Assignment 3 - Thomas Noll

      Embarrassingly, I have only twice had the opportunity to venture beyond the eastern bible belt and the general mono-culture of this region. The first was a trip to Washington DC as my brother took NHD to nationals, the second to New York City for two days last spring. I must admit that Lexington serves many of the same amenities as these larger cities, but it is impossible not to contrast the crowded and vibrant streets of Manhattan with the smaller, more isolated towns that (while also present in the north) seem to best display the atmosphere of the south.
      Culture through much of the south is incredibly homogeneous. This inst necessary a bad thing, it simply puts and emphasis on small communities, local churches and neighborhoods, and an incredible display of generosity toward like-minded individuals. The cities however, had no such tightness among its citizens. Simply by concentrated population, a swath of different cultures have to coexist all atop each other. This is what struck me most about New York, you could walk only three blocks and pass through four or five distinct demographic populations. For once in my life I was not the public majority, and I realized at that moment why cities tend to vote more liberally.
      Even in my brief taste of larger cities, I learned that is the atmosphere I prefer. While I respect the attractiveness and familiar nature of the south, i'm left craving for more variety. It is impossible to stick to one way of thought, one ideology when exposed to such a colorful array of ideas and people. I want my ideas to be challenged so that I can decide if they are worth having, to pool together the values of many different people. And most importantly, I want to need only to walk down the street to get a cannoli.