I'm sick and tired of people hating on my city and the area around it. During the news today, they did a story on a video making the rounds on youtube, with a song corresponding to it that was played on local radio, 100.7 WMMS, to be exact. The video? A song, a parody, "Parma State of Mind". The idea? Disrespect the city of Parma, Ohio, a decent suburb of Cleveland, that never hurt anybody. Half of the negative stuff they mention about Parma, doesn't even exist in Parma, it just comes off as ignorant. It all just makes me flashback to the Cleveland Tourism videos on youtube, another rude and distasteful expression of what Cleveland is, but to a much stronger extent.
People will call this stuff funny, they'll say I need to lighten up, that a video like this isn't to be taken too seriously. Those people are right to an extent, but it just drives me insane, with all the negative stuff Cleveland's been in the news for lately (most miserable list, bad weather list, Imperial Ave. murders, etc.). You would think Cleveland's own wouldn't shoot themselves in the foot like this either. I admit, it would be completely different in the area was in a better position than it is right now. In that case, jokes are acceptable, but I mean, come on people... we're the laughing stock of the country right now, a country down on its luck, too. Furthermore, WMMS has been a staple of Cleveland radio for years upon years, you would think they would respect their city when it needs it most, when its down. Its not a very classy act from them if you ask me.
Speaking of which, as I watched the video on youtube, I could have sworn I recognized the girl singing what would be the Alicia Keys parts of "Empire State of Mind". Considering I'm from the area, was it somebody I knew? Well, no it wasn't actually. I recognize her because she's on the current season of The Real World on MTV (perhaps a different post for a different day will by why I'm watching The Real World), which is a really odd association to make, but it gets better. Not only does she have no guilty conscience for her participation because she's originally from Chicago, a quick google of her name, Erika Lauren, leads to the discovery of the fact she faked the fact that she had cancer. Really classy people we're talking about here, huh?
Well, I'm just rambling, and its because I'm upset, but I'll end with this. If you're from Cleveland, and you happen to read this, feel free to give your take. Let me know how much you think I am overreacting, or if I really am. If you're not from Cleveland, I implore you to take the time, do the research, find out about our wonderful city (the Rock Hall, the sports teams, the museums, the orchestra, Playhouse Square, the Metroparks, etc.), then if you still want to take heed to jokes about us, do so, but at least then you'll realize they need to be taken with a grain of salt.
-Hype
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I'm right there with you bro. If people (particularly current residents) would appreciate the great things about Cleveland that exist now, they'd stick around and help improve it for the future. Instead we're suffering from a "brain drain" with all of our talent and great ideas flocking to other major metropolitan areas and sinking the city even deeper into the pits of America. It won't be long before we lose the Rock Hall, Science Center, all of it. And that's just terribly sad.
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