The Politics of Place

“Life is made up of small comings and goings. And for everything we take with us, there is something that we leave behind . . .” Hermie, ‘Summer of 42’

There is something nostalgic about returning to your hometown. If during childhood we live in a single place long enough, that geography will stamp itself into our brains. The city of my youth has done well economically over the years. The population is more diverse. It is safe, clean, and the trees, planted when I was young, are mature and stately. I check out my old home just to see if the people who now own it are taking care of it. I always go past the bowling alley where I hung out with my brothers during Saturday morning leagues. Our McDonald’s has the original Golden Arches. Inevitably, I stop at the local Sanders Ice Cream store for a sundae. Before I return to my current home, I drive past my high school.

In 11th grade, I had a great civics teacher, but I never really put together the connection between local, state, and national government. I think I just assumed that the people who cared enough to be in charge, like my teachers, would do the right thing and make the right decisions for all of us all the time. I realize it was extremely naive to think there was a consensus on what the right thing should be.

Place gives us identity. Definition. Not just by its physical characteristics, but by the…