Originally written 5 May 2010.
This Saturday past I inadvertently became part of an immigration protest in the heart of New York. Expressing values in such a loud, public and forthright way is so typically American, but it was the passion, unity and intelligent discussion that defined it as a New York display. My week in this city has completely redefined my views on cosmopolitan living. Never have I experienced such a contrast of urban expansion held together by a common community spirit. Surely these forces would serve to seperate lives? As each distinctive neighbourhood rolls on into the next, it is tolerance and a friendly attitude sealing the fluid construction of the city. Its running is electric, and every time I saw a local ask a stranger for directions as if they were good friends, every time I said thank you and it was met with “you’re welcome”, the times I accidentally bumped into some one, apologised and was then complimented on my wardrobe (twice), and the witnessed road rage incident quelled within minutse by a troupe of reactive residents; these routine incidents drew a smile from me.
Standing amongst the protest crowd I was holding the fascade of being a New York resident, something that become increasingly enticing over the week. To be in amongst this diversity of exchange was addictive. I wonder why this hasn’t been apparent to me in London? It seems so stale in comparison to New York. British complacency the last thing on my mind, I was actually worried about my tourist status being discovered, so I dared not open my mouth. Australian accents seem to grate and ricochet around foreign ears. My stereotypical views of Americans already being rewritten by the protest group, my respect for New Yorkers took a lightening step as they collectively cringed upon hearing “U-S-A” being changed by a rival group across the road. It mirrored the patriotic cynicism within me that comes out every Australia Day. It may have been superficial tourist glow, but right then, siliently within the crowd, I felt united with the city. That is really what makes New York such an appealing place.
When you lift above the corner blocks of Manhattan, into the wider American media and political landscape, is when the US stereotypes so common in the minds of the rest of the world become apparent. While New Yorkers had briskly accepted and moved on from a potential Times Square bombing, CNN had rolling coverage of impending terror, interspersed with ads preying on fear. Fear of not having flood insurance, fear of dying without this asthma medication, fear of losing money if you don’t use this attorney. Fear of not reaching a sketchy and poorly defined ideal. It sat in the hostel living room not really believing what I was watching. CNN’s ‘random moment of the day’ was footage of a man being tasered on a baseball field without context. I’d rather be back in Union Square with the actual essence of America’s charm. It’s something I want to see more of, and not just within their country’s borders.
Posted from Dublin, Dublin City, Ireland.