La La Land, Hollywood Style

 

They say California is the land of fruit and nuts, derogatory terms for gays and crazies. Yep, we got them and we love them. I’m not religious, but the greater metropolitan area of Los Angeles with its over 18 million residents (2nd largest city in the U.S.) is like a big Noah’s Ark with at least two of every group that roams the earth. We are a sanctuary city, -hell we’re a sanctuary state. The Statue of Liberty 2 should be in our Port of Los Angeles Harbor as a universal symbol of freedom, democracy, and safe harbor for those yearning to breathe free. Our equivalent is the Hollywood Sign, a modern symbol that includes ambition, glamor, and dreams. A city of opportunity.

L.A. has LGBTQ+ politicians, world influencers, and drag queens. Hollywood no longer closets sexual orientation like in the days of Rock Hudson, Greta Garbo, Cary Grant, Barbara Stanwyck, Cesar Romero, Marlene Dietrich, Marlon Brando, all with universal fan clubs. Don't forget the cults, political extremists, alleged self-help groups, and other counterculture movements that adds to our city's vibrance. 

And the nuts. The California sun and fertile soil of the 450 mile long Central Valley harvests everything from award-winning grapevines to more than 1/3 of all fruits and vegetables consumed in the U.S. But the most famous nuts we harvest in L.A. happen to be of the genius variety: Elon Musk (SpaceX and Tesla), George Abell (astronomer, and my Astronomy 101 professor), Julia Ann (porn actress, just checking to see if you’re still reading), Bobby Fischer (world chess champion), Charles Richter (designer of earthquake magnitude scale), and hundreds more.

The Hollywood Sign is the West Coast equivalent of the Statue of Liberty that in 1886 welcomed immigrant to the land of the free and home of the brave. America's national anthem, "America the Beautiful" announces that America does "crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea," -from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. America was meant as a melting pot of humanity, welcoming everyone who can contribute to the good of America with a good heart, good intentions towards America and mankind, and good contributions to live an American "patriot dream." L.A. still thrives because of its diversity and inclusion. -SQ