I grew up in rural Pennsylvania since I was about 7 years old until I finished college. For about ten years my family even lived in a rented farmhouse on a working farm. Today my parents (Mom born in the Bronx and Dad a 4th or 5th generation Philadelphia Irish Catholic) live in a rural place so secluded that there is literally no human made light in the night sky. They’re happy there. Today I live in Philadelphia, USA, population 1.4 million, and I am very happy.

Living in a city like this has given me more a sense of community and belonging than anywhere where I lived as a kid. And before some of you may jump to any conclusions, I was not ostracized as a child by the rural community in which I grew up. Straight, white guys are not really picked on in small towns, or at least they weren’t when I was young. They get slightly more abused in the city, but it’s all in good fun. The truth is there was not much in the way of community where I grew up.

Philadelphia is 45% white and 43% black. For every person of one race who is not at ease with someone from the other race I can guarantee you there are at least five people every day in this city who experience the artificial social barriers of “race” or “sexual persuasion” falling down. We’re all in it together here. We use the same sidewalks every day. We take the same trolleys, buses and trains. We see the same tired looks on each other’s faces as we slog to work in the morning under the unflattering subway car lights. And most of us regardless of race, sex and creed (not me) act like fools every fall for a team called the Eagles. It’s not Utopia. We have crime and poverty, but they had that where I grew up too. What they did not have where I grew up was an Art Museum, a world re-renowned symphony orchestra, an endless stream of local rock and hip hop musicians, more non-chain restaurants than chain ones, more diversity of opinions and beliefs, more excitement, more daily interaction with humanity, more tolerance, more new ideas, more history, more tragedy and more comedy. More of a chance to get involved. More of a chance to really imagine walking in someone else’s shoes. More of a chance to be anonymous. More of a chance to share a joke with a stranger or to complain about the smell.

And yes, living in a Big City means less of some things. Most important to me it means less need of a car. I have the carbon footprint of a seagull and I don’t have to make any effort at doing so. And before anyone calls me an elitist, I think anyone who watches our infamous sports fans here or is familiar with Rocky knows that we Philadelphians are far from being “East Coast Liberal Elitists.” Elitists don’t have so many food stains. And don’t let Rudy Giuliani fool you into thinking he is not as Cosmopolitan as Barack Obama. If he’s anything like the New Yorkers I know he can’t stand the idea of living in a small town.

My girlfriend and I plan on settling down here in Philadelphia and maybe even raising a family. My dad who was born and raised here still sees this place as the same littered place he grew up in, but I see it as a place to grow as a person. My old friends who I grew up with would think that every day I am putting myself in mortal danger living here because they mistake the sensationalized local TV news coverage for reality. They think it’s fires, murders, rapes, fires, children killed in cross fires, weather, sports and the occasional fluff story like a restaurant that also serves dogs. But just like every small town in America is not like Northern Exposure, Green Acres or Wasilla Alaska, cities are not what popular culture and the media paint them as.

But this is all missing the big point about big cities and small towns in America. The truth is neither of us is a threat to each other’s way of life no matter what any political group says. We shouldn’t see each other as enemies. It’s called Divide and Conquer. Look it up. Most politicians pay us the same amount of lip service while most government policies neglect cities and rural communities equally.

If anything our common enemy is the Suburbs. Everyday more and more of our small towns and big cities from sea to sea have the same Starbucks, Olive Gardens, Bed Bath & Beyonds, the same 8 Hollywood blockbusters playing, the same houses and the same cars. The Inauthenticity of the American Suburban Way of Life threatens to turn us into consumers of the same shallow popular culture. The truth is Big Cities and small towns are two sides of the same coin. We are both what makes America unique. We are both the source of American romanticism and neither of us should seek to denigrate each other’s way of life.

