L.A. Civic Pride

[LAsam]

Originally Posted by Westsidelife

In LA, everyone is so isolated and everything is done in a private manner; it's hard to connect with the community. There aren't too many communal public spaces in the city where people of all demographics can congregate. That's why we're all excited for projects like LA Live and Grand Avenue and the prospect of extending the subway down to the Pacific Ocean. Those two things will/would go a long way in broadening the more personal and private aspect of the LA lifestyle, IMO.

I agree with you 110%. Well said.

[Westsidelife]

^ It only makes sense. It's called civic pride for a reason. Without unity, we cannot achieve what we set out to accomplish. LA has all the manpower to achieve its goals and overcome its struggles -- it just needs to put in the effort.

We must rally together and fight for that long overdue Purple Line extension. The world's 3rd largest economy and 12th largest urban agglomeration wants, needs, and deserves it. We will take no less than heavy rail.

[milquetoast]

If you can move people around without interferring with surface traffic, then I'm all for it. It's when you get these projects that mingle at high speed with intersections where vehicle traffic comes to a halt, sometimes not quick enough to avoid collision- that's where I feel queasy. And speaking of queasy, thanks klamedia for finding such a good image of a magazine I used to read on the john. That cover brings back memories of me wanting to throw up instead! What are you gonna do? East coast magazine, east coast bias.

[VZN]

East coast magazine, east coast bias.

See, and that's another thing as well. We've gotta get control of our own media. As I had mentioned in another thread, a lot of the media that covers our city ain't even from L.A. So in essence, in order to get a further grasp on our city and to boost our pride we have to create our own media that covers what we can relate to. Out of towners don't get and don't care about this city, so why we have our media controlled by out of towners is beyond me. Until we do that, we're gonna have a bunch of bullshit magazine articles that further degrade and spread misconceptions about L.A.

I see nothing wrong with this. Every other city does it. ANGELEINOS, grow a pair, stand up and back your city. They will respect it more, trust me!!!

I agree 100%. My family and I are going to the east coast (Philly. NYC is on the to do list while we're out there) next summer and I'm gonna go up there with a Dodgers cap wearing all blue. I'll let you guys know how that turns out. Anyway though, I agree that we need to start standing up for our city regardless of where we're at.

[klamedia]

Ok wait....don't take this thing too far! Most New Yorkers living in New York only have good things to say about LA, most think it's all sunshine and fun. I would suggest just being very stereotypical LA, laidback, no problem, all is good attitude and most of those people will absolutely love you. I swear if it's summer when you go just dress really West coast and you'll have people flocking to you. It'd be funny if you could cop a Sean Penn in Fast Timestype of attitude, you'd probably draw a crowd. New Yorkers are effected just like everyone else by the images of Los Angeles and West coast culture.

[milquetoast]

Though their publishing leaves alot to be desired, especially the entertainment magazines always trying to point the industry back in their own direction. As you read them you can actually feel them straining to do this. Case in point: I received a subscription to a magazine that I think is still on top of their game. However, over the years I've found it to be increasingly more NY centric than any entertainment industry publication ever should attempt to be. Their spotlight interview page always has either a NY celeb who just happens to be "in a bistro around the corner from her Manhattan apartment" or "walking his dogs in his NY neighborhood" or they get someone to fly in so they can link them to NY during the interview. The film critics will trash a NY based or NY set film if it's a stinker, but if there is something even halfway decent, they'll say "this film shimmers with love of New York" or "a New York so lovingly photographed" or a film exhibiting "that darned funny New York sensibility." Always pushing to turn the tide the other way. I expect this mag to deify 'Enchanted' next week. Until then, I'll have to read their big spread on the locally shot "Gossip Girl". Plus the map of Manhattan where all the action occurs. You may have heard of it: Entertainment Weekly

[VZN]

Originally Posted by klamedia

Ok wait....don't take this thing too far! Most New Yorkers living in New York only have good things to say about LA, most think it's all sunshine and fun. I would suggest just being very stereotypical LA, laidback, no problem, all is good attitude and most of those people will absolutely love you. I swear if it's summer when you go just dress really West coast and you'll have people flocking to you. It'd be funny if you could cop a Sean Penn in Fast Timestype of attitude, you'd probably draw a crowd. New Yorkers are effected just like everyone else by the images of Los Angeles and West coast culture.

