Just like in the real national conventions, each delegation gets to give a little spiel about the grandeur of their state before casting their delegate votes. This was actually one of my favorite parts of Mock Con '04. I learned several interesting tidbits, and I enjoyed reveling in the unique W&L culture where Texas fights the rest of the Union and the Civil War is not yet ended. Here are some highlights and some interesting facts.
Deleware was the home of Dr. Heimlich, the inventor of the Heimlich manuever. Nebraska gave the world Kool-Aid. North Dakota was home to the largest hamburger ever observed. Rhode Island is the birthplace of Mr. Potato Head. South Carolina reminded the hall that they were the first state to secede from the Union. Ohio reminded SC and others that Ohio had produced many winners -- chief among those was Ulysses S. Grant who won both the Presidency and the Civil War. West Virginia was proud to proclaim that they, too, knew how to pick a winner. After all, their state was born in 1863 due to a Union victory over the "rebellious South."
The Arkansas' main claim to fame was this past year's football victory over the Texas Longhorns. Oklahoma also referenced football and reminded the Texans that their Sooners had also defeated the Longhorns -- by a score of 65 to 13. The Texas bashing finally reached its climax when the Texas delegation stepped to the microphone. They had an enitre entourage and two enormous state flags. But, the self-aggrandizing Texans were greeted with a loud round of boos -- twice.
There really is no school quite like this.
