Sameness Virus

I have traveled all over the USA and in much of the rest of the world; we have infected the world with a virus that plagues the USA right now. All of our larger cities and towns look exactly alike. Fargo looks like Bismarck. Bloomington looks like Wichita, so does Little Rock, Spokane, Sioux Falls, Pittsburgh, Cleveland etcetera ad infinitum. Every mid-sized town in America looks exactly like it’s counterpart size-wise in North Dakota. I would hazard a guess that you could blindfold anyone, helicopter someone into the business district of any of these towns and that person wouldn’t have a clue where he is. He might not even know he left the town he was in.

Oh they all take a shot at creating some uniqueness. They all try to have an attraction or two that are exceptional. But, alas, to no good effect.

But, for the most part its McDonalds, KFC, Comfort Suites, Lowes, The Gap, Kohls, Bennigans, and so on. The sameness is slightly offset by any preservation of historic buildings built before the sameness virus set in. When I lived in Fargo Moorhead in the early 60s, the most interesting part of town was “Downtown”. Particularly Moorhead. It was seedy, fragmented, a little ragged, but unique, interesting and full of soul and character. It had a soul with a history that was just a little naughty. It was NOT the same as everywhere else.

Then, those who knew better ripped the soul out of these downtowns, replacing it with more sameness. They are prettier, cleaner, bland and empty today. The answer towns have now is tear down the old sameness and replace it with new sameness. Where are the creative architects of today? Astonish us. Make me go oooooo. Stop boring us with derivative glass.

I say all that to say this. In any state, particularly in North Dakota, the real interest is the uniqueness of the countryside and the uniqueness of the buildings left from the creative times of the late 1800’s thru the mid 1930’s. The uniqueness of the open country with features and character that only a person who grew up here can appreciate. And when pointed out to others can cause them to say WOW.

As the quest to find new ways to reach out to new people to come to North Dakota proceeds it will require ways to showcase the outdoor benefits of the state. Take a look at the attitudes that have to change to do this. When it comes to making the state inviting we have seen the enemy and he is us. Check out this outdoors post below. Inviting isn't it?

http://www.nodakoutdoors.com/members/phpBB/viewtopic.php?p=78266