It seems reasonable for young parents, still only a few years into their relationship and expecting their first child, to look to their future and find the safest home that will lead to a positive education (both in school and out of school) of their children.
In this regard, the well trimmed lawns paving the way to new, often large, homes in the suburbs can seem more inviting than the concrete jungle that surrounds most of the city. I can imagine that it is assuring for people, as it was for my parents, to unleash their kids into the wild, when they get to the appropriate age of course, and know they won't run into gunslinging thugs selling dope on a walk home from their best friends house. Knowing your child can study in the evening after a family dinner and not be interrupted by people yelling at one another outdoors or the pounding of subwoofers, I'm sure, is a warm feeling for uncertain and worrisome parents.
So why then, does anyone,
choose to live in the urbs? A lot of people don't, they're just stuck here. Others come to seek culture and diversity (something I was told in my 99% white high school is a good thing) on their quest to enlightenment.
One hundred years ago, so I'm told, there really were no suburbs. There was city life, powered by a strong manufacturing base, and rural life. All colors of people, whether they liked it or not, were forced to live amongst one another and sort things out, as best as they could at least. There were conflicts of course, but the Civil Rights movements and the progress made towards racial healing, as little as it may be, I would argue, comes from us living with one another, suffering the same conditions and enjoying the same victories.
Obviously, our conflicts have never been totally resolved and that has left us with the divided America we continue to live in today. The once booming cities, of the Midwest especially, are being
abandoned for greener pastures and safer havens.
There was a point where tagging stopped being art and started being graffiti, skateboarding became a nuisance and not a hobby or a mode of transportation, and uniformity became the new style.
It goes without say that there are benefits to the city that those who leave feel are expendable. Using Cincinnati as an example, if you're in the city you're in the proximity of culture hotspots, whether it be Music Hall, art galleries, the MLB, the University of Cincinnati, or the NFL. This is the attraction for young people, empty nesters, artists, or as this large group of people has been clumped together is often called, "the Creative Class." The Creative Class theory, attracting such people, isn't complete though. People should have the choice to be creative and have a family, as well as raise their family in the city in a solid school.
In today's
Cincinnati Enquirer a handful of people who are leaving the city, discussed another staple of the city, the idea of diversity:
"But a bigger house doesn't leave us with much to pay for school, and I really don't think Cincinnati Public is cutting it right now. I don't want to raise my daughter in a neighborhood that isn't diverse. But all things considered, that's something she'll learn later," Hauser said.
Nevermind the multiple schools that achieve great things in Cincinnati and continue to innovate the education process, what is important to realize is that "diversity," as a value, is something that people are willing to sacrifice in exchange for a bigger house. Cincinnati, perhaps not the best example because it is black and white, lacking further diversity, pales in comparison when put next to San Francisco or bigger cities across the country. Other cities have China town, a vibrant Latino community (we have a growing community, but still quite small in comparison), and assorted other communities. I don't think giving this up for suburbia is an isolated incident with Mr. Hauser, this is an epidemic of the society in which we live.
The real bad news about all of this is that those who have a little bit of money in the bank, or have built up a good credit score, are able to pick and choose which size house they want and where they want it. The people who live check to check are stuck in their apartments in the city, or wherever they may be, no matter how bad the situation is. This has left our cities disproportionately poor and city services, schools for one, are drastically underfunded.
And everyone's hands are tied. The city is being held for ransom by those who use their personal freedom to live elsewhere. Green space is being overtaken by strip malls and houses sit empty in the city while new ones are built far away from the perceived danger of the urban core.
Ultimately, the social fabric of our society is being torn apart by the rise of the suburbs. Different races and cultures are losing touch with one another which leads to an increase in hate, or as the
Cincinnati Blog might call it, "bigotry." One class is settling into a comfortable new life, while their gains indirectly lead to a suffering of the under class of America.
Conformity is cherished, while diversity is expendable. America will be defined by the Gap, short hair, and yes, 2 point whatever kids and a "happy," "normal," marriage.
Personal choice is a wonderful thing and I respect the right of people to live their life the way they choose, but I would hope people would begin to remember the simple fact that we are all connected. Every time someone develops a new area, that is more natural space gone. Every time someone takes their tax money out of the Cincinnati (or whatever city) school system because the schools are underfunded, the schools lose more money and more children are "left behind."
Like so many things, I suppose this just comes down to whether we want to look out for ourselves and our family unit, or the society and the people who are a part of it. Do we want to live with one another and learn to treat each other with dignity, or do we want to segregate and colonize?
These are the choices that will define us in history books.
