In Re: Obama's PA Diagnosis

The following was a comment I was writing to Rick's Cafe and Tranquility Lost when it became so long, I figured it'd do just as well as my own post. Of course, I accidentally copy/pasted overtop of the original comment, effectively erasing about 25 minutes of work, but I'll do my best to re-write it.


A fuss was made recently over comments President Senator Obama made in regards to small towns in Pennsylvania and in the Midwest. If you've not been privy to the outrage, please check it out. Since the name of this blog is in fact Small Town Scandals, I feel obliged to, at the very least, comment.

Leave it to the people of small-town Pennsylvania to raise hell over an ideal that they hold so near and dear to their hearts. Tranquility Lost (link above) called the comments "condescending, offensive, and repugnant." That seems a tad overzealous. Let me admit that there should have been a more calculated attempt by Obama to verbalize his feelings on the subject at hand. However, we can hardly criticize a candidate for telling the truth, can we?

If you're from this area, have spent any time in this area, or have been around anyone from this area, you know there is always an overwhelming pride that they are from the "Steel City." While my affection for the area may not be as unbridled as some, let me assure you my pride is there, in spades.

It's this sense of pride that hurts this area as much as it defines it. People are happy to be known as 'blue collar' and 'hard working.' There's no reason to deny them that and there's certainly nothing wrong with it. Sure, many people suffered as the area lost its industry, but why does that mean no one can come in and say it? In that sense, it seems to me the terms 'blue collar' and 'hard working' wind up nothing more than synonyms for 'stubborn' and 'resistant to change.'

To not shout your pride in this area can best be deemed heretic. One of Obama's points came to me loud and clear: "And it's not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations."

If your base operation is in downtown Pittsburgh or somewhere on the outskirts, there can be a sense of blindness in reading those words. They could seem out of line, short-sighted or just stupid. But, between growing up in such a place and now working in one of these towns that can be considered 'depressed,' let me tell you each sentiment Obama put forth is correct.

How do I know? Because I hear it on a daily basis. Many people in this area are unhappy. They've seen the great steel boom of the last century and they've seen it collapse. They're left bitter. Rather than taking the slight and turning it to a positive, they remain stuck in their ways and content to complain. Foreign corporations infringing on the American way is an unfortunate situation, but a global economy depends on it.

The social conservatism is more annoying than it is endearing. Without fail, I hear colleagues of mine discussing their rights to have as many guns as possible and their devotion to religion. Their inability to see that this country was formed through immigration discredits their notion that no one should be allowed in this country to take jobs that no one else in their right minds would want.

Rubino (Tranquility's author) smartly pointed that healthcare in this area is a booming industry. No doubt about that. I can't imagine it'd be as prevalent without five hundred million old people sitting around dying with a Marlboro in one hand and an Iron City in the other.

This city and this area are old. Old-aged and old-fashioned. Residents are quick to point out the crookedness of politicians and the lack of trust they have with our government. Why is it such a problem when someone comes along and precisely details the collective mindset? Isn't the truth a good thing? As they say, sometimes the truth hurts.

The pride displayed around our great city comes with a Catch-22. If you're from here, expect carte blanch. If not, don't say anything that can be construed as offensive unless you're planning a crucifixion for this Sunday down at the Point.

It would be refreshing for this area to come to grips with what happened a quarter of a century ago and stop holding a grudge. The world changes, and the sooner that's accepted, the sooner we can move on and stop feeling sorry for one another. Then, potentially, we could have a metropolis known less for a great football team, bad baseball team and burgeoning hockey team, and more for the great people, gorgeous city and the crown jewel located between those other two places who just love being down on their luck. You know them better as Ohio and West Virginia.