Show some Detroit Love Please

I'll be the first to admit that it's hard to love Detroit right about now. Others may say it's ALWAYS hard. Amidst the auto crisis, high crime rate, high property taxes and insurance, failing public school system, and such highly publicized corruption in our local government, this is probably about the worst time to love Detroit.

Nevertheless, whether you are stuck in this city because of the current economy or have chosen to remain in the city for reasons only you, personally, may understand, we {Detroiters} still have a responsibility to uplift our community.

I, like many people, know people who live all over. In respects to Michigan, I know just as many people who on the outskirts of the city as I do people who live in the city od Detroit. But you know what, I never hear the people who live outside of the city, a.k.a the burbs, talking down about their resident. And believe me, there could be something negative said, albeit not as much as Detroit, of anyplace.

But what's worse about Detroit is that as many people who don't live in the city who trash it (literally), there are just as many, if not more, who do live here that trash it as well. That's what breaks my heart.

Now check out this piece of news: A city is only as good as the people who inhabit it. So for those of you who are adding to the mayhem and destruction, GET IT TOGETHER!

My challenge to all others is, for as long as you are a resident of Detroit, show your city some love, some pride. Maybe if we do, others will follow suit.

Below are some simple ways you can do this:

1.) Don't throw trash out the window of your cars.
2.) If not totally detestable, pick up the trash in your neighborhood or any area you happen to walking in if there's a trash can near by.
3.) Next time you have out of town guests, try showcasing some of Detroit's hot spots (i.e. Starters Lounge (the original), the Riverwalk, the Ren Cen, Detroit Insitute of Art, etc.)
4.)If you're speaking of something negative going in the city, follow it up with a possible solution.
5.)Vote in every election and avoid choosing people solely based on name recognition. Find out what candidates plan to do and see if they've done it before in another capacity. Let's the stop putting our city in just anybody's hands.