Every town in
America has its own ways, its soul, and its voice. Portland has that
and is called too liberal by some, but a place of freedom by others. In
a country divided with words, these photos might tell the tale.
President of the United States, Barack Obama, has said
the United States lacks civility in its political discourse. Might
pictures speak better when words fail?.
But before the meat of the story, where those pictures just might count a
lot, here's a bit of an introduction for it. Digital Journal talked
with some fine folk who love Portland, some named and some not, to
properly introduce the good town. While folks in Washington ponder, and
folks are reported to think things are bad, what is life like in
Portland, in a town called too liberal by some?
Todd Ellis, a life-long Oregon man, who works throughout the city and
knows it quite well, says this about Portland, his town: "Indeed
Portland has its own identity. It is really independent and a place
where people like that. You can have a gay mayor, and no one will
worry; unless the guy did what our Mayor did and had an affair with a
minor, then hid it from the voters. Other than, folks are pretty
open-minded. You can be of any political party or group and get along.
People accept you, for the most part, in spite of all that."
This man is a college
graduate, speaks well, and does handy man work so well he's in high
demand. He's a native of Portland as well and works for colleges and
high schools also as an umpire for baseball several months of the year.
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A journalist then asked Mr. Ellis what type of things in Portland
just rise up and say, "Look, I'm Portland," to which the young man
replied:, "Mt Hood's view, the Pearl, a renovated warehouse district,
the light rail, the gardens, its parks, its protests and all. It's a
lot of small towns hooked together, with each piece able to care for its
own." Its downsides? Todd thought for awhile and responded, "Every
town has its downsides, and Portland's no different. It has
panhandlers, strip bars, bad neighborhoods and young girls hanging
around on corners Stuff like that. But Portland is far more than all
that."
A bus driver, originally from North Africa, lives in Portland near
Portland State University. He didn't wish to be named, as he told
Digital Journal his story on a journey to the Japanese gardens on the
hills above Portland. He agreed with Ellis about Portland. He said,
"Portland's been good for me." He explained, "It's a place of
opportunity and a place where folks get along. Then he smiled as this
journalist got off his bus and said, warmly, "I love Portland and so do
most people who live here. You might really like it too.."
This bus driver,
originally from North Africa, has lived in Portland, Oregon for 29 years
and loves it.
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Casual folks, as they spoke briefly with Digital Journal on their own
private journeys through town, declared for the young people it means
free expression. For older folks it's a place where a bus and a train
or a short walk allows independence for years and a way to continue to
explore and be part of Portland's great style.
But this little introduction must end right away because pictures might
say a lot more. And so with the prologue now ending, the true tale
begins from a Digital Journalist who rode the rails to reveal a day in
the life of a town. It is
where most people think folks of all backgrounds are valued,
Here is a group
consisting of people of Asian, African American, Spanish and other
ancestors eating happily together at a Portland eatery.
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where in spite of good roads and timed highway signals accidents happen
as well, just like everywhere else
Bad accidents can
happen like this, even on Portland roadways in spite of the light rail
for public use and timed stop and go signals during high traffic
periods.
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where small things are valued and people make do in hard times in their
neighborhood communities,
Cedar Mill community
library in the Portland area is a popular spot to hang out.
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where social agencies care about folks all over the world in the heart
of a very poor district,
This display is in the
headquarters of Mercy Corps in Portland, Oregon
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where folks celebrate seafood, since Oregon has much of the best
This eatery is in
downtown Portland in what borders on the slum district, where right on
nearby corners homeless people walk with their carts.
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where people will protest even in the rain
These people are
pro-life protestors protesting in the rain in Pionee Square in Portland
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where a woman can dress in a man's business suit and report the weather
on a flagship television station
Lynn Masterson dresses
in men's business suits, men's shirts and all, and reports the weather, a
different kind of look than most women on television news.
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where open spaces and animals live intimately with people,
People have horses
right on the hemline of Portland, and here's one of them.
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where walking and sidewalks are valued)
Portland has lots of
great places for walking. Here's one in Southwest Portland. It is high
on Jane's best list.
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where families are modern and mixed and diverse, and folks don't worry
about it or stare,
This is the kind of
mixed family people see everywhere in Portland, Oregon
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where possessions can say who you are
Slogans on this guitar
tell the story of who its owner is, which is what young people in
Portland do with what they wear and carry.
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where trees are honored and hugged as a symbol of love going green,
Portlanders love their
trees. Here's a picture looking out over the Japanese garden
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where now even people in good neighborhoods struggle and real estate
markets are down
Even folks in nice
neighborhoods like those near the Japanese gardens in Portland are
struggling with real estate these days.
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where many families never need cars and have options for getting around
Portland values its
light rail where families don't have to have cars.
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where creatively-designed houses give show to the original that Portland
enjoys
Stone house in
Portland, Oregon
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where beauty in roses and women combine in a Rose Festival. It speaks
of great beauty in Portland where certain traditions are honored in the
midst of political and social change.
Every year Portland
selects a Queen from Princesses at every high school to reign over
Portland's Rose Festival.
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where Mt. Hood remains the great symbol of a city that still loves a
view
Mt. Hood is a famous
place for skiing and the image often associated with Portland, Oregon
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and where its flagship park on top the Portland hills has a visitor
center that seems to beckon in the afternoon sun to some places now
shivering in snow with
its famous quotation, still used:. "Welcome to Portland, Oregon..
Visit, enjoy, but don't move here." And if buildings and trees and
beauty could speak, they might add, after a day's trip in Portland is
done,. " Did you enjoy the day and might like us after all?"
This building shines as
one of the beautiful images overlooking Portland, standing like a
citadel in its flagship park.
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