I might try that for one day while I'm out there. We'll see how that works out and while I'm at it I'll get people's reactions on my camcorder...

[BEATSLIM]

I love LA. I love it for what it is and anyone else that loves LA is cool in my book.

[nygirl]

Originally Posted by VZN

I might try that for one day while I'm out there. We'll see how that works out and while I'm at it I'll get people's reactions on my camcorder...

Post it on youtube pleaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaase. I wanna see how many people actually flock to yer "west coast clothing" and how many are mystified by yer psuedo sean penn attitude.

[klamedia]

I can't wait to see the dumbfounded crowds huddled together trying to get a peek at 'this one', all the while the black Jews are hurling out racist slurs at the onlooking white audience. You know let me take that back because they don't regulate it to just whites, I've seen them turn on blacks that they perceive as sellouts and evensmall children.

[VZN]

I can't wait to see the dumbfounded crowds huddled together trying to get a peek at 'this one', all the while the black Jews are hurling out racist slurs at the onlooking white audience. You know let me take that back because they don't regulate it to just whites, I've seen them turn on blacks that they perceive as sellouts and evensmall children.

Uh oh... you don't mean these guys, do you?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=julF3ENP-Ec

Back in the 90's they used to be out here in L.A. on Venice Beach starting all kinds of shit with all kinds of people. Speaking of which, in '05 I saw some of them out in Leimert Park... I don't know if they're there now, but those dudes are some bonafide clowns. I remember they called a black dude a sellout because he was just out with his boy walking down the Venice Beach boardwalk who happened to be white.

And I'm black too, so trying that whole west coast attitude thing would really catch their attention. I'd end up looking/acting like that guy Kel from Good Burger (if anybody remembers that).



But with that to the side though... let's get back on topic.

[nygirl]

Yup, "those guys" are everywhere. They'll follow you and harrass you if you don't stand around and listen to them. Happens all the time. I've encountered them outside the Queens Center mall in Elmhurst, outside on the street 125th, outside Yankee stadium, by Bryant Park, on the 2 train, Marcus Garvey Park, Washington Square, Union Square, they're everywhere.

[milquetoast]

Originally Posted by VZN

Uh oh... you don't mean these guys, do you?

What was that? Broadway's version of Earth, Wind and Fire? Stick them in front of the Metrolink and watch the pretty colors!

[Elsongs]

Originally Posted by VZN

Co-sign with the both of you on this... you'll see blacks from the L.A. area always representing L.A., but Latinos take it to a whole different level. But seeing how deep rooted their families go in this city, it isn't suprising at all. Pacific Islanders and Asians also represent this city to the fullest too... but as the both of you mentioned, I've never seen white people really go all out with the L.A. pride like the aforementioned groups of people (although I do know a handful, but they're not even from L.A.) But why?

Yes, this is true. The ethnic folks are full of love for Los Angeles. The thing is, most white people here are transplants, and they refuse to consider themselves Angelenos and use words like "Out Here," "Out West" and "Back East" to DRIVE IT INTO PEOPLE'S HEADS that Los Angeles is some alien colonial outpost, a no-man's land that doesn't deserve to be ANYONE's home.. since white people also control the media, and they purposely disregard anything that minorities say, then all the civic pride here never gets any press.

The mainstream media (print, TV, film, music, etc) is also owned and controlled by East Coast corporations. They purposely silence and censor anything that gives Los Angeles any semblance of civic pride. That's not conspiracy, that is FACT.

[milquetoast]

Originally Posted by Elsongs

The mainstream media (print, TV, film, music, etc) is also owned and controlled by East Coast corporations. They purposely silence and censor anything that gives Los Angeles any semblance of civic pride. That's not conspiracy, that is FACT.

