One of the main reasons people come to NYC, stay in NYC and like NYC is because it's one of the places in the US where a large number of people share a common value system built on the celebration of diversity and the power we derive and joy we find in living together not just tolerating but actively seeking out people who see the world differently. THIS is how you learn.

Finding the way to do this without compromising any of these individual identities.

It's been really "interesting" to see that there are people who find this whole project not just naive and idealistic, but that there are people that are basically disgusted that it's happening at all. Even if they don't have to ride on the subway car where you can find 16 different religions and 25 different languages. Even if no one is forcing them to participate but they can't abide that somewhere people are trying to live like this.

To them I say "bite me."

And obviously it's not something everyone in NYC buys into, but it's a pretty big deal for a lot of us.

And I think people underestimate how important this is for the kind of people who make their way to this city.

How much it makes it *home*

It's been really "interesting" to see that there are people who find this whole project not just naive and idealistic, but that there are people that are basically disgusted that it's happening at all. Even if they don't have to ride on the subway car where you can find 16 different religions and 25 different languages. Even if no one is forcing them to participate but they can't abide that somewhere people are trying to live like this.

To them I say "bite me."

@futurebird those who benefit from racial-/caste-based power structures feel threatened by the very existence of pluralistic society. Even within NYC you can see how people from more homogenous areas shy away pluralism:

@futurebird those who benefit from racial-/caste-based power structures feel threatened by the very existence of pluralistic society. Even within NYC you can see how people from more homogenous areas shy away pluralism:

I could have a much bigger house if I moved to some other city. But, I'd never "fit in" like I do here or in the other cities, and communities that are like this (NYC isn't the only one, but it's the largest one where English is one of the main languages.)

And it's not just about religion or ethnicity... it's something that people who know what it's like to NOT fit in will seek out. It's the whole point in many ways.

@futurebird I used to think the same thing before I moved to St. Louis. The tornados are terrifying, but I pay $725/m for an enormous 1 br apt. The neighborhood is gorgeous, I love my neighbors, and my job is stable. The public transportation system is the worst I've ever seen tho. That's the one thing I really miss from NYC. You'll find a lot of the same diversity here, which I love.

Here's the thing: The sense of belonging has nothing to do with other people; they're the same everywhere. That's a reflection of our own energy. I know people don't like to hear this, but it's true. We can "fit in" anywhere we get used to. There are more nazis in NYC than people know.

I want better for my hometown, but it isn't affordable, and it isn't safe right now. I'm currently working with my nibbling to build a bug out bag and get them here by train because ICE has a 2,000 capture per day quota, and if they can traffic a 5 year old US citizen with cancer, they'll traffic any brown body they see.