Chicago Nation?

[edsg25]

For all the talk we generate about New York, LA, the coasts and how we compare to them, there is also something very provencial and localized about Chicago. And I'm not using either provencial or localized in a negative way. I'm using them more in the sense that Chicago, among America's great cities, and ironically associated with the nation's middle, may be more in its "own world" than any other

An "own world" though that is sophisticated, diverse, culturally powerful, economically motivated.

Why do I see us that way?

1. Other than Chicago, there is no great inland city than Chicago. And while "inland" does not mean a weakened connection to the world, inland has afforded Chicago an opporutnity to create its own special environment, less drawn in to trends to which we choose not to partake in.

2. No US city dominates its region the way Chicago does. Chicago and the Midwest are unique in the sense that one great city exists that none challenge it or even give evidence of world power. There is no NY/DC/Bos cluster of the east, Mia/Atl/Dal/Hou of the south, LA/SF/Sea of the west. Psychologically (even if our brethern middle western cities don't agree), Chicago often feels it rules th elandscape and doesn't need to reach out the way that cities do in regions with more power centers

3. Chicago's history may not be the longest of any American city, but its history is as rich as any of them. The fact that this has been a major US city for so long loads us with traditons and sense of place that few locations have, particularly those in inland areas.

4. Building on history, Chicago's traditonal relationship between the business community and that community's ability to support culture and civic endeavors is legendary. The business comunnity has been a huge part of our building our own world.

As i said, there really is, IMHO, a sense of Chicago being "a place apart", a special world unto its own in many positive ways.

[wickedestcity]

so hows that book commin along Ed ?

[mohammed wong]

Provencial

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Of or pertaining to Provence in France.

provincial
3 entries found for provincial.
To select an entry, click on it.
provincial[1,noun]provincial[2,adjective]French provincial

Main Entry: 1pro·vin·cial
Pronunciation: pr&-'vin(t)-sh&l
Function: noun
Etymology: in sense 1, from Middle English, from Middle French or Medieval Latin; Middle French, from Medieval Latin provincialis, from provincia ecclesiastical province; in other senses, from Latin provincialis, from provincia province
1 : the superior of a province of a Roman Catholic religious order
2 : one living in or coming from a province
3 a : a person of local or restricted interests or outlook b : a person lacking urban polish or refinement



maybe there are other definitions but i mainly know the negative connotation,
and you are using the word in a little used way,
anyways i think you have already stated this idea,
i like your ideas, but you may be in a slump of late, dont take this as an insult, just my opinion that you are starting to repeat yourself,

btw im not sure that chicago feels that it rule the landscape, it just is, it is what it is,
it evolved over many years and it serves a purpose,
i feel that chicago does have milwaukee nearby and there will be more travel between the two cities and more business also between them, so its not totally isolated,
its funny on the weather map they will show rockford which is further than milwaukee and which is less important, hopefully that will change, because its ridiculous for each city to leave each other off the weather map, that may change in the next 15 years,

[Suburbanite]

Originally Posted by mohammed wong

btw im not sure that chicago feels that it rule the landscape, it just is, it is what it is,
it evolved over many years and it serves a purpose,

I disagree. I can't tell you how many times I have heard people from downstate Illinois and even southern Wisconsin speaking resentfully of the influence and wealth of the Chicago area and how Chicago and its suburbs dominate such a wide area and continue to grow. Chicagoans may not feel this way but people outside of Chicagoland do see Chicago as a dominating figure economically and culturally in the landscape.

[Suburbanite]

I would also like to add that Chicagoans probably have more civic pride than any city and the support for local institutions (i.e. Marshall Fields) and corporations (i.e. Fannie May) is unsurpassed in the nation IMO. This great pride does put Chicagoans in their own world of their own making in a way.