I've been watching that happen and have been studying that now for 30 years, but that really says more about them, and their own insecurities. As much as we have to live with them, they also have to deal with us and they can invest in what we do and undercut us all they want when they can- but they'll never be able to pull off what L. A. specializes in, as hard as they try. You can't tie a bow on a turd. They know what time it is. Tom Leykis says it best, "When you're here, there is no 'out here', there is no 'back east'! You're here now!"

[milquetoast]

They'll also refer to Los Angeles as 'California', but if anything, I mean ANYTHING, happens that has derogatory potential- well then it's as simple as 'smog', 'O J Simpson', '405', 'wildfires', 'LAPD', 'suburban sprawl', 'Florence and Normandie' 'mudslides', 'drought', 'illegals', 'Paris Hilton Lindsay Lohan Britney Spears on and on and on...

[ChrisLA]

Originally Posted by Elsongs

Yes, this is true. The ethnic folks are full of love for Los Angeles. The thing is, most white people here are transplants, and they refuse to consider themselves Angelenos and use words like "Out Here," "Out West" and "Back East" to DRIVE IT INTO PEOPLE'S HEADS that Los Angeles is some alien colonial outpost, a no-man's land that doesn't deserve to be ANYONE's home.. since white people also control the media, and they purposely disregard anything that minorities say, then all the civic pride here never gets any press.

The mainstream media (print, TV, film, music, etc) is also owned and controlled by East Coast corporations. They purposely silence and censor anything that gives Los Angeles any semblance of civic pride. That's not conspiracy, that is FACT.

I'm a minority (African American & Mexican American) and as others have said I've only noticed the lack of civic pride among white people. Everyone I know thats African American and or Latino have so much love for Los Angeles. Even among the African Americans I know from Chicago, Detroit, Dallas, NYC have great love for this city.

[Westsidelife]

^ Asians also identify well with Los Angeles. Many of them have found success here, including my family.

[ChrisLA]

Originally Posted by Westsidelife

^ Asians also identify well with Los Angeles. Many of them have found success here, including my family.

Very true, I almost forgot as I have lots of Asian friends and many wouldn't even think of living anywhere else. Even lately one friend of mine (Chinese American) thanks to his wife (recent Hong Kong transplant) have discovered taking the metro trains on the weekends to get around LA.

This is a guy who would never ever ride a train, and not even dare pass through the hood (he grew up in South Pasadena). Yet I received an email from him today telling me how he took the train from Pasadena and transfered to the Blue Line to visit the dog show in downtown Long Beach last sunday. This is a big surprise, because you and I both know it pass through some very depressed areas of the city.

The funny thing is he asked me where to get off and how to reach the convention center in Long Beach. I emailed him the directions and didn't bother to tell him he will be going through what he would consider unsafe neighborhoods on the Blue Line. Yet nothing he said in the email today even mentioned it. Basically he went on about how much he enjoyed the ride, and thanks to his wife he's love taking the train around LA. Oh they live in Montrose, and he's even taking the bus on weekends. I'm so proud of him and I told him so because this is a huge step for him.

[VZN]

Originally Posted by Elsongs

Yes, this is true. The ethnic folks are full of love for Los Angeles. The thing is, most white people here are transplants, and they refuse to consider themselves Angelenos and use words like "Out Here," "Out West" and "Back East" to DRIVE IT INTO PEOPLE'S HEADS that Los Angeles is some alien colonial outpost, a no-man's land that doesn't deserve to be ANYONE's home.. since white people also control the media, and they purposely disregard anything that minorities say, then all the civic pride here never gets any press.

The mainstream media (print, TV, film, music, etc) is also owned and controlled by East Coast corporations. They purposely silence and censor anything that gives Los Angeles any semblance of civic pride. That's not conspiracy, that is FACT.

I'm glad that a lot of people are realizing the importance of controlling our own media, because we don't realize the little subtle influences the media can have on our civic pride. And here we go, prime example: our very own L.A. vernacular. I occasionally catch myself slipping with the word usages of "back East" every now and then (my mother is from Philly, moved out here in the 70's and even up to this day she continues to say "back East" and "out here in California" when speaking to her relatives in Philly).

By eliminating those nuisances out of our everyday vocabulary we can finally begin realize that we belong here. We owe no allegiances "back East", our loyalties are right here, "back West".