Seriously. I don't get it.
I recognize that there are less-than-stellar elements to the state. For instance, it's home to Camden, a city that consistently rates as one of the top 10 most dangerous cities in America. And most recently, the state's become famous for this little horror. But hey, who's perfect?
The state has plenty of positive attributes to offer: an Ivy League University, beaches such as Long Beach Island and Cape May, a strong historical presence, and no sales tax on clothes and shoes, to name a few. It's also the birthplace of Frank Sinatra, Walt Whitman, and Bruce Springsteen, amongst others.
This post is beginning to sound like a (poorly written) love letter to New Jersey, but I'm just trying to rationalize and comprehend all the hate. I had an extremely enjoyable childhood, in a portion of the state that fosters well-roundedness and diversity; that's more than I can say for several of the people I've met elsewhere. What's so bad about that?
On Monday night, New Jersey made some minor waves in the news, as Congressman Rush Holt defeated Watson on Jeopardy! Score one more for NJ, kids.
For those who don't spend their weekday evenings glued to ABC, shouting questions at the television (nerd alert!), allow me to explain: Watson is a creation that is compromising my Jeopardy viewing experience. That is to say, he is an IBM supercomputer who has been competing against several of the show's winningest players—and some Congressmen, apparently.
While this defeat doesn't actually improve the worth of New Jersey, to me, it just serves as a reminder of how fantastic the state can be, even in the smallest ways.
So instead of laughing and poking fun, perhaps you should get out and visit. Take in a hockey (or basketball) game at the Prudential Center, tour the Victorian homes of Cape May, walk alongside the ivy-covered buildings of Princeton University, or visit the Trenton Battlefield.
It'd be best to stay away from that Camden, though.
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