What of this rumor of Jacksonville's Inferiority Complex.

[ronchamblin]

The idea of a city having an inferiority complex is interesting.  I suspect that most cities have enough individuals within who would ascribe this facet of psychology to their city.

It's established that an individual can have an inferiority complex, but can a nation? ... a family ...  a university ...  a football team .... a city?  Surely the latter.  After all, it's simply a comparison of one thing to another; and if a city is perceived by some as inferior to another, why not call it an inferiority complex?

But if an individual's inferiority is centered in the psyche, where in a city could the perception and expression reside?  Who or what within the city is charged or able to feel or express the emotion?  Some might suggest that the idea of a city having an inferiority complex is nonsense simply because there is no psyche or center within the city to which the emotion can be applied.   

Apparently the mood or feeling associated with the complex surfaces in conversations ....  perhaps rising with seeming core desolation or stagnation, or perceived failures or losses, and declining during winning game runs, exciting events, eras of perceived progress, or with the occasional charismatic speech.

Perhaps originating with the occasional individual who feels that their city is inferior in significant ways to others, the idea can spread, the rumor surfacing occasionally in print or Internet.  Of course, there are many individuals who, by their nature, cannot find themselves remotely associated with the idea of inferiority, even if it relates to their city. 
 
In any case, perhaps the inferior/superior emotions compete below the radar ... and depending on the month, year, or decade, one or the other emerges to something approximating a consensus. 

Perhaps the spirit rises, overshadowing feelings of inferiority, when individuals, groups, or cities avoid the comforting but otherwise useless habits of wishing, hoping, or praying, and finally embark on journeys involving vision, leadership, sacrifice, dedication, and work -- all of which are necessary to force actual change or progress.  When a city's population perceives strong leadership or progress along a journey to the high goals -- feelings of inferiority are displaced by those of exhilaration, determination, confidence, and even glimpses of superiority. Vision, determination, and action will overcome failure, mediocrity, and stagnation - and thus any inferior feelings.  Strong leadership can expose to all the clear purpose ... and determined action can destroy obstructions to it.   

Although robust assets within the individual work to eliminate feelings of inferiority, the persistent memories of failure, and the pressure of habits long associated with inferiority, impedes progress to confidence and high spirits.  Cities have memories too.   

But what of a city?  What are its assets?  Certainly a city's assets lie not only in its natural infrastructure ... as in its climate, rivers, mountains, lakes, oceans, the trees, plants, and wildlife ... and not only in its man-made infrastructure, as in roads, bridges, architecture, history, and parks, but also in the responsiveness and fairness of its government, the quality and affordability of its schools and universities, the support of the arts, the strength of its economy, the number and size of its factories and industries, the number and quality of jobs available for all workers -- and certainly the fairness and effectiveness of its justice system .... including its police, prosecutors, courts, and jails ... and the care offered to those less endowed by fate, predicament, or ability as they attempt to survive economically.  Another measure of assets might be the success achieved by a city's government and its citizens as they confront conditions cultivating extreme differences in wealth and income within its population.
 
Out of the ethereal dance between these attributes and the soul of the people emerges moods, feelings, and perceptions of comfort, discomfort, superiority, inferiority, sadness, hope, exhilaration, determination, frustration, defeat ..... all of which, on any given day, sum within the individual -- and thus within the population -- to produce an overall agreement or mood about where and what we are as a city; what is our destination, and at what rate are we progressing along the journey to it.  The summation of inferior and superior feelings appears to cycle, perhaps over months or years, to settle for a spell at one or the other emotion.

It is difficult to  conceive of feelings of inferiority amongst a city's majority as long as there is good progress along a journey to worthy goals set clear for all to see -- a journey to achieve a better quality of life for the majority of citizens.  Not only can great leadership from the mayor and the city council, and other civic groups, provide focus to worthy and necessary goals, but they should and can ensure action to achieve them.  It is the latter; that is ... action and movement along the journey ... and not political rhetoric ... that overshadows and destroys rumors of inferiority. 

