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| Imaged by geralt | pixabay.com |
The discourse about a utopian
city has been started almost as old as civilization. Dream
cities have even been formed in the bronze age, at least as recorded at the
peak of ancient Greek and Egyptian civilization. But until the 21st century,
there are still many cities that cannot part with the opposite: dystopia.
Unhappy cities, dirty, full of
pollution, crime, conflict and naivety, are signs of failure to read the pace
of history. When 400 years BC Pericles had designed the city as a gathering
place for harmony. By that time Hippodamus had already formed cities with a
grid that ensured relief of moving in an orderly manner.
Thousands of years too, the
world's great cities have been managed to be democratic, harmonious-utopian.
While the cities behind it are still busy taking care of slum settlements,
traffic jams and overflows when it rains. Some are surprised by the present,
for example about online transportation, or about the refusal of convenience
stores to enter the village, by bringing up the dichotomy indiscriminately:
capitalist versus socialist.
Philosophically, cities are
designed as centers of human excellence. Every city is a place for everyone to
progress, prosper, be religious and happy together. The city is a vehicle for
learning and building superior civilizations, to compete in displaying the
splendor of civilization among other nations.
However, in reality, many cities
have become spaces of bitterness, limited employment opportunities, slums in
spatial planning and grazed by danger in dark alleys around every corner. When
other cities are providing elegant learning vehicles with all their charms,
more cities are in the struggle for opportunities to obtain basic education.
Developed and happy cities,
enjoying the latest super mode of transportation, which is safe and promotes
high productivity, lagging cities show the face of an archaic mode of
transportation even against modernization. When settlements are built
aesthetically to reduce slum space, it is even difficult for us to build a
sense of justice between debtors who are being chased by debt collectors for
daring to buy healthy homes, and those who borrow a sense of security in
illegal settlements. And when politicians lacking ideas look with pity only at
the last class.
The social dilemma in each city
must be resolved and for that a heroic leader is needed. The city that has
utopian dreams is waiting for its heroic leader. The city needs a strong visionary in order to solve protracted elementary problems.
Being able to build motivation
for its citizens to excel together, not to get embarrassed when they hear
discordant humanism songs that make citizens afraid to look at the future and
constantly feel sorry for themselves.
Borrow Theodore Roosevelt's Big
Stick Policy: speak softly, but have a big stick ready. If necessary, use God's
command to Moses to be gentle even with Pharaoh. So that anything that is messy
and hinders the progress of the city is immediately resolved without the need
to raise the volume.
As a model and inspiration, the
following profiles show some of the best cities in the world which they call
SuperCity. First, Curitiba, Brazil. From the survey results, 99% of residents
said they were happy with Curitiba. This city is most often used as a reference
in urban planning and won many international awards. Able to create creative
solutions and filled with green areas.
Second, New York, United States.
Has a very wide and beautiful Central Park. Major music concerts and film
festivals take place in the park. Harmonious multicultural life. Has the second
grandest public library in the world. Mayor Bloomberg budgeted USD 2 billion
just to make New York the world's main technology center.
Third, Paris, France. The
arrangement of this city is equipped with attractive features, beautiful and spectacular
garden arrangements. This city is full of smart and happy people. Has given
birth to revolutionary social, political and intellectual movements. There is a
shopping paradise and the world's best culinary tour.
Fourth, Melbourne, Australia. This
city is the number one liveable city in the world. Has the world's best
university after London, Boston and Tokyo.
Fifth, Singapore. The concept of
garden city, the most desirable city and has the world's best education system.
Singapore is the most corruption-free country in the world after New Zealand.
Development of superior human resources, giving birth to bureaucrat leaders who
are super efficient and clean and capable of creating the best economic
infrastructure. Miraculously, it is listed as the most densely populated city
in the world but there is never any traffic jam.
Sixth, Vienna, Austria. Has the
number one highest standard of living in the world and the world's best
innovation culture after Boston. Seventh, Auckland, New Zealand. In addition to
the quality of the world-class education system, Auckland is also the most
corruption-free. It has stunning natural scenery and quality export products.
Eighth, Copenhagen, Denmark. It
is a city surveyed by the University of Leicester as the happiest city in the
world. Having a high standard of living and economy and an intelligent society.
Ninth, Vancouver, Canada. A city with dramatic natural landscapes, a harmonious
society, open and intelligent.
Tenth, Boston, United States of
America. Is a city with the best quality of education in America as well as the
world. Built by leaders who believe in the importance of education. The city
also excels in the IT, health, biotechnology and financial industries.
Having the world's best
innovation culture after Vienna, Austria. What about the city we live in? How
far and how likely are we to get closer to half of SuperCity? ~MNT
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