Imagine a situation. You're out with some friends, having a good time and meeting some new people when suddenly, someone asks where you're from. You smile, turn to them and proudly say, "Chicago!" knowing fully well that you are, in fact, from Naperville.
I can understand why people would say they are from Chicago, because to out-of-towners, the only thing the entire state of Illinois has is Chicago and hundreds of corn fields. If you tell them you're from Barrington, they probably won't have any idea where that is, so saying Chicago is easier. But is it really that hard for you to just say you are from a suburb of Chicago? It's 2017, I am fairly certain people are aware of the concept of suburbs.
The fact is, unless you live in Chicago, you really have no idea what we, Chicago natives, go through daily. If you don't want to take the same amount of responsibilities as Chicagoans, then stop claiming it as "your city"! Just because you walked to Millennium Park from Union Station, then went to the beach via Michigan Avenue, doesn't mean you know the city like the back of your hand.
One of the biggest burdens Chicago citizens have to deal with is a 10.25% tax rate on all purchases, compared to the rest of Illinois, which is a 6.25% tax rate. Oh, and don't forget the newly introduced beverage tax that applies to every drink that has been artificially sweetened, which is $.01 per ounce.
That may not seem like a lot, but take AriZona tea for example. In the suburbs, it would cost around $1.07. In the city, it would cost around $1.33. These changes really do make a difference, and I highly doubt it's something someone in the suburbs would like to trade up for.
Not only do we have to pay ridiculous taxes, but we also have to deal with corrupt politicians, underfunded schools, and institutional racism. I'm sorry, but when is the last time your suburb had a pension debt of over $20 billion dollars? When is the last time your schools had to shut down for days or weeks because of teacher shortages, strikes due to unfair work conditions and lack of budgets, and limited to almost no funding going towards education?
When is the last time you had to apply to high schools an hour across the city because the one in your neighborhood doesn't have any funding but you really care about your education? When was the last time someone came into your neighborhood and joked about staying inside for fear of gang members and getting shot, even though you know that your neighborhood is safe?
Despite all the flaws our city may have, the pride within its citizens is stronger than any city in the country. Our city has a culture of its own, which is why you'll see many people with variations of the Chicago flag tattoo - we love Chicago and are extremely proud to live in such a diverse, progressive city. This is why when a random suburbanite claims they "run the streets" in the city, we can't help but get frustrated at the fact that they have no idea what they're talking about.
If you have no idea how the L works, don't say you're from Chicago. If you can't tell me the difference between Hubbard and Northside, don't say you're from Chicago. If you have no idea where the Loop is, don't say you're from Chicago. If you can't distinguish Lincoln Park and Garfield Park on a map, don't say you're from Chicago. If you think going to the Bean, Water Tower Place and North Avenue Beach is the best day ever, don't say you're from Chicago. If you have no idea what Pilsen is, don't say you're from Chicago. If you've never dealt with men asking for donations to a youth basketball team, don't say you're from Chicago. If you have no idea what mild sauce is, don't say you're from Chicago. If you think downtown is the best part of the city, don't say you're from Chicago.
If your address does not have the word "Chicago" in it, please, just don't say you're from Chicago.
