Growing up in the outskirts of Chicago, I have been exposed to the reality of our city and the perceptions outsiders frequently have of it. If you ask someone to name the first word that comes to their mind when they think of Chicago, you would probably hear, 'crime', 'gangster', or 'Chiraq'. I can't help but feeling disappointed in people's utter assumptions of a place they probably know very little about. Yes, Chicago does have gang violence and organized crime, but it is also a center for business and culture and beauty. I think society as a whole has a morbid fascination with the terrible things that happens in the world. Maybe it's because we are happy it didn't happen to us, or maybe because there is always some sort of mystery in crime and we want to know why. I can't be sure, but I believe Chicago is the epitome of those targeted speculations.
My time spent with exchange students has really shown me how far the idea of Chiraq reaches the world. The only things they are taught is that it is a hot spot for gangbangers and murder. That is extremely unfortunate because they are missing the opportunity to learn about all of the amazing and positive things CHICAGO has to offer. And even though I have not directly experienced the violence that some Chicagoans have suffered, I can still empathize with pain they have seen in their lives. Growing up in Oak Park has not blinded my view of what is happening 10 miles east of my house. I also understand that those terrible acts is not what defines the city. The world is an imperfect place, and sadly bad things will always happen, but I hope education and open communication will show that there is much more beneath the battered surface.
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