The War in Ukraine: Stream-of-Consciousness Perspective

Most weekdays, I walk down this corridor at the Logan Square station to catch the CTA Blue Line rapid transit train to and from work. Today, I thought of the residents of Kyiv who gathered in their Metro to escape the war taking place in the city.

By Edward M. Bury, APR, MA (aka The PRDude)

Like millions around the nation and around the world, I’ve followed the horrific news taking place in an Eastern European nation that many had perhaps not been too familiar with until a nuclear-power aggressor led by a clearly sinister dictator launched an invasion, one unprovoked and one that surely will have catastrophic consequences for the foreseeable future.

What follows is an attempt at a stream-of-consciousness perspective at the news capturing the conscious of the world.

Footage of people in Kyiv taking cover in the city’s Metro resonated with me, someone who works for a University transportation research unit and takes the CTA Blue Line to and from work … didn’t realize that Ukraine is the second largest nation in Europe, basically the size of Texas … learned the origin of the inappropriate reference of the nation being called “The Ukraine,” and even heard it used inappropriately while listening to a local TV news report … the resilience and bravery of the Ukrainian people in defending their nation is remarkable, a demonstration of strength in the face of a larger, more powerful enemy; examples were broadcast and shared regularly … seeing Ukrainian children clutch their stuffed toys while fleeing to the west projects some semblance of hope for a better future … the neighborhood just west of the one I grew up in is known as Ukrainian Village; to this third-generation son of Polish immigrants, the neighborhood has taken on a greater significance to me … during my formative years, I had friends who were Ukrainian, including a girl named Lucy who I sort of “dated” for a while; was she or her brother Larry involved in the many marches and rallies across metropolitan Chicago calling for peace … on the world stage, Vladimir Putin has generated some truly “bad PR” for Russia (please excuse the euphemism), a mammoth blight on the nation that will tarnish his legacy and Russia’s status in the world for generations … what will the lives of Ukrainian men, women and children who are fleeing their homes be like once they return, if they ever do return … President Biden will deliver his first State of the Union address tomorrow; how much should  he focus on the war in Ukraine … with peace talks between Ukraine and Russia underway today, what will be the first topic addressed … as the month of March starts tomorrow, will this bloody conflict be known as “the February War” … and, I will continue to monitor developments in a conflict that I pray ends shortly after I publish this post. 

And, a parting thought: When he looks in the mirror, what does Vladimir Putin see? From what I’ve learned over the past two decades and during the past week, Putin reflects the embodiment of evil incarnate, a global bully of epic proportions.

Not Totally In With the New “Chicago Not In Chicago” Campaign

Note to the creatives at Energy BBDO: Perhaps focus on some of the “softer” aspects of Chicago, like neighborhoods that are walkable and tranquil following a February snowfall.

By Edward M. Bury, APR, MA (aka The PRDude)

Unveiled somewhat surreptitiously Saturday January 29, the new “Chicago Not In Chicago” marketing campaign certainly has achieved this objective: People are talking about it — in fact lots of people.

And, as you may ascertain by the title, with the negative adverb, many are not fond of this strategic initiative created by Chicago advertising agency Energy BBDO.

This Chicago Tribune editorial from January 31 is a case in point.  A Google search will lead to other negative commentaries, many others, in fact.  Personally, I’m a bit perturbed that the creatives didn’t enlist this lifelong Chicago guy’s perspectives.  More on that later.

The goal of this video-structured campaign is to re-establish Chicago as a travel destination by citing unique and noteworthy practices or products that initiated here — like the skyscraper (which I knew) and the zipper (which I didn’t know). A tag line of sorts for the campaign — “Chicago: City of Stories” — is somewhat nebulous because any city or town has stories. 

But rather than tear apart the campaign, which I truly hope does attract visitors and conventions, some general thoughts that I hope reach the team at Energy BBDO. 

Honest Testimonials.  Yes, testimonial messages are relatively commonplace, but they work. Someone (like me) with decades of insight into Chicago could be interviewed to share how living in this great Midwest metropolis shaped their life.  Or, rather than focus on skyscrapers, the Magnificent Mile, and the lakefront, showcase some of the “softer” aspects of the city. As noted in the image above, one can find tranquility on a quiet Chicago sidewalk following a snowfall

Chicago Value. Money can be a persuasive factor. When compared to our larger and older neighbor to the east, Chicago is a relative value. According to Champion Traveler, a seven-day visit to NYC costs the individual more than $2,000.  The site estimates that same trip to Chicago will cost around $1,800. Think of what you could do with an extra 200 bucks! Want more value related news?  Honolulu will set the solo traveler back some $2,300. 

Truly Unique Chicago. There are one-of-a-kind, sometimes hidden aspects of the city that often go unnoticed. And, I’m thinking beyond hot dogs without ketchup and 16-inch softball, and beyond the grandeur of downtown.  Did you know there’s a block in Lakeview that’s built like London row houses? Or that the city is graced with connected boulevards known as “The Emerald Necklace?”

The campaign opened with a “Chicago tour” of New York, and another video is already planned to showcase how Chicago influenced London.  But if it’s not too late to start from a clean and new slate, I offer this theme:  “Chicago, Yes, We Ain’t No Podunk.” 

Team Energy BBDO, let’s talk.