Brendan M
Philadeldelphia, PA

My next door neighbor and I are polar opposites in nearly every demographic category. You could fill a whole page describing the differences in our employment, economic status, education, race, sexual orientation, religion, family background, etc. What we share, however, is a commitment to make our neighborhood a good place to live, so together we examine the vegetables growing in front porch pots, discuss block parties and neighborhood happenings, bandage little boys’ skinned knees, commiserate about faltering relationships, lament broken car windows, gripe about city politics. Although she and I might contrast on the outside, our core values line up: values of caring for the people around us, even if—as often happens in big cities—they are strangers; values of actively contributing to our community, even if—as often happens in big cities—we are frustrated by the effects of crime and poverty and corruption; values of respecting and honoring differences, especially when—as often happens in big cities—we are surrounded by so much diversity.

Mel
Philadelphia, PA

My first thought regarding Big City Values cannot be expressed without considering one of the great urban planners, writers, and activists: Jane Jacobs. She purposed that America’s big cities are actually the drivers of economic development in the country. The places where creativity, opportunity and connection are found so that industry and ideas can flourish. I would like to think that innovation and hardwork are both wonderful values for any person, whether American or not. But just as industrial innovation prospers in the city, so does personal innovation. That is to say, people in big cities have learned to accept newcomers, immigrants, faiths, colors, ethnicities, genders, etc. In a lot of ways, acceptance is a Big City Value because rubbing shoulders in such close quarters means learning to recognize the humanity around you as people worthy of relationship: friend, neighbor or maybe even partner.

I have lived in big cities both inside and outside the U.S. I have also lived in small cities and towns much more quintessential than even politicians can paint in words. The same town I lived in Tennessee was both a place of great friendships and also hurtful experiences. I have a typical American story: a first-generation-American-dweller practicing a faith not native to this country (Islam). The first typical American small town I moved to upon arrival was a place where I learned most dramatically how diversity can sometimes be too close to home for some people. A place where 9/11 meant that expressing Anti-War sentiment or just being Arab or Muslim was unpatriotic and irresponsible, because it might mean losing your job or a scholarship, receiving a threat on the phone, having your hijab torn off on the street or being called a “terrorist” by a high-school schoolmate (all of these things happened to me or other Muslims in my town). It was a place where some of my local public school teachers and administrators felt comfortable using their power for racist aims (against me as the only person of my ethnicity, or black students, or others). I’m not claiming that these things do not happen in big cities, or that small towns don’t offer acceptance too. But I do know from personal experience that while living in Philadelphia and New York, I felt more comfortable praying in a mosque, speaking in Arabic, expressing my political views and breathing easy being someone who although is not unique for U.S., is often considered too “foreign” for small town America. I still visit my town, and enjoy spending time there, but I always remain guarded.

Lena Z
Moving from Philadelphia to NYC but currently in Atlanta, PA, NY, GA

Today I rode my bike to work. This past weekend I rode my bike to the grocery store to buy some food for the house. I love riding my bike in the city.

I love the big city value of supporting car-free modes of transportation. People walk, bike, take public transportation and use services like Philly Car Share. We have bike clubs, running clubs, and official and unofficial rides and races of all kinds. Not only is it healthier to walk or ride a bike, but it saves money and the environment.

Tracy
BCV Headquarters

Where but in a big city can we learn to value diversity, non-judgment and acceptance through practice not preaching?

Where but in a big city can we make buying local vs. buying big box an attainable reality?

Who but a big city dweller can lessen their eco-footprint without sacrificing innovation and technology?

Big cities give us access to information, culture, art, and different points of view.

Big cities have great food.

Keep It Movin
Philadelphia, PA

I work with the people who live on the edges of our society, on the street, in the shelters of our cities. I’m a nurse and not just any old nurse, a nurse that works on a general medicine floor at the county hospital of a large metropolitan area. I see the most beaten down, abused bodies come into my care. People who have track marks up their arms and no veins left from shooting up, people who have infection raging through their bodies from using dirty needles, people whose addictions are so consuming that they will do anything and everything to find their next fix, people living on the street and hearing voices in their head, people who sell their bodies for money. These are the people who inspire fear and worry, who parents rush their children by on the street and pray at night they will never go down that road. They are impulsive and unpredictable, which means at any time I am at risk of being kicked or attacked.

