Don't mess with our slogan

TxDOT, that warm and fuzzy Texas Department of Transportation, has unleashed a cadre of lawyers on anyone trying to make a buck off the state's biggest catch phrase. Already the University of Texas has agreed to stop printing shirts with the slogan (good thing I already have one).

As only few of us here in the Lone Star State know, "Don't Mess With Texas" was actually TxDOT's anti-litter slogan, or as department official Doris Howdeshell said, "it's a litter prevention message, it's not a macho message."

Of course Doris is wrong. It is a macho message. Didn't you see the original commercials? One I remember from my childhood involved Austin rocker Ian Moore walking down a litter-strewn highway. While playing some hot licks on his guitar, he also sent lightning bolts from the head of his instrument blowing up trash. Or there's the one with the car about to be bombed by what looks like a B-17 all for throwing his Whataburger bag out the window. Check out all the commercials and tell me they aren't major machismo.