The Global Standard

The Global Standard
by mourningdovesoap

It’s an amazing concept, isn’t it?

The belief that millions of people of different cultures, creeds, languages, and stories can all live, work, and thrive in a city and area they call home, while being united in a common American identity. A place that is the supreme example of what this country was built upon.

A place where barbeque, tacos, crawfish, pho, biryani, and jollof can be served in the same strip mall. A strip mall with a multitude of languages plastered on the overhead signs calling everyone's name. Even if that name ends with Jones, Smith, Rodriguez, Nguyen, Sheikh, Chen, etc.

A place where its name was one of the first uttered words by humans on the moon, cementing the nickname “Space City”. The same place that commanded and ended the space race in all said factors.

A place where the graffited phrase “BE SOMEONE” becomes the inspiration of many who pass through I-45 from work and back. A phrase so simple, yet so memorable for millions to see everyday.

A place where all immigrants coming to this city saw an opportunity granted to them in front of their eyes. It was like the city was welcoming them, their craft, and expertise with wide arms as if to join the vision of what this country was built upon.

Examples of a modern version of a "city upon a hill”.

These are some of the facets that I believe make up an inspiring city, where people are not afraid to grind and shine in glory. Many may not understand or will never agree, and that's okay. I answer to those who are eager to learn more about what this place means to me, with a firsthand experience and awakening.


The power and grit of this magnificent city were shown during my Freshman Orientation at the University of Houston, which became a living example of a modern "city upon a hill" I mentioned earlier. People with different last names, faces, skin tones, opinions, religions mingled together, with only one common factor: they were all "Class of 2030 Freshman" looking to expand their educational prowess in different ways. A new generation of prolific youth that represent a new beginning. A beginning of success and progress, no longer bound to the retched chains of the past that weren't so long ago.

A past where that same generation's grandparents drank from different fountains all because of a system meant to divide and conquer. A past that, despite the youths progress, has been attempted to be sabotaged by those who don't appreciate this unity amongst fellow men because of their shortcomings. Those people however don't last that long in their sorrow and hatred.

Even so, I knew for a fact that what I saw these couple days of orientation where an awakening of what I believed was already true. That truth was in that same beloved place called Houston, one I proudly call home, and one where I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.


It is also a personal testament of my life, knowing that me and my parents also believed (and still do) in the opportunity that this city brought us over the span of three decades and many more to come. Seeing my parents build themselves in this city made me the person I am able to become today, not scared of the unknown and foreign.


Despite all of these things I have mentioned above, I know there's people who still doubt me on what Houston means. Those same people who know this city for the wrong and uninformed reasons, and that is also okay to think about it that. After all, not everything is sunshine, rainbows, and unicorns, but being in one's shoes can be a true storyteller that crushes that doubt,

Houston may be a “sprawly concrete jungle mess”, but it is an everlasting sign of perseverance and opportunity. Even despite its cons, it is a beautiful example of overcoming the bad and the ugly, like a crimson rose growing between the sidewalk cracks. It may not be glamorous in the naked eye, but it will once you know what we have to offer. If you know, you know. Although I will say humidity is a pain in the ass that you can never get used to, so make that what you will. Again, an everlasting sign of perseverance and opportunity, right?

After all, it is not a city that has all positives, but one where the positives outweigh the negatives like a million tons. Houston is a city that not only I call home, but approximately 7 million people (in the metro area) call home. A city not afraid to grow, a city not afraid to be great. A forever boomtown. That's what I consider in my book "The Global Standard", and in that case...

Houston is The Global Standard.