Any racism in Geneva, IL ?

[chet everett]

Wheaton is the County Seat of DuPage Co.

Geneva is the County Seat of Kane Co.

Neither town is anywhere near as uniformly supportive of GOP canididate as they once were and frankly it is BEYOND IGNORANT to associate anything about the GOP in Illinois with "racism" -- the decades of corruption that have infected Illinos politicians of BOTH parties from nearly EVERY county is THE factor in shaping what is wrong with politics hear NOT any made-up "discrimination"...

[linicx]

Smoke and spin aside, we live in a "polite" society where color is a factor more so in small communities (that have changed little in 150 years), than in large metro areas. More stores, newer cars, and bigger houses do not indicate anything except an uptick in a local economy that can change rapidly.

[chet everett]

Economic segregation is pretty much universal -- you can head to countries around the globe and see the same thing regardless of what shades the folks skin might be, happens in Europe, Asia, Central/ South America, Africa... Funny thing too is that in many of the counties that have a significant indigenous native population it is pretty much a given that thier general level of affluence is far below that of the folks with some kind of immigrant history. In the US our legacy of both this kind of indigenous population being less affluent as well as uniquely recent history of race- based forced servitude is being over come -- the economic activity from things like oil/ gas exploration and entertainment based casinos have really helped many of the formerly poverty stricken reservations. Racial minorities that have maximized their educational attainment, like President Obama and First Lady Michelle, have nearly limitless wealth.

[chikidnw]

I'm white and there are bars that I won't go into around Geneva too late at night--but I'm not naming names. The far Western towns used to have a heavy biker gang influence, and they were not partial to the brothers, or Chicago liberals. But it is no longer the 20th Century. Geneva is a great area to live, or have a family. I have to meet people who don't like the way I look or talk, and you might meet some of those people there too. Or you might meet them anywhere. If you want to live in Geneva, go ahead and live there. Its nice. This whole dramatic method of talking about innocuous places like it is the deep South in the 1890s or something is so tiring and overdone. Its Geneva, IL ... get a grip. And its about an hour to downtown Chicago by train. If you need to get to O'hare or Midway, though, thats a PITA.

[CincyIowan]

Their is racism and any other kind of hatred in every corner of America, However, it's not like its the old south in Geneva.

[chet everett]

Originally Posted by CincyIowan

Their is racism and any other kind of hatred in every corner of America, However, it's not like its the old south in Geneva.

I wonder if I re-wrote that to say "there is goodness and charity to be found in every corner of America " would the same be true? I mean surely if one were to go to the most crime infested / violent part of the country and need help for a sudden illness of a similar empathy producing emergancy there would be people willing to get assitance, no?

[urza216]

Originally Posted by chikidnw

I'm white and there are bars that I won't go into around Geneva too late at night--but I'm not naming names. The far Western towns used to have a heavy biker gang influence, and they were not partial to the brothers, or Chicago liberals.

Ahww.. That's no fun.

[urza216]

Originally Posted by chet everett

I wonder if I re-wrote that to say "there is goodness and charity to be found in every corner of America " would the same be true? I mean surely if one were to go to the most crime infested / violent part of the country and need help for a sudden illness of a similar empathy producing emergancy there would be people willing to get assitance, no?

Yes, it would be true.

[usagisan]

Geneva is a charming, quaint, extremely clean city where they take pride in their neighborliness, livable and walkable down town. It is a wonderful community that has several festivals that draw in upper crust people from many communities (Swedish Days, Festival of the Vine etc). The populace is very exposed to minorities and well educated. The people are proud of their community and very protective of it.

So here is the deal on racism in Geneva. They expect visitors and the residents to blend in and meld into the culture of the town. If you are a minoirty and want to go to the Little Owl every Friday night for the fish fry and a few drinks with friends and dress appropriately no one is going to care and you will be embraced by the community. One the other hand if you show up in the same place with you pants hanging at your knees, spewing profanity as you talk with your friends, usng ghetto vernacular you are not going to be made to feel welcome.

I just ate there last night. My usual server is a mulatto women with tattoos, she is polite, friendly, does a great job and has worked their for years. There were several minorities, the key is the only way you could tell is to look at them as their vernacular and mannerisms were identical to the non-minority patrons.

So it boils down to this, if you want to live in that community and become a part of it, which means melt into the mainstream fabric, no one will have an issue with you, if you are black, green or Dolkadot. However if you come from a place where people act differently and insist on retaining that behavior you will probably find your life deliberately made uncomfortable.

In the Fox Valley Geneva is considered the shining gem. It is an excellent community with responsible municipal Government and taxes that are a value proposition (i.e. high quality service). However understand a great deal of thet tax money is used to keep the community as it is.

[Desertice]

Thank you... this is great input...