THE PLASTIC CITY
Late this morning I took a run on the Katy Trail, a 3.5 mile one-way paved trail that runs from Highland Park (where my church is) into uptown. It’s cool because it actually ends at the American Airlines Center, on the west side of a posh area of town.
Because of the location of the trail, you’re more likely than not to be passing young, white, middle-to-upper class people out for a walk, jog, or bike ride.
The more and more I run on the Katy Trail (and generally spend time in Dallas), the more and more I notice something strange…
If Chicago is the Windy City…
and Detroit is the Motor City…
and Philadelphia is the City of Brotherly Love…
LA is the City of Angels…
Maybe Dallas is the Plastic City?
Even in the midst of a recession, I can tell you it looks like there’s no shortage of work for plastic surgeons in the area.
Which reminds me of how superficial this town can be. On Valentine’s night, Ashley and I went to the Hilton Anatole close to downtown and spent the night away from parenting responsibilities. In our room was one of those typical magazines that describes the local flavor and entices visitors to partake in the local culture. By reading that magazine, you’d conclude one thing: the only thing there is to do in Dallas is shop and impress people.
Dallas may be the heartbeat of Texas, but it’s also a place where superficial lifestyles and elitism is pervasive. Everyone is trying to get ahead in every respect—money, family, appearances, cars, clothing, bodies, education, sports.
Which brings me back to something that kept being brought up at the Q Conference—the idea of being countercultural for the common good. What this looks like is for small groups of people, maybe 2-3, to start to put their privilege at risk to create cultural “beachheads.”
A beachhead is a clog in the system. It stakes a small claim on an area (not necessarily physical) and says “this is mine,” and you’ll have to pay attention. The point of a cultural beachhead is to make you think differently about things. To disrupt the rhythm of your routine and make you reflect critically on the way you’re living.
What will it mean to create a cultural beachhead in Highland Park? in Dallas? What will it look like?
And more importantly, who will try it with me?
I'm a runner, writer, thinker, and pastor. I love to agitate people's consciences. I like to spend my time reading, running, and relaxing with family & friends.