Detroit: The Most Maligned and Misunderstood City in America

Detroit: The Most Maligned and Misunderstood City in America

O.K. we all know the horror stories. We've all heard the jokes. Urban blight.

White flight. A city aflame. Sound like Detroit? Corrupt city officials. Corrupt unions.

A manufacturing center in decay. Sounds just like Detroit. Buckle of the Rust Belt.
Car companies in decline. A murder rate second only to New Orleans. Sounds too much like Detroit.
Baghdad is as safe as Detroit (according to the Bush Administration).
I don't know, does that really sound like Detroit to you? Does Baghdad really have as high a murder rate as... well, never mind.

Now, here are some things you probably don't know, probably have never heard in fact.
In case you have heard any of this before perk up and pay attention. It's said that people need to hear
something seven times before it sinks into the memory. Since perception is at least ninety percent of reality
let me try to change your perception. Too bad I can't repeat it all seven times. Ah, the first time! A virgin's tour of Detroit.

The gloriously restored Fox Theatre. Brand spanking new Comerica Park - one of the best ballparks in America with some of the best city views of any major ballpark. The Renaissance Center towering over the Detroit river and the Detroit city skyline. The new Riverwalk from Hart Plaza to Belle Isle - 2 and a half miles of beautiful pristine Detroit River views. World Championship Baseball, Basketball, and Hockey from the world class Tigers, Pistons, and Red Wings. Yeah, some of this sounds like Detroit.