Say Nice Things About Detroit? Why?

http://www.freep.com/news/statewire/sw123962_20051110.htm

November 10, 2005, 5:06 AM

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) -- The Sacramento Kings have bought newspaper ads to apologize for showing derogatory images of Detroit on video screens before their home-opener against the Pistons. The NBA says it is investigating.

When the Pistons were introduced Tuesday night, the Arco Arena scoreboard flashed pictures of abandoned buildings, burned-out cars, piles of rubble and other negative images of Detroit. The Pistons won the game, 102-88.

I live in Detroit. If you walk just a few blocks from my home you will find abandoned buildings, overgrown vacant lots, broken glass, prostitutes, and crack houses. Whoever created that pre-game display was telling a very sad truth about the city of Detroit. This town is a shit-hole, and with the further erosion of our manufacturing base, the jobs, taxes, and skills needed to bring about urban renewal are pretty much non-existent. With the re-election of Mayor Kilpatrick, and thus the re-election of corruption and cronyism, we can also expect no help whatsoever from those charged with making Detroit a safer and better place to live. I hold no hope for the future of this city.

Blame isn’t only isolated to the city administrators themselves. There has been a long standing animosity between the Republican-dominated state political machine and an overwhelmingly minority ethnic Detroit electorate. When cuts in funding are necessary because of changes on the state or federal level, it is always the city of Detroit that bears the brunt of those cuts. There is either a complete detachment on their part or a concerted effort to disenfranchise and perhaps even take over the city through receivership or redistricting.

I am wondering why the city of Detroit needs an apology from anyone for exposing what is an obviously blatant reality to anyone who exits our expressways anywhere within city limits. This is especially surprising because Detroit actually prides itself on being tough, gritty, mean, and not a place for the faint of heart. That sort of advertising does not convey neatly arranged homes with picket fences or tree-lined avenues filled with happy, playful children. For at least two decades or more, Detroit has cultivated the image, both in music and popular culture, as a very tough place to survive. I don’t see any need for apologies or investigations.

Many of us remember the t-shirts emblazoned with slogans such as “Detroit: Where the weak are killed and eaten”, or others like “Detroit: Only the strong survive.” There is a scene in Kentucky Fried Movie (1977), a spoof on the classic martial arts film Enter the Dragon (Bruce Lee), in which the island leader threatens a CIA operative with exile to Detroit, whereupon the seasoned operative begins to cry in fear “Not Detroit! Not Detroit!” I don’t think Detroiters really give a shit about being called out for being tough and a bit uncivilized at times. It appears it’s all we have going for us right now.

We in Detroit are not a bunch of pussies that are afraid of a little truth that solidifies our image as the toughest town around. Save your apologies for Hoboken or Cedar Rapids. Meantime, please get the f*** out of here! I’m about to ‘bust a cap’ in your sorry ass!