My Dear Liz, Hopefully you will not be excoriated because you dared to post the your list of what West Philly means to you.
Actually, Al Krigman started it. I still don't think I should apologize for criticizing Liz Spikol's article. Actually my friend Carol Saline and I have had many discussions about how PhillyMag portrays our neighborhood whilst we were fellow CFL Board Members since 1990. Lots of great arguments. Apparently my view was the most offensive because people thought I was trying to tell the "pioneers" in Liz's article how it was before them and that they were not real West Philly people. I have my view and Liz Campion and Bill Davis have theirs. Like everyone, one forgets things and might be reminded by someone who was also there. I welcome this. From: Elizabeth F Campion <campio...@juno.com> Reply-To: Elizabeth F Campion <campio...@juno.com> Date: Thu, 14 Jul 2011 20:20:20 GMT To: UnivCity listserv <UnivCity@list.purple.com> Subject: Re: [UC] FW: You know you live in West Philly if . . . Dear Neighbors, I consider myself a "true West Philadelphia" and a big fan of Liz Spikol. Liz has written, with great candor, about bouts with illness, features of the drugs she has taken, and life on the outside. At times, she gave a voice and clarity to things I was guessing about my beloved sister Maggie. I enjoyed her 'list"/article and recognized everything on it. One of my favorite things about West Philly is its ability to be inclusive and/or turn things topsy-turvy. I think Liz caught a little of the flavor of the "PC" and even some of the 'reverse class-ism' that runs through WP. West Philly is often so far ahead of the curve that we sometimes don't get full credit for home-grown ideas. Some examples: The Art Deco movement may have started here, moved to Paris and than back to New York. Movies were made here before Hollywood. The Fresh Prince and Liz Lemon (okay she's so far west she's suburban), made it here first. Penn's Eniac was a precursor to Silicon Valley. One of the geniuses behind Artificial Intelligence still quietly thinks great thoughts from his home on 48th Street. Like Bill Davis, I could not remember a few things on Wilma's list. And like so many of Wilma's contributions, her list reminds me that even in West Philly, there have always been divisions between "Catholics, Publics and Privates". People like me, who attended St. Francis and West Catholic, grew with different experiences from the "Publics", (students at Lea and Wilson), or the "Privates" (at Pillar of Fire or St. Leonard's). There are still many different experiences based upon Skin Color, choice of Worship (or not), Gender preference and Abilities (or lack there of). When I was named a National Merit Finalist and won a Scholarship to PENN, I learned there was a big gap in the opportunities offered to the students of the "Ivies". Even as an adult, I realize my IQ, decades of experience and almost encyclopedic memory of the homes and neighbors of CC/UC/WP are not always a match for a trust fund or connection. One of my favorite things about being in West Philly is the number of great thinkers, good communicators, writers and healers who fill our streets, parks and gathering places. I love the amount of learning I absorb just listening to people I am permitted to call friends. And I especially like when the brilliant children of this neighborhood are the ones who open my eyes to new thoughts and experiences. BTW: Based upon my childhood, I think the most common early question, was, "What's your home Parrish?", so my list would include, You know your in West Philly if you describe your neighborhood with a Saints name. I know this will not resonate with many of my friends, but it is my experience as a"true" West Philadelphian. Best! Liz ---------- Original Message ---------- From: Wilma de Soto <wil.p...@comcast.net> To: Roger/Vince <rogerandvi...@gmail.com>, "'Karen Allen'" <kallena...@msn.com>, UnivCity listserv <univcity@list.purple.com> Subject: Re: [UC] FW: You know you live in West Philly if . . . Date: Wed, 13 Jul 2011 17:53:41 -0400 No one said who is a TRUE West Philadelphian. I said the author, actually I didn't, but I thought it was a scripted, stilted PhillyMag view of West Philly. Mr. Davis notwithstanding he may very well not remember all the the things on my particular list. The fact he knew at least half of them would show neither of us are too far apart. From: Roger/Vince <rogerandvi...@gmail.com> Date: Wed, 13 Jul 2011 17:22:14 -0400 To: Alex de Soto <wil.p...@comcast.net>, 'Karen Allen' <kallena...@msn.com>, UnivCity listserv <UnivCity@list.purple.com> Subject: RE: [UC] FW: You know you live in West Philly if . . . I guess my friend Bill Davis does not qualify as a true West Philly person; he only recalled about half of the items. But what the heck, he¹s only lived in West Philly for 85 years . Roger From: owner-univc...@list.purple.com [mailto:owner-univc...@list.purple.com] On Behalf Of Wilma de Soto Sent: Wednesday, July 13, 2011 12:32 PM To: Karen Allen; UnivCity listserv Subject: Re: [UC] FW: You know you live in West Philly if . . . You know you ARE from West Philly if you know what is we called "The Dusty". You know you ARE from West Philly if you remember Al DiPalma's Hoagie Shop. You know you ARE from West Philly if you've ever eaten at The Beef and Beer and know where the Italian enclave is. You know you ARE from West Philly if you know where "Black Oak Park" is. You know you ARE from West Philly if you know if you couldn't wait to buy water ice at Overbrook Water Ice Stand. You know you ARE from West Philly if you know the original location for Murray's Deli. You know you ARE from West Philly if you know who the "Orange and Blue" versus the "Black and Gold" are. You know you ARE from West Philly if you know if you can name the streets where "the lines" are between areas good and bad and are VERY familiar with the phrase, "but that's over the line!". You know you ARE from West Philly if you know if you know the routes to get to Fairmount Park by either going "over the top" or "down the bottom." You know you ARE from West Philly if you have ever walked the bridle path on Cobbs Creek Park. You know you ARE from West Philly if you know if you realize the person who wrote the other article would not have the faintest idea of what is on this list. Elizabeth Campion PRUDENTIAL, FOX & ROACH REALTORS, LLC 210 W. Rittenhouse Square, Suite 406 Phila, PA 19103 and 850 Library Road, Suite 106 Newark, DE 19711 215-790-5653 Philly Office 302-368-1621 NCC, DE Office 215-880-2930 Cell campio...@juno.com or home.in.ph...@juno.com for Rental questions Link to Photos of available Listings and public, 'social' photos: www.PicasaWeb.google.com/CampionEF <http://www.picasaweb.google.com/CampionEF> To check out all PFR and Multiple Listed Properties and to review CONSUMER NOTICE, link to www.PruFoxRoach.com <http://www.prufoxroach.com/> Your referral is a welcome compliment. All the best in 2011 and beyond!
