I have received a handful of irate e-mails protesting the use of the term “Texas Taliban,” including one from the spouse of one of those so criticized in an earlier posting. (UT law professors have more visibility than law professors at comparable schools in other states, I fear.) Why do I use the term “Texas Taliban”?

I take it the word “Taliban” has now entered our language to characterize those individuals and groups who intolerantly attempt to control the behavior, beliefs, and experiences of others. (In the first post on the subject, I captured that idea by saying the Texas Taliban want “the law of [their] God to be the law of the land.”) The far-right in Texas has repeatedly done that, whether it is tampering with textbooks, imposing “moments of silence” in the schools (as a step towards imposing “prayer”–see this press release from the sponsor, with its appalling contempt for the constitutional rights of minorities), or criminalizing certain kinds of sexual behavior. By using the label “Texas Taliban,” I am driving home the fact that we’re not talking about the real Taliban, but rather Taliban-like attitudes within a Texan context.

Many Republicans in Texas are plainly conflicted about the Texas Taliban; there

is still a libertarian streak in Texas, best-represented by Congressman Ron Paul (who, for example, was the lone Texas Republican to vote against war in Iraq). And there are still principled conservatives, who are willing to break ranks with the majority (State Senator Bill Ratliff is a prime example). But the future of the state, and its ability to attract and retain a highly educated workforce, will surely turn on whether moderates in both parties can beat back the Texas Taliban. I’m hopeful, but I can’t say I’m optimistic.