I'm getting really sick of this notion of small-town values. I spend a good chunk of my formative years in a small town, and I loved it. I would love to get back to to a small town, and I would love to raise my kids in a small town. I like constantly running into friends, knowing all the checkers at the local supermarket, and the strong sense of community that lots of small towns have.
BUT.
Small town values and morals? People in small towns are just as nasty and hypocritical as people in cities. Growing up in a small town, I saw drug abuse, child abuse, teenage sex, and neglect. I saw people taking advantage of their neighbors. I saw theft and petty, small-minded gossip. I saw violent crimes and murder, including a 14-year-old girl.
Living in the DC metro area, I've seen good people coming together as a community. I've seen and experienced unbelievable kindness from perfect strangers and from new friends. I've met some of the most generous people in my life, and some of the most genuinely religious people. I've met people committed to living a good life, not just talking about it. I've met people I could call at 3 am if I needed to.
People are pretty much the same all over. Living in a small town doesn't protect you anymore, and living in a city is no longer the Sister Carrie den of iniquity and sin that the Republican leaders would have you believe.
i have to agree. small towns aren't inherently better than large ones. it comes down to: do you know your neighbors and do you care enough to be involved? that can make even the biggest city into a tight-knit "small" community.
Posted by: Janette | October 09, 2008 at 05:09 PM
I agree completely! People are the same everywhere. Sometimes small towns just mean that bad things happen to the people you know. For example, I don't know anyone whose house was broken into in the DC area, but in the small town my husband is from? I know a three or four families. It's not necessarily safer just because it's smaller.
Posted by: caramama | October 17, 2008 at 08:39 PM
Small town values are only found in a Norman Rockwell painting. It's a place where the Beav and Wally live, on tv. It's so insulting to assume that those of us living in a large metropolitan area are incapable of being decent human beings. And I am glad that I can call you at 3am if I needed to.
Posted by: Yvonne | October 21, 2008 at 06:59 PM