“Don’t Mess With Texas” is the famous 1986-86 anti-littering campaign. “Don’t mess with Texas—we’re armed” is an unofficial variation (from at least 1997) that has been printed on images.
Rejected State Mottos
TEXAS:
Si Hablo Ingles
See, EVERYTHING is bigger in Texas!
Don’t Mess with Texas—We’re Armed
Google Groups: alt.callahans
Newsgroups: alt.callahans
From: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Date: 1997/04/02
Subject: Recycled Humor #5
> > TEXAS:
> > Don’t Mess with Texas—We’re Armed >
5 April 1997, The Post and Courier (Charleston, SC), “What’s the best pick for motto on license tag?” by Elsa McDowell, pg. 1:
Now that the state license tag dilemma has been resolved (families-first versus smiling faces) Howard Peckenpaugh allows as how other states also have faced difficulty choosing their mottoes.
He sends a list of state mottoes that were rejected:
(...)
Texas: Don’t Mess with Texas - We’re Armed
Twitter
joshtrefethen
@joshtrefethen
Don’t mess with Texas we’re better armed than most http://twitpic.com/23ibq
3:36 PM · Mar 14, 2009·Twitter Web Client
Twitter
𝓢𝓱𝓮𝓵𝓵𝓲𝓮 ✌🏻❤️🎶
@dirtroaddiva1
Don’t mess with TEXAS. We’re armed.
#BadMottosForStates
4:20 AM · Mar 21, 2016·Twitter for iPhone
Twitter
David J. Brewer
@davidjbrewer
Replying to @VivaLaAmes11
Don’t mess with Texas. We’re armed and ready.
8:41 AM · Jun 13, 2017·Twitter for iPhone
Above, a 1934 plaque from the Big Apple Night Club at West 135th Street and Seventh Avenue in Harlem. Discarded as trash in 2006. Now a Popeyes fast food restaurant on Google Maps.
Recent entries:
•“Buying frozen pizza is such a lie. ‘Oh I’ll save this for when I don’t feel like cooking’. Surprise, surprise. Day one” (4/22)
•“Earth Day implies the existence of Moon Night” (4/22)
•“Earth Day implies the existence of Moon Day” (4/22)
•Entry in progress—BP18 (4/22)
•Entry in progress—BP17 (4/22)
More new entries...
Above, Big Apple Corner at 54th Street and Broadway in Manhattan. Google Maps. Stolen and missing, 2021-2024.
Above, John J. Fitz Gerald, from the Aug. 15, 1931, Binghamton (NY) Press, pg. 14.
Listen to Robert Emmerich introduce "The Big Apple," a hit song from 1937. Music written by Bob and performed by Tommy Dorsey's Clambake Seven with Bob on piano. Lyrics written by Buddy Bernier and sung by Edythe Wright. Audio provided by Dorothy Emmerich.
Also listen to a 1937 "The Big Apple" song by Ozzie Nelson and his Orchestra. See a 1929 photo of John J. Fitz Gerald and a 1931 photo of John J. Fitz Gerald.
This site is edited by Barry Popik. These are the Cookies and Privacy Policies.