Monday, January 11, 1999
Los Angeles has substance
if you know where to look
CITY: East Coast snobs draw wrong conclusions by observing
Hollywood
By Daniel J. O’Connell
As a lifelong resident of Los Angeles and third generation
graduate of UCLA, I am compelled to respond to the shallow and
thoroughly immature perspective expressed by columnist Stephanie
Pfeffer in "Flee from the bright lights of Los Angeles" (Viewpoint,
Dec. 7).
Proclaiming that Los Angeles has no "guts" and "lacks
substance," Pfeffer’s viewpoint is little more than an overused
cliche, an unimaginative East Coast thesis on life in Southern
California. Like so many other disgruntled East Coast transplants
before her, Pfeffer has come here for a variety of personal
reasons, only to bide her time by vocally criticizing the city and
its people, but staying nonetheless. Like the other malcontents
before her, Pfeffer is a visitor, an interloper who really knows
very little about Los Angeles, its community and character. For
people who have spent the better part of their lives in Los
Angeles, this city can be – and is – a very close-knit society with
strong community bonds, integrity and "substance."
Substance in Los Angeles? Unlike Pfeffer, I am a native of this
area (no offense meant to the Chumash Indians), having arrived into
the world of UCLA in 1960 and later earning a Bachelor of Arts
degree from the school in 1984. Like our parents, my wife and I
have known each other from childhood. Most of our family and
friends have remained in Southern California. Although pages could
be written about the substance of our community, the need for
brevity in this publication precludes all but a few notable
thoughts that come to mind.
In Los Angeles, "substance" is a Saturday morning in the fall at
Will Rogers State Park polo field where my two sons played soccer
in a spectacular, gorgeous setting filled with families and
friends.
Substance is the One Voice program at my children’s school which
gathers money, food, clothes and toys for needy families in the
area.
Substance is the charity of my clients who make donations to
organizations like Aids Project Los Angeles.
Substance is the time spent by local parish priests with the
terminally ill at UCLA Medical Center.
Substance is the kind of concern that was openly expressed by my
neighbors who gathered together during the dark and uncertain
morning hours following the last large earthquake.
Without question, Pfeffer is responsible for the quality of her
own experience here in Los Angeles. While aspiring to a higher
intellectual plane, though, Pfeffer cruises down the Sunset Strip
looking for "excitement and mystery!" She repeatedly associates
with people in the entertainment industry, enduring shallow and
meaningless conversation while gazing about looking for other
"intellectual hotties."
I submit that Pfeffer is looking for love and substance in all
the wrong places. It is difficult to believe that a columnist at a
prestigious university, supposedly one of our educated elite, would
blather such drivel about an unsuccessful search for the promise of
"excitement and mystery" on the Sunset Strip – what a joke.
Pfeffer, Los Angeles has never promised you anything, let alone
"excitement and mystery." If you are looking for excitement and
mystery in life, try Disneyland, Magic Mountain or – if you are
more ambitious – a profession in the area of investment banking,
medicine or law.
Excitement and mystery on the Sunset Strip, Pfeffer? Give us a
break. If the bright lights bother you, avoid Hollywood and take a
nighttime hike in the Santa Monica Mountains.
In her article, Pfeffer expresses a lack of intellectual
interest and a "need for real conversation." If she really tried,
however, she could readily satisfy herself in this regard. My
next-door neighbor for three years was a professor of medieval
history at UCLA. He was a charming, fascinating and engaging person
and friend.
On many occasions, I met students who were visiting him at his
home, all of whom appeared to be intellectually satiated. If
Pfeffer is seeking quality relationships with intellectual
integrity, I strongly suggest she look outside of Hollywood and the
Sunset Strip.
Speaking of Hollywood, its industry is not the foundation of Los
Angeles, as Pfeffer so erroneously believes. To the contrary, the
entertainment industry is more of an aberration that co-exists here
with the majority of the population; it is a very exclusive
business that has nothing to do with most people’s lives.
Furthermore, in Hollywood’s relatively small entertainment
community, one will, of course, find many people with superficial
attitudes and large egos. Anyone with even a modicum of common
sense would expect the same. Was Pfeffer actually surprised? In
reality, Hollywood only appeals to tourists and, of course, to
those who desire membership in the entertainment industry.
Pfeffer’s shallow experience and disillusionment are the direct
result of her own naive expectations and her own failure to make a
meaningful connection to the real community that exists here in Los
Angeles.
If she has failed to develop any relationships of substance, she
is personally responsible. Like sports franchises that expect
better results in different venues, she thinks she will be happier
elsewhere; maybe she will, but, then again, maybe not. The success
of a sports franchise usually depends on ownership and management,
not venue.
After leaving herself intellectually and culturally shortchanged
by cruising the Sunset Strip in search of "excitement and
mystery!", Pfeffer goes forward in the name of journalism to
declare that Los Angeles lacks guts and substance. It is pathetic
and hypocritical for her to remain here, only to gripe about the
dissatisfying nature of things.
Frankly, I am sick and tired of hearing the same remarks over
the years from people like Pfeffer, especially when it comes from a
Bruin columnist who clearly has no connection to the community.
In truth, I really don’t care whether Pfeffer likes Los Angeles
or not. Los Angeles is not for everyone – that is true – and she is
entitled to her opinions. What I find so obnoxious, so boorish and
so rude, however, is the vocal nature of visitors like Pfeffer, who
come to stay for a time in another person’s home, only to complain
about how much better things are in the places from whence they
came.
So please, Pfeffer, please leave us and return to the East
Coast, and do so as quickly as possible. You are free to stay and
free to go. Go on home soon, and take your complaints and naivete
with you. Furthermore, if you could take along a few fellow
compatriots who share your thoughts and sentiments, it would be
greatly appreciated!
You would do us all the favor of alleviating some of our
congestion, reducing the burden on our over-taxed roadways and
sewage systems, while also eliminating the presence of some unhappy
individuals like yourself, who feel the need to make a clarion call
concerning the virtues and superiority of the East Coast.
Comments, feedback, problems?
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