[mohammed wong]

Originally Posted by ORDgasm

I disagree. I can't tell you how many times I have heard people from downstate Illinois and even southern Wisconsin speaking resentfully of the influence and wealth of the Chicago area and how Chicago and its suburbs dominate such a wide area and continue to grow. Chicagoans may not feel this way but people outside of Chicagoland do see Chicago as a dominating figure economically and culturally in the landscape.

i just dont feel that the quote
chicago rules the landscape makes sense,
its sounds gay, chicago is cool and chicago is chicago, its civilization, thats what it is, the most civilized area in the midwest, the alternative is hicksville and less culture and less civilization, thats how i look at things,
ya know whatta mean?
sure me and other people think that living elsewhere is strange, but i never saw things in that light,

[edsg25]

Originally Posted by wickedestcity

so hows that book commin along Ed ?

LOVE YA, WICKED..YOU'D BE THE ONLY ONE TO READ IT. BUT THAT WOLD BE ENOUGH!

[rgolch]

Originally Posted by edsg25

LOVE YA, WICKED..YOU'D BE THE ONLY ONE TO READ IT. BUT THAT WOLD BE ENOUGH!

I'd read it!

And I'm feeling your post. But I must admit, I don't see being so dominant in the midwest is an enormous accomplishment. I think it points more to the lack of accomplishments of other parts of the midwest. I think if places like detroit and st louis once again became wonderful, dominant cities in america, it would only serve to boost chicago. It's better to be a huge house in a wealthy neighborhood, than a huge house in an average neighborhood.

[edsg25]

Originally Posted by rgolch

I'd read it!

And I'm feeling your post. But I must admit, I don't see being so dominant in the midwest is an enormous accomplishment. I think it points more to the lack of accomplishments of other parts of the midwest. I think if places like detroit and st louis once again became wonderful, dominant cities in america, it would only serve to boost chicago. It's better to be a huge house in a wealthy neighborhood, than a huge house in an average neighborhood.

thanks, rgolch.

you are right about dominating the midwest, not being a huge accomplishment and all. however, i think my point is that the midewest not having relatively dominant areas outside Chicago keeps Chicago more focused on Chicago. I mean that in the sense that New York would find it harder to ignore Philadelphia, harder still to ignore Boston, and impossible to ignore DC.

[Jules]

Originally Posted by ORDgasm

I disagree. I can't tell you how many times I have heard people from downstate Illinois and even southern Wisconsin speaking resentfully of the influence and wealth of the Chicago area and how Chicago and its suburbs dominate such a wide area and continue to grow. Chicagoans may not feel this way but people outside of Chicagoland do see Chicago as a dominating figure economically and culturally in the landscape.

Downstate Illinois? I didn't know anyone lived there!

[The Urban Politician]

Originally Posted by rgolch

But I must admit, I don't see being so dominant in the midwest is an enormous accomplishment. I think it points more to the lack of accomplishments of other parts of the midwest. I think if places like detroit and st louis once again became wonderful, dominant cities in america, it would only serve to boost chicago. It's better to be a huge house in a wealthy neighborhood, than a huge house in an average neighborhood.

^Great point. My heart is in the midwest, but as a region it seems to be stuck in the past--still clinging on to a world where all you have to be is a white guy working in a factory and the economy will support you.

Sorry, but the midwest is letting the world pass it by, and it is still full of so many ignorant dipshits that being the dominant city in this region doesn't buy a lot of bragging rights.

Of course, being the dominant city of the midwest is FAR FAR FAR from Chicago's claim to fame, as far as I'm concerned. Chicago is an amazing, world-class city no matter where you place it. But I agree, if the midwestern region started to get its shit together it would certainly help Chicago a LOT.

Until then, as Edsg put it, Chicago is forced to isolate and even distance itself a bit from its "embarrassing" hinterlands.

[nomarandlee]

Originally Posted by The Urban Politician

^Great point. My heart is in the midwest, but as a region it seems to be stuck in the past--still clinging on to a world where all you have to be is a white guy working in a factory and the economy will support you.

Sorry, but the midwest is letting the world pass it by, and it is still full of so many ignorant dipshits that being the dominant city in this region doesn't buy a lot of bragging rights.

Of course, being the dominant city of the midwest is FAR FAR FAR from Chicago's claim to fame, as far as I'm concerned. Chicago is an amazing, world-class city no matter where you place it. But I agree, if the midwestern region started to get its shit together it would certainly help Chicago a LOT.

