Getting It
Image courtesy of zirconicusso/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net
As the holiday season approaches, many of us have begun to make our Christmas wish lists, some undoubtedly filled with lavish items and nice-to-have trinkets that we don’t really need. Part of the charm of Christmas for some is the expectation of getting that little something special from a friend or loved one that’s sure to bring a smile to one’s face. Yet this scenario plays out very differently in homes where the family is barely getting by and can’t afford any extras, even at Christmas time. In instances where the bare necessities, such as food, safety and shelter are difficult to provide, it’s understandable why the luxury of gift giving around the holidays is foregone. All of which brings to mind the scenario that is playing out in Detroit today….
Crime scene photo from multiple shooting in Detroit, November 2013 – Image courtesy of dailymail.co.uk
Various organizations around the city are busy working on “innovative solutions” to solve the city’s “problems”, such as lack of outdoor living space, increasing walk- and bike- ability, building more high-end retail within city limits, offering more entertainment options, etc., etc., while others strive just to live, eat, and to keep a roof over their heads. While we can all agree that it may be nice to sit on a veranda in the summer and sip an iced tea, while we know that walking and biking are healthy lifestyle choices that can benefit the residents of Detroit, while we may all love to shop, and party, and all of those great things – at the end of the day, those things are EXTRAS. Like gift giving at Christmas time, nice and undoubtedly enjoyable, but if it’s your whole purpose for partaking in the holiday, to get a shiny gift and smile, you’re missing the point! There have been over 297 homicides in the city of Detroit this year, half of the streetlights in the city are out, blight abounds, many schools are failing, and people worry about the extras??!!
2013 Christmas Tree Lighting at Campus Martius Park – Image courtesy of Freep.com
Don’t get me wrong, I love my city, and I’m the first to defend it any – and everywhere that I go, but I’m not in denial. There are a lot of problems here that need to be addressed, and many of them have nothing to do with Greater Downtown. It amazes me how many people either don’t get it, or pretend not to understand that it’s impossible to claim that you care about Detroit, and are trying to make it a better place without addressing the root problems that are plaguing the majority of its residents. Many new Detroiters claim to have good intentions, and allege that they want to partner with Detroit natives to create a better community, yet several of their efforts seem to be targeted towards a very specific demographic that does not include those who have been here the longest and sacrificed the most for this city. Wake up people.