Cincinnati is mired in a problem that the citizens refuse to admit to themselves: there is a significant racial problem. It affects almost every aspect of life from the hiring of Dusty Baker as the Reds' manager to urban renewal plans.
While it has always existed in the background, the other night it became a front burner issue to me when I saw this news story on the evening news. Since then, the story has gotten national attention, meaning that Cincinnati is now known nationally for the so-called "race riots" of 2001, the opening of the Creation museum, local radio personality Bill Cunningham calling Barak Obama "Hussein" at a local McCain rally, and now the hanging of a presidential candidate in effigy. It will be a breath of fresh air to get in a more progressive part of the country after our move to DC.
The most disappointing aspect of the situation here is that the public doesn't acknowledge that there is a problem. I feel that there is more clear and open hostility here than in Atlanta. Without a constant change of population old ideas beome ingrained rather than changed. While there is a constant influx of outsiders to Atlanta, there aren't many people from other parts of the country choosing to relocate themselves and their views to Cincinnati.
Demonstrating its percieved importance, the original news story was stuck right between the weather report and a report on a more life-like CPR doll. Even in this web story, they seem surprised that national news stories would pick up on it. That is how out of touch even the news department is with the significance of the story and the larger problem.
We moved downtown with the hope that the city would recognize the great potential that exists here. While it has happened to some degree, it seems that the potential of the cornfield 25 miles out from the city is seen to have more value. Perhaps the percieved safety of being far from people who live in the city is part of the value. While there is much we'll miss about Cincinnati, that is not one of them.
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4 comments:
Perceptive and thoughtful. This is a sad and discouraging commentary.
Still hopeful,
Nancy
I had a really hard time living in Lexington for those exact reasons. I felt like an outsider the entire 5 years we lived there and was constantly reminded that I was from "up north." (fine with me)I'm a lot happier and I fit in much better out here on the east coast. Also, I don't have to worry quite as much about Will being exposed to a culture and attitude we don't believe in. There are small minded people everywhere, but so far out here, attitudes like that aren't glorified.
"Without a constant change of population old ideas become ingrained rather than changed."
But, you see, we seek and create "communities" with common goals, desires, beliefs, and values. We inhabit those communities because they make us feel safe, with some power over the forces around us. We become the majority within our community. We have power over the minorities since they are not given entry to our communities. Unfortunately, that is a delusion. We can all, given the appropriate set of circumstances, suddenly become the minority. It is the recognition of that vulnerability that lies behind providing certain rights to all citizens, even the minorities, and in the end, trumps the rule of the majority.
PaBeach
My first response was, "unbeleivable"... but unfortuneatly it is NOT unbelievable, which makes the need for change so much more imperative.
It also makes me respect the incredible courage it must take for Obama and his family to face this "unbelievable" reality.
maBeach
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