I suspect that, all the while, as some individuals contemplate and rumor the idea that our city possesses an inferiority complex, there are those who, by their mental structure and sense of purpose, have no time for it, but focus on journeys shaped by visions of excellence and the overall good for the majority of our citizens -- and they know that their visions are worthy of sacrifice and hard work.   
 
Because many citizens must give attention to survival in an often harsh capitalist system, they have little time, other than the occasional vote, to encourage the city's journey toward economic and cultural excellence; that is, toward an overall improvement of the quality of life for the majority -- which is, after all, the only worthwhile fundamental goal to which a city should strive.   

[Ocklawaha]

Ron, (BTW, hello friend) for me it's like a family of successful sisters.

The baby sister is a movie star, she has 10 films to her credit and the world follows her every move. They eat whatever she eats, dress however she dresses, and mimic her myriad of voices recalling various parts of her fantasy life that they identify with. She really does nothing to improve her community but donate a few hours a week keeping her 'City Beautiful,' and attracting another plane full of visitors who want to get in touch with her fantasyland.

Her slightly older sister is an international banker, as well known on Wall Street as she is on the Copacabana. She is known in the family not for her short-term relations but more for the lasting connections she has made with throughout las Américas. Real estate and finance is her game and the high rollers flock to her first and foremost with any new idea, business or industry.

Just older then the previous sister is one that retired early, some say she didn't even work for it, but the fact is after building a company or two with her husband in Delaware, he husband died and left her incredibly wealthy. She is content to live in beautiful mansions walking distance from 'Worth Avenue.'

The oldest sister has done some of all of the above, a one-time movie star, champion of banking and industry one could say she raised her siblings all by herself. A tough girl, she is no where near finished and is today dabbling in logistics, a match made in heaven. She seldom gains the attention of the world, and few know that without her the other three may never have amounted to anything. In my book she is the unsung heroine. There is NOTHING her younger sisters can do that she can't smile and quietly think to herself, "If it were not for me..."

You tell me which one is 'inferior!'

[ronchamblin]

Cool story Ock.  You've an accomplished family.  And really ... to me ... the word inferior would not be associated with either of them.  I suspect that all of us contend with measuring ourselves so that we can begin to know what and who we are.  Glad to see you are out of the hospital sir.    It was scary for a spell.

[finehoe]

The oldest sister has done some of all of the above, a one-time movie star, champion of banking and industry one could say she raised her siblings all by herself. A tough girl, she is no where near finished and is today dabbling in logistics, a match made in heaven. She seldom gains the attention of the world, and few know that without her the other three may never have amounted to anything. In my book she is the unsung heroine. There is NOTHING her younger sisters can do that she can't smile and quietly think to herself, "If it were not for me..."

True enough, but older sis has let herself go.  She needs to have some work done, her frocks are frayed at the edges and she's out of shape.  She needs to take some pride in herself, stop fretting over past mistakes and get back out there and knock 'em dead.

[TimmyB]

And then, along come people like me.  I never even KNEW the sister, back when she was whatever she was.  However, now that I've met her, I find her really attractive all on her own.  I don't know her history, I don't know of her other sister's successes; I only know that I really like her and want to spend a lot of time with her. 

I don't see any reason for her to even HAVE a complex, because to me, she looks like a winner through and through.

[The_Choose_1]

The oldest sister has done some of all of the above, a one-time movie star, champion of banking and industry one could say she raised her siblings all by herself. A tough girl, she is no where near finished and is today dabbling in logistics, a match made in heaven. She seldom gains the attention of the world, and few know that without her the other three may never have amounted to anything. In my book she is the unsung heroine. There is NOTHING her younger sisters can do that she can't smile and quietly think to herself, "If it were not for me..."

True enough, but older sis has let herself go.  She needs to have some work done, her frocks are frayed at the edges and she's out of shape.  She needs to take some pride in herself, stop fretting over past mistakes and get back out there and knock 'em dead.

You don't really know what a person really goes through unless you can walk in their shoes.