The main question we want you to address is: What do you think and feel about Muncie?
Honestly, my opinions about Muncie haven’t been leaning to the positive side since the whole election of 2016.
- How long have you lived here? If you were not born here, indicate where you came from and why.
I think I used to have a more positive outlook for Muncie and saw a lot less ugliness here than I presently do. You see, I was born in Muncie 46 years ago. I was raised on the south end of town where all of my friends had family from down south, from Kentucky or Tennessee. I was the only kid I knew who had NO relatives from there. Specifically, Dad was from another country, so I was a bit of an oddity at school. But, I had lots of friends to play with and we seldom discussed anything more heavy than where our dad’s worked and whose Dad had the best job. Mine was unemployed most of my childhood, so I had little input on this subject– he certainly did NOT have the best job, but he was a good dad to me and the other kids enjoyed him, too. We never discussed anything political, so I had no inkling as to what any of these kids might think about issues that we now discuss as adults.
But then 2016 happened. And I started hearing how these former childhood friends felt about issues in the news. And it was unsettling. I didn’t agree with so many of them. I started feeling pretty sure of my opinions being in the minority. It was hard to find people who voiced opinions that were similar to mine. I started unfriending a lot of these folks on Facebook because comments about immigrants and such were starting to really kick me in the gut. My Dad was an immigrant. His skin is white and he was never illegal; he moved here and legally worked until he was eligible for citizenship, then became a citizen, but still, I was hearing hateful comments coming from people I once played with. Such things like how we should be limiting immigrants from all countries, we have enough people here. Did they hate my Dad? I was the first female of this lineage born in the US… Was *I* not wanted here, either? It was depressing and creepy to know what people felt inside.
2016 made me want to move away from IN. I always knew we voted with the red states and that frustrated me a bit each election, but I never felt like I needed to move away after either of the Bushes won. You know, I grew up with Reagan in the White House. He did some great things. “Mr. Gorbachev,TEAR DOWN THIS WALL!” — that was cool! But, WHOA. 2016. That was different. Election night: It is like we were looking forward to having the damned election behind us, and Lady Liberty hitched up her skirts then said “Hold my Beer!”
- Are you happy with where you live? Do you feel like you belong?
Yeah, I don’t belong here. I don’t care to stay here, but I AM here. These days, I have reached out to fellow Muncie people who felt just as lost after the election. At first, I tried to join a local resistance group, but my homebodiness won over my activism. I loved that they were energized and had action plans, but I knew I really couldn’t change anyone’s opinion on political issues, so instead of continuing to attend meetings, why not just snuggle with doggies at home? I would do my duty and call my Representatives and Senators and voice my opinion, but I really could not change anyone else’s opinions. Muncie bleeds red. I can’t change that.
- Do you expect to stay here for long? What are or will be some of the considerations in deciding how long you stay here?
I wish I could leave Muncie, but family ties keep me here. I look forward to possibly being able to “escape” as I call it in my head, to a more blue-blooded town or state. Parental responsibilities run deep. They share my political leanings or it ~might~ be easier to just pack up and leave them, too! Ha!
- How would you describe Muncie to someone who has never been here? What are its most distinctive characteristics?
I certainly do not recommend visiting Muncie to anyone that I might meet from elsewhere. “Don’t ever bother to visit … it will only disappoint you.” Whereas, in the past, I may have been able to recommend BSU, or the Greenway trail or Minnetrista Cultural Center. Yes, those institutions still exist, but I feel like they are contaminated by this gruesome Red State kind of shadow. And don’t even get me started on the local Democratic officials who have been investigated by the FBI. That is so discouraging as well. And just feeds the red blooded people who already hated Democrats with such passion. It results in anyone who votes as a Democrat as being ostracized. It feels pretty horrible to be in such a minority. I try to swing my votes for the Dems who are not part of the local group and of the dissident persuasion.
- Do you think the ways other people think about Muncie are the same ways you think about it? How do you your thoughts and feelings about Muncie differ from its public image (from media or word-of-mouth around the state and beyond)?
I used to feel more hopeful about Indiana’s future, and somewhat for Muncie’s. It seemed like we had made good strides with downtown redevelopment and creating space for cultural centers like Cornerstone Center for the Arts, etc. But, we have lost SO many jobs and when there are fewer jobs, people move. People can’t afford to live where their jobs have left. It is sad to see so many empty, dilapidated homes and businesses just rotting away. It is horribly depressing. And there are homes like this in every neighborhood, not just the “good ones”.
- What are your feelings about Muncie’s future? What are your hopes for Muncie? How do you expect Muncie will fare in the years ahead? What changes do you expect?
Today, I feel more desperate for the future of Muncie. What kind of industry will replace the manufacturing industry that has trickled away? What kinds of futures do the kids have here? What jobs will they have available? Also, I hear neighborhood kids spout off things their parents have said. Like real political opinions that were not anything I would have given a dangdarn about as a kid. It makes me feel like there will be no real deep changes. Just more pretty-fying of the city. We will pave roads and paint murals and plant flowers, but I still know that there are some very seriously unsettling opinions shouted out behind most of the windows of the homes here. it doesn’t feel good. I hope I’m not here to see it get worse.