- Joined
- Aug 24, 2003
- Posts
- 2,379
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- Location
- Sydney
- AFL Club
- Sydney
- Other Teams
- Everton FC, Parra Eels
Although I don't come from Liverpool and don't have any connection to the city, my support of Everton FC has meant an unavoidable attatchment to the city and to its people.
And it's that attatchment that has made me appreciate so many things in life a lot more, because you get to learn a lot more about things such as a sense of family and community, and stoicism in face of adversity. It's these things that strengthen communities more than anything, and never has the need for such been so needed as it is now.
The tragedy is that many people, in England and beyond, have over the years been given a negative perception of the city of Liverpool and of the people that come from there, and it's something Scousers have often had to face when leaving their beloved city. Part of the reason for these negative perceptions is the results of socio-economic hardships wrought on the city over the years as its once strong industries went into decline. This has resulted in a Scouse diaspora which stretches to the four corners of the globe.
The unfortunate jokes about hubcaps, the dole cheats, drug dealers, striking workers, rioters (Toxeth, 1982)... have all helped to create this negative and in many ways undeserved perception. Undeserved, because many towns in England and beyond have been just as bad and in many cases WORSE in this respect, and often people need to look at their own backyard.
And even so far away, Scousers have maintained an attatchment to their city and community like I've seen from few others. Looking at Liverpool today, it is indeed heartening to see the gradual regeneration of a much-maligned city.
And yet, what we see, is that out of this the city of Liverpool has wrought something beautiful. Few cities if any can claim to make such an enduring contribution to the things that we love so much in life. The city has two cathederals, two football clubs, some lovely historic buildings, theatres, art galleries and one of the most celebrated music scenes of all. Liverpool is nothing to be ashamed of- it is a city whose enduring accomplishments are to be cherished and celebrated by all.
The sense of community shown by many of my scouse friends, and the attatchment to their home even after many years away, is simply incredible. My time with them has given me a very different outlook on things than what I used to have, and for this I'll always be grateful because it's made me all the more determined to maintain such a spirit where I live at this moment.
And it's that attatchment that has made me appreciate so many things in life a lot more, because you get to learn a lot more about things such as a sense of family and community, and stoicism in face of adversity. It's these things that strengthen communities more than anything, and never has the need for such been so needed as it is now.
The tragedy is that many people, in England and beyond, have over the years been given a negative perception of the city of Liverpool and of the people that come from there, and it's something Scousers have often had to face when leaving their beloved city. Part of the reason for these negative perceptions is the results of socio-economic hardships wrought on the city over the years as its once strong industries went into decline. This has resulted in a Scouse diaspora which stretches to the four corners of the globe.
The unfortunate jokes about hubcaps, the dole cheats, drug dealers, striking workers, rioters (Toxeth, 1982)... have all helped to create this negative and in many ways undeserved perception. Undeserved, because many towns in England and beyond have been just as bad and in many cases WORSE in this respect, and often people need to look at their own backyard.
And even so far away, Scousers have maintained an attatchment to their city and community like I've seen from few others. Looking at Liverpool today, it is indeed heartening to see the gradual regeneration of a much-maligned city.
And yet, what we see, is that out of this the city of Liverpool has wrought something beautiful. Few cities if any can claim to make such an enduring contribution to the things that we love so much in life. The city has two cathederals, two football clubs, some lovely historic buildings, theatres, art galleries and one of the most celebrated music scenes of all. Liverpool is nothing to be ashamed of- it is a city whose enduring accomplishments are to be cherished and celebrated by all.
The sense of community shown by many of my scouse friends, and the attatchment to their home even after many years away, is simply incredible. My time with them has given me a very different outlook on things than what I used to have, and for this I'll always be grateful because it's made me all the more determined to maintain such a spirit where I live at this moment.
but so what, it's all so good-natured once you dig deep enough.
