In Praise of Baltimore
A response to the racial attacks against an American city and one of its leaders.
The great city of Baltimore, Maryland is in the news this weekend, thanks to the latest iteration of hateful comments from America’s racist-in-chief.
(I trust you know of whom I speak. I utterly loathe our so-called president and try as hard as possible not to say, write or even think his name. Nor will I repeat his despicable vitriol here. You can easily find the quotes in the link above, or elsewhere on the internet, if you’re so inclined.)
But because we have many international readers here on Medium — and because I know what it’s like when someone who has no clue about your city feels compelled to denigrate it — I wanted to take a moment to give a shout out to Baltimore.
I don’t pretend to know Baltimore well. Indeed, my only experiences mirror that of many visitors and are limited to the Inner Harbor, a vibrant seaport and tourist attraction featuring restaurants (my favorite is Phillip’s Seafood) and shops.
Nearly a decade ago, our family took occasional weekend trips to ballparks within a few hours drive to take in some Yankees games. (Yes, we’re originally from Philadelphia, currently live in Pittsburgh, and are New York Yankees fans. That’s a subject for a whole different post.)
One such trip was to Camden Yards in Baltimore when the Orioles were hosting the Yankees. Everyone was decked out in sports attire and the Inner Harbor was a sea of people. The atmosphere practically vibrated with excitement. In addition to the games, we enjoyed some time at the National Aquarium. Outings like this one were — and still are — a rarity for our family and that autumn weekend in Baltimore remains one of our most memorable trips.
That same year I attended an international conference in Baltimore where the highlight was theologian and anti-apartheid and human rights activist Archbishop Desmond Tutu as our keynote speaker. As one might imagine, he was mesmerizing. To be in the same room as this powerful and inspiring leader was an experience I’ll never forget.
These Baltimore memories — and a few others (again, potential fodder for future posts) — are the reason Charm City holds a fond place in my heart. I know there is much, much…
