Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
As a young adult born and raised in Erie Pa, I am proud to have grown up where I did. I now live in los angeles, and it was a culture shock of a life time. I love Los angeles and I love being surronded by all the culture. At the same time it feels good to be surrounded by people "like yourself".
It is the comfort of being able to communicate with the person at the gas station, understanding what people are saying around you, and not feel like a minority all the time. I now live in an all Spanish community, and it is uncomfortable sometimes. I've had men staring in my window, I get yelled at all the time walking in the daylight, or waiting for the bus for work, because I stick out like a sore thumb. As a 20 year old female who has been riding public transportation out here for two years, and being blonde, I have been degraded, cat-called, followed, and harrassed.
I've had learend to toughen up and become a wiser and bolder person on the street. To Ignore guys, and let them call me a *****. I used to be such a friendly, wide eyed girl, who enjoyed a friendly hello. I can't be that out here or I will get taken advantage of, it is disheartening. Back east i've had truck drivers honk at me, and teenage boys say hi, but I never experienced the things i've had out here.
It's scary and all though it might be flattery in some cases, it gets frustrating every single day, one after another. When you go to the doctor and you are the only one speaking english it can feel very uncomfortable. When all the billboards are in a different language that you dont speak. I mean it makes sense, why would they put a billboard in english when it's not the neighborhood's first language. You can't say "then don't move there", when the whole discussion is on immagrants and minorities moving into white communities.
I used to talk to strangers(in appropriate situations) all the time back in Erie. It was never a problem and everyone was friendly. Yes there are creeps everywhere, but 9 times out of 10 people just wanted to help and say hello. Everyone holds doors for eachother and says please and thank you, no matter who they are. I can't count the times people out here have let doors slam in my face going into convience stores. After being bumped and shoved without an "excuse me" or anything, it get's very frustrating.
I would not want to have grown up anywhere else. We are hardworking, mostly middle class citizens, who deal with frightening and dangerous winters and beautiful short summers. I'm glad you had a good experience in Erie.
Although I get overwhelmed out here, I enjoy the city life too, no one should stay in a sheltered mindset of a small town. But if someone likes the feeling of everyone speaking English, thats their opinion. Of course those who grew up in a big city are going to say it's being narrowminded, if that's all they know.
Just because everyone is speaking the same language doesn't mean everyone's the same in the given community. Communication is just such a major part of any given situation.
When there are so many language and cultural barriers and you only speak your native language, it doesn't matter if your the immigrant, or if your in a big city and from a small town, or from a big city and in a small town person, it's going to feel "foreign" to that person.
Every city is different, so comparing Erie Pa to Los Angeles Ca, is a big cultural difference. And I think they are both great just the way they are.
Thanks for being honest, however, with that mindset this world would never have become what it is today. It has taken America so many years to even get near equality and integration.
I have absolutely no hang ups when it comes to race, matter of fact I would rather hang out with multiple colors of people and it reflects in my friends and where I live. I have learned so much from having all kinds of friends.
I am the kind of person who likes walking thru San Francisco and NYC and hearing all the different languages, the different families and getting to know people from all around the world.
The good thing is that this country has enough room to allow for the segregated and integrated, I'll be choosing integrated.
I would not want to be in an all-white, all-same income environment. That is what has always been unique about my area, but now it's gentrifying at an alarming rate and long-time residents are freaked...
I would also not like to be in a homogenous environment of any sort.
In my case: the word 'culture' comes to mind; I prefer to be around a Middle Class American of Aztec lineage vs. a stereotypical PWT hillbilly from wherever-------never mind that I would bear a physical resemblence to said hillbilly.
Did I totally miss something? Please indicate where these (bolded) comments appear in this thread.
You're being a little 'picky' today Benicar. You know very well these comments didn't actually APPEAR anywhere..these are "implied" comments. It's like saying "I'm nervous boarding an airliner these days"...the speaker is REALLY saying "I hate Muslims"
Similarly, if a person says, "occasionally, I'll find myself listening to country music", he's REALLY saying, "I'm a redneck racist, and I wish the South had won the Civil War"
Expressing concern about illegal immigration is REALLY a 'code phrase' for "I hate foreigners"
Get it? Just look around at things...'implied comments' are everywhere. If you need more info, the ACLU will clue you in..
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
