Written by Malia Benison
My unpopular opinion resides in the fact that I am a sensitive woman, conscious of every term’s weight. More specifically speaking, when people casually throw around the nickname “Chiraq” when mentioning Chicago, I feel my face twist up into a look of crossed confusion and anger.
After initially hearing it, I’m caught up in the distasteful combination of the war zone, Iraq, and the nation’s third largest city, Chicago, being morphed into one single word.
As if this wasn’t enough of a bad apple to bite into, I brace myself for the poor humor and negative trail that will likewise follow up with it’s (unwanted) arrival. After processing everything all within that same split moment, I begin to question: why is it that we use this word as a means to mock and smoothly sugar coat over the fact that Chicago struggles with some of the highest crime and murder rates?
To get slightly matter-of-fact here, and quite frankly, bluntly realistic, as of 2015, 1,605 people were shot in Chicago. The statistics of this are completed up to date, so really allow that number to sink in as we also comprehend that this is only the month of August. If society believes this is something to highlight in a jokingly and enlightening manner, then clearly we need some help. Gun violence is a serious matter and the whole motto of “taking a joke” doesn’t really apply here because if that was your brother or sister.. where would you then stand? There is a time and a place to learn when to crack a joke or make a pun. Hanging around a group where you can appropriately kid around (respectively and consciously) is much different from blasting this term in and out of every day conversation and social media. The consistency of recycling this word is ultimately desensitizing the harsh and true violence that happens in Chicago. It recognizes the issue at hand, but in the same breath, it also creates a warm, safe space for the reality to become a common phrase that we note. And by all means, this situation has no need to be lessened in severity.
The comparison in this word is enough to leave a sour taste on my tongue and the impact is all the more bitter. As you’ve heard a million times before, please, and I mean please be careful of the words you repeat. The outcome is so much more than we can take in, so leave room for a positive light and opportunity of change.
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