Dear Pittsburgh: May I speak frankly?

I have to ask, because I've lived here for only 16 years, and this is a town where a political candidate (Jim Roddey) was once compared with his opponent (Cyril Wecht), in print, as "a relative newcomer" -- when he'd already been here for 20 years at the time.

Twenty years! That span of time and the word "new" don't even belong in the same sentence, if you ask me. But there's a certain defensive suspiciousness hereabouts. ...

On the other hand, you did elect that Roddey carpetbagger fella as county executive, kind of opening the door for other relative newcomers to approach you hopefully, if gingerly.

So here goes: Pittsburgh, this should be the week you finally get over yourself.

Journalists and other outsiders will understandably focus on the G-20 summit itself, with this gorgeous city simply serving as a backdrop to the main event -- all those heavyweights hobnobbing on the precipice of an international depression.

But for you Pittsburgh old-timers -- you survivors of earlier economic and industrial meltdowns -- this week is really about whether the world will acknowledge, however fleetingly, that you are -- once again and at long last -- ready for your close-up.

As a relative newcomer, I find you fascinating, richly rewarding, definitely worth the effort, but -- I'm just throwing out an idea here -- maybe you should try making it require a little less effort.

This would be the week to do that.

I don't know how else to tell you this, Pittsburgh, but you're a wee bit needy. That's what we relative newcomers say about you behind your back.

Well, actually, I've been saying it to your face for a few years now.

It started back in the early 1990s, when your memory of the previous two decades' travails was, I soon realized, still raw and painful. Being new, I didn't see what you'd lost, I only saw what you had. It was awesome, and I would say so.

But the typical native's disbelieving response was, "Really? You like it here?"

Then I'd launch into the long list of all the region has to offer -- the physical beauty, the cultural attractions, the rich history and the friendly, hard-working, unpretentious people.

Responses to this pro-Pittsburgh pitch would fall into one of two camps: Either way too much gratitude, or a whining disbelief.

Either response betrays deep insecurity, and both carry what one columnist called "an off-putting whiff of desperation."

OK, that was me -- I called it that, just a few years ago, when I decided it was time to stop enabling the self-pity and to start telling you, Pittsburgh, to move on. It's a new millennium. You're a new city -- or, better yet, an old city reborn.

We relative newcomers figured we'd know when you long-timers had recovered when we stopped hearing the disbelieving, "Really? You like it here?" -- when you could just smile and say thanks.

This is the week.

But you're not going to be able to acquit yourself with dignity on the international stage -- this week and thenceforth -- if your self-doubting attitude doesn't catch up with your lovely and healthy new reality.

Obviously the president of the United States thinks this city deserves its star turn -- and no, it doesn't matter whether other cities turned down the host's role first. There's no shame in thinking, after being out of the big leagues for a while, that you might need a powerful booster to put you back in the game.

There's no shame in weathering whatever traumas fate hands you and letting the world know, without bragging or whining, that you're back.

But once the summit begins, dear Pittsburgh, it's not your beauty that will be on display, it's your character. The big story will be whatever's happening in the streets.

Listen, Pittsburghers -- you've been up and down, on the world stage and off. When wars had to be won, and hard times endured, you Pittsburghers stepped up and paid the price. The free world is in your debt.

You also led the historical battle to secure fair wages and humane conditions for American workers, so you'll understand the protesters who want to make their voices heard this week -- and you won't take any crap from angry trust-fund babies and "V For Vendetta" romantics who simply want to wallow in their alienation by smashing windows and burning buildings.

You know the difference between real and fake. That's Pittsburgh -- all these positives, none of the posturing. That's the Pittsburgh I hope the world sees this week.

May I say "we"? It would be an honor: We are ready.