I often travel to Southeast Asia and when I mention Chicago, this is what people usually say: Oh, the land of gangsters (i.e., Al Capone). Maybe that is not necessarily a bad thing. I have even seen the Chicago gangster tour bus. Sometimes, when I watch American films with my friends in Southeast Asia, they are quick to say, "Wow, look at New York City's skyline!" I correct them and say, "That’s actually Chicago," which surprises them.
Chicago should be known for its historical engineering feats (e.g., building the first skyscraper, filling in the lake, reversing the river). How residents perceive the city is the problem. Most Europeans I have met, who moved to Chicago, love the city. They say Chicagoans are friendlier and really know how to have fun. It’s a true American city. (I have yet to meet a European who dislikes Chicago.) However, when I talk to African Americans, including some of my relatives, they are quick to say Chicago is a hellhole. Chicagoans have the choice to perceive whether the city is an enjoyable place or a hellhole. When I lived in Washington State, I would often visit Seattle. IMO, Seattle is quite depressing compared to Chicago. Maybe because Chicago is cleaner! My two cents...
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"She is always a novelty; for she is never the Chicago you saw when you passed through the last time." -Mark Twain, Life on the Mississippi (1883)
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