I've visited Portland a handful of times, each time marveling at its beauty, charm, and small-metro vibe. Even so, I fell into the California-nativist trap of s

I've visited Portland a handful of times, each time marveling at its beauty, charm, and small-metro vibe. Even so, I fell into the California-nativist trap of seeing it as a the lesser sister city of the Bay Area. In the last year, Portland has shown a commitment to the American ideals of justice, equality, and freedom that place it among cities like Boston, Philadelphia, and Birmingham. Portland does the US proud.