Until then, as Edsg put it, Chicago is forced to isolate and even distance itself a bit from its "embarrassing" hinterlands.

OMFG

[i_am_hydrogen]

Originally Posted by The Urban Politician

^Great point. My heart is in the midwest, but as a region it seems to be stuck in the past--still clinging on to a world where all you have to be is a white guy working in a factory and the economy will support you.

Sorry, but the midwest is letting the world pass it by, and it is still full of so many ignorant dipshits that being the dominant city in this region doesn't buy a lot of bragging rights.

Of course, being the dominant city of the midwest is FAR FAR FAR from Chicago's claim to fame, as far as I'm concerned. Chicago is an amazing, world-class city no matter where you place it. But I agree, if the midwestern region started to get its shit together it would certainly help Chicago a LOT.

Until then, as Edsg put it, Chicago is forced to isolate and even distance itself a bit from its "embarrassing" hinterlands.

I thought your Milwaukee trip set you straight on all these stereotypes you're carrying around with you. Apparently not. No offense, but you don't seem to have much of a grasp of the renewal that's taking place in many midwestern cities that you ignorantly refer to as "embarassing hinterlands" from which the great, almighty Chicago must distance itself. Whatever.

[forumly_chgoman]

I agree .....Milwaukee is absolutely nothing to be ashamed of...in fact it is quite something to be proud of......not Chicago but then not many are.....I asked a question earlier Chicago = NY, then what are Milw and Indy .....Milwaukee city is bigger than Boston......now now don't flip out on me just yet...continue reading please...... the metro is obviously no comparison....as is the " impact" on the national economy.....however Milw is not to be sneezed, sneered, scorned....or any other s""" worded at


lIndy though not my taste and far too suburban in Character is still nonetheless close to 800,000 and growing

[The Urban Politician]

Originally Posted by hydrogen

I thought your Milwaukee trip set you straight on all these stereotypes you're carrying around with you. Apparently not. No offense, but you don't seem to have much of a grasp of the renewal that's taking place in many midwestern cities that you ignorantly refer to as "embarassing hinterlands" from which the great, almighty Chicago must distance itself. Whatever.

^Where did you get the idea that visiting Milwaukee "set me straight" from some sort of stereotype? I spent the first 22 years of my life in the midwest, so I am not speaking from lack of experience.

My attack in that previous post was NEVER on midwestern cities, per say. In fact, I have long argued that the midwestern cities themselves, ie Milwaukee, St Louis, etc were once the centers of progressive thinking and have been subject to decline at the hands of a national and regional mindset of anti-urban thinking. The midwest has just been hit particularly hard and has entered a long, protracted slump partially because of the rather conservative nature of the region. In other words, my criticism is more with the midwest as a region, not with its cities.

Of course I recognize the rebirth--but I still see the rebirth of midwestern cities as occurring despite midwestern conservatism as opposed to because of it. If you ask me, midwestern cities are fighting a long and uphill battle to revitalize, but they seem to be making good progress

[pottebaum]

Honestly, I have NEVER seen Chicago as being the capital of the Midwest. It's more of a global city than a regional one.

[STLgasm]

Originally Posted by pottebaum

Honestly, I have NEVER seen Chicago as being the capital of the Midwest. It's more of a global city than a regional one.

As much as Chicago is a global city, it's also home to many transplants from Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas and other corn-fed breadbasket locales. To discount its midwesternness is to deny this simple fact. That doesn't make it any less impressive or worldly. After all, Illinois is the Prairie State.

[pottebaum]

^Oh no, that's not what I mean. I was just saying I've never felt like Chicago dominates the Midwest.

[rgolch]

Originally Posted by STLgasm

As much as Chicago is a global city, it's also home to many transplants from Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas and other corn-fed breadbasket locales. To discount its midwesternness is to deny this simple fact. That doesn't make it any less impressive or worldly. After all, Illinois is the Prairie State.

I assure you that many of the transplants in southern california and the east coast are corn fed midwesterners, or barbeque and grits eating southerners. All large US cities serve as catchnets for rural people seeking urban life.

[JivecitySTL]

I think there are several way above-average cities in the Midwest, Chicago of course reigning supreme.