There have been and continue to be institutional entities (federal, professional sport leagues, media groups, etc.) that for their own economic conveniences "shotgun" Fort Worth and Dallas into a regional marriage. By in large, the fault of this is neither that of Fort Worth or of Dallas. So what is actually occurring? When you put together two sects, you have the recipe for sectarian unrest if there is one or the other sect feels or exerts a soft form of imperialism:
..."the term imperialism draws attention to the way that one country exercises power over another, whether through settlement, sovereignty, or indirect mechanisms of control". Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
The world today, as it has in the past, is in turmoil because of the universally despised action of imperialism.
I would never suggest that North Texas is on the verge of a "hot war", but there has been and there will likely remain a robust "cold war" mentality between Fort Worth and Dallas. It is probably easier to brand it as "don't thread on me".
In the matter of Fort Worth v Dallas, even though it maybe easier for labeling purposes to just say "Dallas", it does not give the proper credit to a self sustaining city like ours when one considers the economic ramification that comes when there is competition for a corporation that is making a decision to select a new place to build or relocate it operations.
The term "suburb" is a benign way to refer to colonialism; in fact, there is actually a suburb in North Texas that is proud to be known as "The Colony". Fort Worth is not a colony of Dallas; and it is not nice or correct to be thought of in that way, however one may want to parse it. IMO, it is the duty of the citizens who love and call Fort Worth home to educate the "world" that Dallas may be near by, but that Fort Worth is not a part of or a satellite of Dallas. Remind them that on November 22, 1963, JFK actually flew into Dallas from Fort Worth - (Think about that)
Historically and politically, Fort Worth has resisted the deep seeded tendency of its larger neighbor to behave in an imperialist way, whether that behavior is intentional or not - (Think Love Field). I am one of those native born citizens who will always resist accepting the easier way in favor of doing the harder way of "setting the record straight".
Fort Worth over everybody!