a very strong foundation on which to build a viable Texas independence movement.
To “pay the bills” Miller and his wife Cara run a commercial Internet radio station RadioFreeTexas.org which broadcasts Texas music 24 hours a day. It is the perfect complement to TNM.
The mission of TNM is “To secure and protect the political, cultural, and economic independence of the nation of Texas.” To achieve this goal TNM is promoting an “internationally recognized referendum on Texas independence.” With the aid of state-of-the-art social networking software, Miller has put together a statewide political organization of Texas independence supporters.
I predict that the new kid on the block, the Texas Nationalist Movement, will soon become the role model for the thirty or so secession movements spread out all over the United States.
Rebél
Thomas H. Naylor
September 23, 2009
