Detroit An Important Place

A lot of people think Detroit and they think dangerous, disgusting, dirty, worn out, broken down, and scary. Yes, it is all of those things to the naked eye. I can say that until recently it was all of those things for me. I never wanted to go downtown because I would get so nervous. Until about a year ago when I went down there with a friend. I looked at everything with brand new eyes. Eyes that shockingly did not see ugly, dangerous or gross. They saw the beauty that is truly there.
This beauty may not be appreciated by all. Maybe not by most but it is there. You just have to take a second to look at it. When I talk about the Detroit train station most people see this

 When really all you have to do is use your imagination and you can see what it used to be. Although I think the first picture is beautiful others see a run down building. It is that but it is so much more also.

 Below is a picture of the Fox Theater Downtown. Honestly one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. I was there once for a play. I did not pay that much attention to the play because I was in such awe of the building and its beauty.

But, there is so much to Detroit. It is the home of Motown records. The Motown Museum is amazing. So much rich history about the music industry that was once so important to the city. Detroit is the Motor City. We built cars and we built them good. Starting with the Model T and moving forward.
From Henry Ford to Barry Gordy the city was built on the backbones of these men and what a city it was.
It used to be so rich in culture. The Detroit Science Center which is closed now with hopes of reopening. I remember going there when I was a kid. It was just so phenomenal. I went there four years ago for the human body exhibit. It was still as amazing as an adult as it was when I was a kid. We have the Detroit Institute of Arts which is spectacular. The Opera House, and the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History are here also.
There would not be a loss of things to do when coming to Detroit. There is an active nightlife, plenty of culture, and for those that want to gamble there are casinos too.
Yes Detroit is not what it once was. Can you tell me anything that is? The state of the economy has precipitated the urban decay that many think of when they think of Detroit. Like every big city it has its drawbacks. It can be crowded and congested. We have a hockey team, a baseball team and a football team that have stadiums downtown. If there is more than one event going on it can get very crowded and congested.
A lot of things do not help the city. Constant negative press will do nothing but hinder the city so many people call home. Some of the press may be justified but, other times it is not the city that deserves the negativity. A mayor that just about ran the city to the ground, moved it to the verge of bankruptcy and is now spending his time in jail is what should get the brunt of the negativity. That though is on him not the city.
Detroit to me is more of a metaphor for the state of the country today. The state of the people also. Working harder and harder and getting no where. At times it gets frustrating because whether what is on the news is true or not we should all care about the city. It should never be a race issue. Whatever race you are you should if you are from Michigan have a loyalty to the city that many people lack these days. This area of rich culture is falling away from all of us and instead of everyone working together to save it we are all pushing against each other. Nothing ever gets better unless you work hard and want to make things better.
Yes I am just a suburbanite that comes to the city to visit. I am aware, but I come to the city because I want to and I like it not because I have to. I can see the beauty that is beyond the broken windows, caved in roofs, abandoned buildings, and grime. I just hope that sometime very soon people can see past the differences in the way they want to fix things and just work toward the greater good. I love my state and I love this city, to see it literally bleeding to death is devastating, heartbreaking even. When the city dies all this history goes along with it. Sure people will know about it, but it will not be the same. You would not have the opportunity to experience the history for yourself. If people were as passionate about Detroit as they were old Tigers Stadium would things have ever gotten this bad? I don't think so not even close.