Letters: Columbus should stop 'the anxiety-ridden quest for a brand'
Stop the anxiety-ridden quest for a brand
It’s fascinating to note how, prior to “marketing” and “branding” becoming the self-conscious goals of countless public and private organizations and individuals, cities developed identities and nicknames organically.
Nicknames—for cities, time periods, geographic areas, sports teams, corporations and, yes, individuals—aren’t created by the things or people described. References to “The Big Apple”, “The Windy City," “Music City," “The Big Easy," “Sin City" and “Hotlanta” emerged from innate characteristics in each municipality.
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These descriptions came from appraisals by observers of each city’s culture, not from brainstorming sessions in public relations incubators or mayor’s offices.
It’s way past time for Columbus to cast off its self-imposed identity/inferiority complex and stop its anxiety-ridden quest for a “brand.”
Branding is a form of permanent scarring.
Steve Abbott, Columbus
No cows here
While some are discussing the identity of Columbus, it has been quietly being built and is right under our noses. We are a leader in Science, Medicine, and Technology.
Examples follow.
Science: International database building and research (Chemical Abstracts and its registration of 204M chemical substances, Battelle an R&D giant, COSI bringing science to families, and Ohio State University with research being led by the best researchers in the world. The university does more than play football.
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Medicine: Nationwide Children's Hospital with its pioneering bloodless surgery, emphasis on mental health, and Adult Congenital Heart Care; James Cancer Center; McConnell Heart Health Center
Technology: Future silicon chip builder of America (Intel USA), Google, Facebook, and Amazon data centers and warehouses
No more Cowtown. Columbus is a smart city, pioneering efforts in science, medicine and technology. Columbus' identity is Science City.
Kathy Vikre, Grove City
Where the rivers run through
In seeking comments regarding the city of Columbus and its identity may I suggest we think of Columbus as a city where "the rivers run through?"
The Scioto and Olentangy rivers have a real presence and significance in Columbus.
As a 2022 column by Ed Lentz noted, "Native Americans have been living at the forks of the Scioto and Olentangy rivers for hundreds of years. The historic Wyandot, Shawnee, and Delaware people lived here after the mound builders."
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The City Where the Rivers run Through allows residents and visitors alike to identify with the historic and current importance of these waterways.
As Columbus continues to grow and build the presence of the Scioto and Olentangy rivers reminds us of the draw this area had for ancient and modern peoples alike.
John Seryak, Reynoldsburg
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Warm and accepting
Columbus’ identity is in a word: “comfortable."
It’s an easy city to live in, few hassles, with a good (not great, but good) quality of life. It’s affordable which allows you to go to truly great cities and areas on vacation. Great dining, good colleges, adequate shopping. Generally warm and accepting people.
No idea
Re "Columbus is a lot of things, say readers," May 7: I vote for the Columbus slogan to be what one quote in your paper said - "Columbus - I had no idea."
Jeff McCullough, Pickerington
Columbus Conversation
Opinion and Community Engagement Editor Amelia Robinson will host a conversation between locally known drag queens and kings at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 16.
Columbus Dispatch presents Columbus Conversations: Why Drag? is the latest in our live and/or digital series of discussions of topics important to this community.
Drag performers have found themselves in the crosshairs of the ongoing culture war being fought here and around the state and nation. The free community forum will shed light on the world of drag.
The conversation will be streamed on Dispatch.com and on the newspaper's Facebook page and YouTube channel. You'll be able to view the discussion online following the event.
Questions for the panelists? Send them to me in an email: AmeliaRobinson@Dispatch.com.
Where is critical thinking
Because throwing a tantrum is unseemly for an 88-year-old person, I will vent by letter.
As a woke, liberal, elderly woman, I am sick at heart over the state of our country.
The conservatives are committed to controlling our votes, our bodies, and our minds. This is a party that used to promote small government - now they are expanding government to take over everything good that this country represents.
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For example, Republicans have worked for many years to destroy public education, encouraging support of private schools with public funds. Our governor believes he knows more about education than educators and is requiring one style of reading instruction.
In addition, he is forcing a board member from STRS, in order to place his conservative choice on the board. Don’t let me get started on the bill to dictate what universities can and cannot do.
It is no wonder we have such a willfully ignorant (not stupid) population. It is so easy to find information today, but many rely on social networks rather than legitimate sources. Critical thinking is being eliminated at all levels.
We recognize authoritarianism
The anti-abortion movement and the attacks on health of LGBTQ persons are cruel and evil. Plus, it is just fine for all kinds of guns to flow into everyone’s hands because of big money.
Those of us who have witnessed history (WWI, II, Korea, Vietnam, etc.) recognize that authoritarianism is being encouraged by some Republicans.
If you study Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin, Tojo, and other despots, you will see the similarities to the current efforts in our state and country. There are just so many things going wrong that it is hard to absorb.
My stomach hurts!
Linda Mercer, Worthington
Compost food scraps
International Compost Awareness Week was May 7-13 offering an opportunity to highlight the importance of compost for closing the loop and reducing waste, a driving goal of SWACO’s.
There is no waste in nature.
Outputs from any one process are inputs to another. Unfortunately, human practices are less efficient. In Franklin County, a million pounds of food waste is brought to the landfill daily. When food is landfilled, all the resources that went into producing those products are wasted; the remaining nutrients are forever lost as they exit the natural system, never to be returned to grow nutritious food or beautiful blooms.
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Reducing food waste by understanding food date labels or learning how to best store different foods are practices anyone can implement to reduce waste and save money. However, even those most dedicated to zero waste will inevitably be left with inedible scraps.
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By composting food scraps, a nutrient-rich amendment is produced. While most people know that compost provides a boost of nutrients to the soil, many are not aware that it also improves the soil’s ability to retain moisture and nutrients while reducing erosion and compaction. Whether your concern is with flooding in the neighborhood or the algae blooms in a favorite lake, compost is one of the few truly sustainable pathways to addressing both of these issues.
For those interested in reducing food waste, be it through composting or better food storage, SaveMoreThanFood.org has resources to guide the way.
Jane Boehm, Food Waste Programs Administrator, Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio
Hugó Trux, Upper Arlington
Don't say Da
I had a wonderful time at the Columbus Symphony this weekend as they finished up their Winter Festival programming this season. I have never heard them sound better.
Formerly referred to as the "Russian Winter Festival" a friend asked me if they changed the name because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Probably so.
I don't think it made much of a difference for the patrons who were there and got to listen to Ilyich Tchaikovsky's 5th symphony, a lovely piece by Modest Mussorgsky, and Sergei Rachmaninoff's magnificent second piano concerto, performed by a talented young Chinese soloist, who received a rousing standing ovation and played a wonderful encore as well.
The culture wars which are being waged across this country are leaving us all the poorer for them.
Perhaps Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will prevent schools in that state from playing Russian music in his "Don't say D'" legislation which we can expect sometime soon.
Syd Lifshin, Columbus
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: What is Columbus known for? What is its identity?
