I am responding to Tommy Maple's column, "Philly no friend of man's best friend," in Thursday's Alligator. I am an out-of-state freshman from Philadelphia. Actually I am from South Philly, so although I should have "at least two emotional and psychological disabilities," I sincerely hope you take what I am about to say into consideration.
When I first saw a column about Philly and man's best friend, I assumed it would just focus on the issue of Michael Vick being signed to the Eagles. However, once I started reading I saw that animal cruelty issues were being used as a vehicle to degrade and stereotype the people from the city I call home.
As in most cities, there are parts that I would rather not go to that are known for being notoriously unsafe and infested with illegal activity. However, there are many parts of Philly-even South Philly-that are beautiful and inhabited by professional, upper-class people who are devoid of any heroin addiction. I don't know if you have ever been to Philly, but frankly I don't care.
Being someone who clearly has a lot more knowledge about Philadelphia and city life in general, I feel as though somehow my opinions on the matter are a lot more valid than yours. I was born and raised in South Philly, and yes, the people there might be a little loud and maybe enjoy their Italian food too much, but I have never met more hospitable and beautiful people than those I have been surrounded with my whole life. Of course, Philadelphia has had its moments we would like to forget (the Santa Claus incident), but growing up there has made me so much more diverse and appreciate things outside of my comfort zone.
Philadelphia is an epicenter of ethnic communities. South Philly is known for its Italian and Irish influences, the northeast for its Irish heritage and west and north Philly for their African-American communities. To grow up in this city, I had to adjust to knowing people that think, look and act differently than I do.
Coming to Florida this summer, I saw a complete difference in the people here and the way of life, not that this is necessarily a bad thing. However, while all the other freshmen barely knew how to cross at a sidewalk without getting hit by a bicycle or were lost on campus, I was fine. Living in the city you seem to despise has put me at an advantage compared to the other kids who are also on their own for the first time. And as far as being dirty goes, have you ever been in New York City? What about Baltimore? Los Angeles? I shouldn't be asking this question because if you had ever spent a substantial amount of time in a city, you would know that homeless people, dirty sidewalks and drugs come with the territory.
Honestly, the thing that really sent me over the edge while reading your article was the way you grouped all Philadelphians into some degenerate, uneducated, life-hating population. How can you say that a city with the No. 1 children's hospital, two of the nation's top hospitals and an Ivy League school is filled with drug addicts? For some reason, I doubt that the doctors at Jefferson or the students at the University of Pennsylvania fit that description.
To say that the people of Philadelphia, or "Filthadelphia," if you will, are inhospitable "to decent human life," is one of the most disrespectful things I have ever heard. What about the three Philadelphia police officers who lost their lives in the line of duty this past year? Were they not advocates for human rights? It is a disgrace to group all Philadelphians in the way that you did when so many have done so much for the people around them. What about all the strides the city has made with gay rights? Philadelphia has one of the largest gay communities in the country, with a whole section in Center City that has gay pride emblems on the street signs because of its large LGBTQ population.
I realize this rebuttal might seem a bit lengthy and you may even think I'm taking your column too personally, but that's because I come from a city people are proud to live in.
As a popular saying goes in South Philly: If you mess with someone I love, you mess with me too. I'm sorry to tell you this Mr. Maple, but you have indeed messed with someone I love.
Do not get me wrong, I love UF and the people I have met here are wonderful, but if it came down to Gainesville or Philadelphia, you can keep Florida.
Kaitlyn E. Flynn is an out-of-state UF freshman from Philadelphia.
