Polishing Houston's image a matter of pride. (Guest Commentary).

The extent to which Houston's reputation was sullied during the 2000 presidential campaign was significant.

Seemingly overnight, Houston became a cautionary tale for the rest of the nation with respect to matters such as air and water pollution, traffic congestion, mass transit and urban sprawl.

Such was the nature of the attacks that "Houston Anti-Defamation League" would have been both justifiable and worthwhile.

It is an unfortunate fact, however, that Houston's image was tarnished long before politicians (who had written Texas off in the general election) declared open season on the nation's fourth largest city.

In great measure, we are the authors of our own bad press. We have long assumed that the entire country acknowledges and appreciates Houston and the significant role it plays in the world.

The fact that Houston is significant is a given, but so self-assured are we that little effort is made to spread the good news.

In the best of times, the manner in which the city is perceived by the rest of the country is of no practical importance to those of us who live here.

Life is easy when things are …