But most of all, these are people who deserve to have medical care and an advocate at their bedside. That’s me.

I take care of the untouchables, knowing that they will leave me and keep abusing their bodies, knowing that nothing I do will ever change their addictions, their mental illness, their personalities. I am not always nice or kind, I do not Dare to Care, but I will always work my ass off for my patients. I do this for no reason beyond the fact that I actually care about something larger than myself called community. I do all of this and live in a big city. That is my big city value.

Sacha
Seattle, WA

I work right smack in the downtown area of Columbus, Ohio. I know that most of the country doesn’t think about Ohio when they think about big cities, but Columbus, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Akron and Toledo all fall within the top 100 of the most populous cities in our country. According to www.city-data.com, Columbus is number 16, right under San Francisco.

I wasn’t sure what I wanted to say for this and had been pondering it this morning. I just got back from lunch and realized that just telling you about the past hour of my life can give you and idea of Columbus’ big city values.

As my friends and I were walking to get lunch, we were serenaded by a group of Mennonite women, men and children who were set up near the statehouse lawn. We honestly thought they were a recording at first because their harmonies were so beautiful. We selected a newly opened and locally owned restaurant that serves hearty burritos for five bucks. Like many towns and cities across the country, Columbus’ downtown area fell on hard times over the past few decades. Basically all that was left was state agencies, financial institutions and a few theaters. It isn’t back to its prime, but there are restaurants, shops and people moving in.

After lunch, we had a bit of sweet tooth, so we walked over to farmer’s market that sets up every Tuesday and Friday in the shadow of Columbus’ tallest building. A street is closed off and local growers sell their vine ripened tomatoes, corn, peppers and eggplants. We walked past them, as well as the ribs, the samosas, the baked goods and the New Orleans style sweets, to the guy selling his homemade organic soft-serve. Delicious and served with a smile.

We strolled a different street back and found ourselves in the middle of a gentle, yet organized demonstration. The group wanted to stop the use of nuclear and coal power and increase the use of wind and solar power. There were police officers on horses, but they weren’t really necessary because there was no one around disagreeing. One of the demonstrators put her sign down to give us each a little pinwheel to take home to our toddlers.

Hope
www.hopeandmegan.com
Columbus, OH

For me the best thing about living in a culturally diverse, big city environment is is the actual cultural diversity. Sometimes I go out with my Black, Hispanic, Asian, Jewish and/or Muslim friends to eat drink and be merry in a Mexican place, or an Italian place, or an Indian place, or a Greek place, or a Vietnamese place, or a Moroccan place, or a Kosher Deli, or a Hofbrauhaus. Sometimes we even go out to a nice old-fashioned American Bistro.

NamelessGenXer
GenXforObama.com
Exit 100, NJ

In our cities we have cops, firefighters, teachers, dentists, social workers, business owners, etc… In fact, our cities create the economic backbone necessary for America to remain resilient and prosper. Cities are more than just cesspools of extreme liberal thought and moral relativism (although, there is some of that too). We have families, character, morals, values, and dare I say, F-A-I-T-H! Yes, America’s cities are actually very cool places to live.

Dr. Chuck W.
www.drchuckspeaks.com
Philadelphia, PA

This morning I was walking the dog like a do almost every morning. Inevitabley I run in to people I know, even it’s just to say hello, like the guy who reads his paper on his stoop almost every morning.  Today, I ran into a neighbor who was picking a piece of trash up from her sidewalk (yes people litter in the Big City and they shouldn’t litter anywhere). She said, “I just made a pot of coffee, would you like a cup?” It was a really nice way to start this cloudy Tuesday.

Mia
BCV Headquarters