Gregory Freeman: Instead Of Beating St. Louis Down, Let's Look At The Up Side. P-D 6/12/1997

Headline: INSTEAD OF BEATING ST. LOUIS DOWN, LET'S LOOK AT THE UP SIDE
Reporter: By Gregory Freeman

Publication: ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Last Printed: Thu., Jun. 12, 1997
Section: NEWS, Page: 1B, Edition: FIVE STAR LIFT

DO ST. LOUISANS suffer from an inferiority complex?
   A case can be made that we do. For whatever reason, we don't feel good about ourselves, I'd argue, and it shows - sometimes to the detriment of our region.
   On more than one occasion, I've heard conversations between St. Louisans and someone who's just moved here. When the newcomer says where he's from, he's asked something like, "Why did you move here?" as if St. Louis were the other side of hell.
   We spend an awful lot of time saying what we're not: "We're not like Chicago, not fast-paced enough." "We're not like Kansas City. They've got a modern downtown." "We're not like Cleveland. They got their act together."

No, we're not like those cities. We've got our own identity.
We've got a history - one we often forget - of jazz and blues. Surprisingly, it's something we rarely flaunt unlike other cities with such backgrounds, like Kansas City and New Orleans. Yet, it's something we should be proud of.
Many folks who have made their mark on the world have come from here or have ties to this area, including Chuck Berry, Josephine Baker, Dennis Edwards, Kevin Kline, Scott Joplin, John Goodman, Cedric "The Entertainer, " and many more. Take a walk along the University City Loop at Joe Edwards' St. Louis Walk of Fame and see how many top-flight individuals have come from here.

St. Louis has a great deal to offer.
   A rock 'n' roll legend like Chuck Berry, could live anywhere. But he chooses to live here because it's home.
   Others, like John Goodman, have active careers in Hollywood but come here regularly.
   Some, like Bob Costas, aren't even native St. Louisans but have chosen to live here because they find it a good place.

The same is the case when it comes to politics.
   Both John Danforth and Thomas Eagleton returned to St. Louis after leaving the U.S. Senate. That may not seem like a big deal.
But how many senators are sent to Washington and then remain there after leaving office?
   Bob Dole didn't return to Kansas after losing his final race for president.
   George McGovern didn't head back to South Dakota. They remained in Washington.
Not Danforth or Eagleton. Both of them not only returned, they got involved in civic matters, proving their leadership skills here.
   Eagleton, of course, jumped in and became the savior of sports fans here, snagging the Rams for St. Louis.
   Danforth returned here and set up InterACT St. Louis, a nonprofit group that pairs city and suburban churches to help youth. He now chairs St. Louis 2004, which hopes to establ ish some priorities and projects to move the area forward. Neither of them had to get involved, but St. Louis is richer as a result.

There's no question that we've got lots of problems here. Issues of race and polarization, downtown development, frequent lack of regional cooperation, and transportation problems are among them.
But guess what? There's no major urban area in the United States that isn't without its problems.
The key is what we do to tackle those problems.

Meanwhile, there's so much that's good about this place.
   We've got one of the lowest costs of living of any major area in the United States.
   This is a great place to raise a family.
   And no one else can claim Ted Drewes, Ramon's El Dorado and Del Monico's Diner.
   Sure, we were the birthplace of ice cream cones, iced tea and hot dogs, but we also gave birth to toasted ravioli.
   Not to mention Redd Foxx, Dick Gregory and Pete Wilson.

Yes, we've got some annoying habits.
We like to size people up by asking them what high school they attended.
We eat funny things, like brain sandwiches, tripe, and pork butts, cut into steaks.

But we're a friendly bunch too. We're warm people, and a lot of us are willing to go out of our way to help others in need. We willingly donate to charities and other agencies that help those not doing as well as ourselves.

Take a look at St. Louis from the air and compare it to most other cities. The trees here are outstanding. In many places, you can't see the city for the trees. Lots of greenery here, something we often take for granted.

We need to stop badmouthing ourselves.
   Those who live outside the city should stop knocking those who live in the city.
   City dwellers should stop criticizing their suburban cousins.
   Those on the west side of the Mississippi should stop looking down on those on the east side.

We're one St. Louis. It's time for us to pull together and act like one.
Yes, we've got our problems. But all in all, this is a pretty good place.

By the way, what high school did you go to?

Daniel Schesch - Webweaver

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