Ah, Texas. Yes, it’s a great state, and there are some wonderful people who live there. One of my best friends in the world is a resident of Lufkin, and he is without question one of the finest people I have ever known.
But then there’s the other side of the Lone Star state: the George W. Bush, Ted Cruz, outta control, more than a tad bit crazy and extremist side that is constantly in the news. Just yesterday Texas decided to withhold all state Medicaid funds from services performed by Planned Parenthood.
In fact, Texas’ reputation has now spread as far as Norway, where the expression “helt Texas” has become a synonym for “completely crazy” or “chaotic.”
The two words are so common in Norwegian culture that media is now regularly including the phrase to describe everything from sporting events to a biologist finding a tropical swordfish in Norwegian waters.
Check out what a Tumblr page discovered by Texas Monthly has to say regarding the images Texas evokes in the minds of Norwegians:
“In Norwegian, ‘Texas’ means mayhem and chaos, as in cowboys punching each other and breaking chairs over each other’s heads.”
Earlier this year during a discussion on Reddit of Texas, a Norwegian posted this:
“It’s basically an idiom at this point. When I think of the word I picture a cowboy crashing a party and shooting two revolvers into the air. ‘It’s completely texas!!’”
The folks in Norway even use “helt Texas” as a way to sell products. Dolly Dimple’s Pizza has been using the “helt Texas” line as way to advertise their “crazy” prices for years.
So, Texas, welcome to the world of the negative expression you have helped to create. Enjoy it, celebrate it, revel in it. Because that’s what the Norwegians expect you to do while you break some furniture and fire guns into the air.
Maybe Yosemite Sam can become the new official mascot of Texas. Crazy idea, huh?
