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Tuesday, May 27, 2008
The Problem with Cleveland
I’ve been living in Cleveland for about seven and a half months now, and something that has been bothering me since I moved here is that I haven’t really liked it. There are some really good points, and especially now that it’s green and lovely outside more days than not, I feel like I ought to warm up to it more than I have, yet I find that I simply can’t. It has taken me a while to pinpoint the reason why I just can’t find it in me to love this city (though I admit there are parts that I distinctly like about it), but I finally have.
People in Cleveland don’t like living here. It’s not something that I’ve even perceived from an actions point of view — it’s their words as well. When people learn that I moved here from out west, they ask me why I’d move here. It’s almost demoralizing to hear people who have lived here their entire lives talking down about their home city the way they do. People who live here complain about everything from their losing sports teams (Have faith, people! They have to win sometimes…) to the weather to the crummy roads in much of the city.
What people don’t talk about are the good points of this city. Cleveland has an amazing theater system which includes more than five theaters connected together through a tunnel-like system. There are festivals for everything, so at almost any weekend from March to December (weather providing), one can plan a weekend out and about. RTA (the public transit system) is working on a project that should improve it quite a bit (not to mention it was voted best public transit in 2007 – take that as you will). They have large, good looking stadiums which, though they’ve sold out to corporate naming rights, still have character – not to mention there are several of them, which is more than a lot of cities can claim. The greater Cleveland area is also quite as interesting as the city itself. There are lots of parks and interesting places to go. There are restaurants for almost every food fancy (with the exception of German, we found)… There are theater, film and music festivals, local musicians who perform (shocking!) locally, and of course the well-known things like the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. There are things to do, things to see, ways to pass time…
In short, there are things to like about Cleveland, but it’s hard to love a city that most people who live there don’t love.
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It’s something that I’ve considered, but after seven months, I would think that I’d catch up on it by now. Johnathan is about the only person who I know who is genuinely affectionate toward the city, though he can see its faults, too. I know that Portlanders never really miss an opportunity to complain about the city but, like the example you gave about Londoners, they won’t allow others to criticise the city, and I can tell you I’ve never praised Portland so much as since I moved away from there.
It probably has to do with the fact that Cleveland is really a dying city; commerce is not coming to Cleveland so if you want to do something specific, you almost have to go somewhere else. Still, we live here – we might as well make the best of it, right?
Laura — May 27, 2008 @ 11:25 am
It’s interesting that you say many Cleveland-ers seem so down on their own city and I understand it must be disheartening. They actually sound rather like Londoners to me. Londoners are suck a dark pessimistic bunch. They really do enjoy having a grumble about their city. In fact, all Brits do this regarding the UK – not just Londoners. It’s such a common feature that comedians poke fun of it all the time. For instance, one such comedian joked that as a nation the English ‘crave disappointment’. We like being the underdogs, we like being a little sarky and moody and having a good moan under our breath.
In any event, what I’m saying is that, despite this pessimistic attitude, the British are secretly quite proud of their rainy little island – they’re just not good with boasting. (They tend to think boasting and national pride is reserved for the Americans! =P) Their country to them is like one of those relative that can induce both embarrassment and pride. You never know what to make of these awkward relatives, but you love them anyways – and woe to any who disrespects them. As you know, we are the only ones allowed to make fun of our family. (Hmmm… talk about milking an analogy!)
Do you think that maybe this is the same sort of attitude that the Cleveland-ers have towards their home city? Perhaps you just haven’t picked up on the subtle ‘self-deprecating but love it anyways!’ attitude. I’ve been asked plenty of times why I moved to the UK from America – as though I’m a bit barmy.
Well… it’s just a thought. Maybe they really don’t like living there. At least your trying to see the bright side. Don’t give up!
nahara — May 27, 2008 @ 11:11 am