Building and Rebuilding Chicagoland

In my opinion, there is no better song to describe the Windy City than Gwyneth Paltrow's Country Strong (Yes, Gwyneth sang that song and she can REALLY SING): "I have weathered; Colder winters; Longer summers;Without a drop of rain; Push me in a corner; And I’ll come out fighting;I may lose but I ‘ll always keep my faith."

A sign showing the slogan "Building a New Chicago"

Chicago is a fighter, a very though one. It stands firmly in the strong wind on the shore of Lake Michigan with its skyscrapers spiraling from deep down the ground all the way up to the clear blue sky. Al Capone fought the prohibition law by running one of the most notorious gangs in American history. CM Punk fought his boss and everybody else to prove that he is the best wrestler in the world. In 2008, a Chicagoan named Barack Obama fought his way to the White House and became the very first African American president in United States history.

CTA Trains and Skyscrapers

Chicago had been  through some rough times lately due to the recession of 2008 and the declining of American manufacturing industry. Unemployment rate went up and many lost their homes and lifetime savings. In recent years, Chicago has also witnessed a rise in crime and the city was ranked by international media like the Huffington Post and the Telegraph as one of the most dangerous cities in America.

The Trump Hotel Tower

Still, all the bad things everyone else had been saying about Chicago did not quench my curiosity to discover the third largest metropolis in the United States (and where Metropolis in the Superman universe was based on). After all, my very first encounter with Chicago was through "Tintin in America". In the comic book the brave young Belgian reporter traveled to Chicago and the Midwest  region on a mission to expose Chicago's organized crime groups to the world. I have always admired and wanted to be Tintin- a fearless spirit who constantly pursues the truth.

The O'Hare Airport Subway Station

As I stepped out of the subway straight from O'Hare International Airport, I was amazed by this city immediately - trains and people traversed  amidst the lively concrete jungle. Because the air temperature was only 2 degrees Fahrenheit, you could clearly see the frozen Lake Michigan from the downtown area. What surprised me the most was how warm and friendly the Chicagoans are, considering Chicago is a city that has nearly 10 million residents. People would normally expect to see the so called "big city attitude" among big city citizens like one would encounter in places such as Paris, London, or New York. But in Chicago it was apparently not the case.

Entrance to the Magnificent Mile

Across the city, it wasn't hard to find signs saying "Building a New Chicago". The local and federal governments are well aware of what's going on in Chicago and has been put real efforts to make Chicago prosperous and desirable to live like it used to be. In downtown area you can easily spot city park improvement projects and new building and infrastructure constructions.

Looks like the statue has a vision as well

However, just like fighting doesn't guarantee winning, there is no guarantee that every single project the government invests tax dollars in will work. In cases like Detroit, the government  has been trying to revitalize its downtown core area for years. The result was rather one disappointment after another, and the city government itself even declared bankruptcy in 2013. The population of the greater Detroit area has been decreasing every single year, which shows that many Detroiters envisioned a very pessimistic future for the city and decided to leave for good.

John Hancock Center

But the truth is, if you never fight, you never get the chance to win. With the right techniques and the confidence that you can win, there is a far better chance of winning than just giving up. I believe with the right vision, proper plans, and everyone's confidence that everything is going to work, Chicago will become great again or maybe even greater. Making a mistake is how we learn new things and putting us on the right track, and people should never be thwarted or lose confidence because of mistakes. As long as everyone is willing to believe,  willing to learn from mistakes, and willing to make commitments, it gives cities like Chicago and Detroit a far better chance to reemerge as America's powerhouse once again.

Sears (Willis) Tower and the Chicago Skyline

I have faith in Chicago's bright future, because I saw Chicagoans' own faith in believing Chicago's bright future.  As the American economy turns better and thousands of overseas manufacturing jobs are returning to America, there is no doubt that Chicago will play a vital role in providing the grounds for factories and goods transportation - because those were what Chicago was good at. If you ever wonder why the giant is lying down, it's not because he is weak or dead. The giant is merely taking a nap to refresh himself, and he's about to wake up.

The Cloud Gate at the Millennium Park