Yesterday, I learned that I have a whole lot of readers in South Jersey and Philadelphia, who have very strong feelings about Camden. I will never again malign the good city of Camden. A letter from a regular reader:
Dear Dr. McKenna,
I must take issue with
your description of one of my very favorite cities in NJ – no the
world. Camden is a fantastic and very under appreciated city. The
people are amazingly resilient and lovely. The best pizza, lattes, and
french fries can be found in Camden. There's an outstanding state
university and LOOK! It's a GREAT city!
your description of one of my very favorite cities in NJ – no the
world. Camden is a fantastic and very under appreciated city. The
people are amazingly resilient and lovely. The best pizza, lattes, and
french fries can be found in Camden. There's an outstanding state
university and LOOK! It's a GREAT city!

Are the rest of us still free to malign the whole state of New Jersey?
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I just want to go on record as saying I was not defending Camden; I was defending minor league baseball. 🙂
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and, along with double rainbow joy, I’m glad that someone thinks that Camden is their favorite city in new jersey – no the entire world.
I can’t see your pictures, and now I feel like maybe I’m missing out big time.
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MH, it’s even considered mandatory in some places.
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I also malign Philly, but really that’s because the state gives them so much more money for infrastructure. If it wasn’t for the comical level of political corruption and whatever it is that makes Eagles fans such huge assholes, Philly could be a great place.
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Dude, nobody from Pittsburgh should be throwing any stones at New Jersey.
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Dude, nobody from Pittsburgh should be throwing any stones at New Jersey.
I’m not from here. I’m just here and unable to leave. Besides, Pittsburgh is the jewel of its region.
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Hey, don’t go dissing Philly. 🙂 The corruption is getting a bit better–and it’s much improved since the 70s. For the record, I love Pittsburgh.
Funnily enough, I spent a lot of time last week defending several major cities in the US. I was traveling–in London of all places–with someone who detests large cities and rather than just say, “I’m not a fan of big cities,” he went on to describe in what ways each city was awful.
Personally, I can go either way–city or country. But I almost always lean toward having access to a larger city. The great thing about being near Philly is that I’m near a whole bunch of other cities–New York, DC, and yes, Camden. Don’t get me started on Wilmington, though. 🙂
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The great thing about being near Philly is that I’m near a whole bunch of other cities
Yes, I know. Philly is on the eastern seaboard rail network and Pittsburgh is at the other end of a long milk run.
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My husband was once considering a job in State College, PA. We google-mapped the distance to everywhere we have family and whaddyaknow, it’s 4 hours from everywhere! (I’ve never been, so I can’t comment on how nice it is to live there.)
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“But I almost always lean toward having access to a larger city.”
Would Dallas or Houston count?
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“Would Dallas or Houston count?”
Probably, but Austin’s even better. Demonstrating (again) that size is not all that matters.
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