Fear Kills Cities
The city is what it means to be human, and we are our most
human when we’re together, for better or worse. Our species functions best in
groups, historically we’ve always had much better chances of survival being in
a tribe, this is why isolation and loneliness feel so cold.
People flee the city in droves escaping the danger and
uncertainty of perceived life there, but that’s life anywhere you go, dangerous
and uncertain. Having grown up in the country there was always this sense of
dread about the world around us, and people in the city seemed insane to
subject themselves to such chaos. The truth of the matter is cities are simply
humans unfiltered. People are no different wherever you go. The only difference
is that life is raw and unfiltered in the city. This rawness is so important
for people to experience, being on the forefront of the issues facing our
species.
If we come to terms with humanity’s many flaws and learn to
exist with them and make a difference where you can, rather than flee to your
personal utopian bubble, life in cities won’t be as bad as it seems. This in
turn could lead to a more compassionate and educated populace.
I so agree, Jared. Was this post spurred from the Jane Jacobs reading? The way she thinks about cities is so beautiful to me - like they are well tended gardens, influenced by the people that tend them, while also totally wild and untamed. I also think that your ideas expressed here are answered by Christianity in a lot of ways, or at least attempt to be answered, but that's another conversation altogether :).
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