The Big Lie. Sorry Chicago.

The craziest thing about my trip to Chicago was my visit to the Sears Tower (now “Willis Tower” – but nobody calls it that).   I went in, looked around, stood against the outer wall and looked up, and admired it from a distance.  But I didn’t have time to go to the top.

It is a cool building and it is black.  Black is cool.  But it isn’t that tall.  Yes, I know the stats.  I know that it is supposed to be the tallest building in America.

But it isn’t.

Stand next to the Empire State Building.  The Empire State feels taller.  And it dominates the skyline in a way that the Sears Tower doesn’t.  I used to get the same vibes from the Twin Towers – they felt tall, too.  And they also dominated the Manhattan skyline.

But not the Sears Tower.  The Sears Tower is just another big building.  Some people have a theory that it looks short because it is black.  If it were white it would look bigger.  Maybe.

But I don’t buy it.

I think it is a Chicago-style scam – similar to their dirty politics – to get recognition for their city.

Sorry Chicago – but cut it out.  Admit that the Empire State Building is taller.  And feel good about yourselves.  Chicago is a cool place.  It has a lot to offer.  You don’t have to lie about your buildings to get people to love you.

March 7th, 2010 Politics