A Tale of Two Cities

I am a Detroiter through and through. I love this city. So it should come as no surprise that I get a little ticked off when I hear people "bad mouthing" the city. Now don't get me wrong, the city's politics and some of its institutions are worthy of criticism, but what city isn't?

It seems to me that Detroit gets a disproportionate share of criticism and "bad mouthing." Comparatively speaking, Detroit is no worse off than any other city. The news is littered with politicians heading to prison, ineffective school systems and the job-well drying.

Recently, I spent a few days in Memphis TN for a family reunion. During those days, I heard news reports of carjackings, bank robberies, shootings and muggings. While driving through some of the neighborhoods, I witnessed drug activity. All of this revelation begs the question, Why does Detroit receive so much more bad press than Memphis?

If the casual observer digs a little deeper, it seems that Detroiters are an all or nothing, extremists sect. We are either the Motor City or a failure. There are plenty of names that have stuck because we allowed them to: The Murder Capital, Devils Night, Crime City and even MoTown and the Motor City. I added the last two because even though thy were supposed to be positive connotations, they pigeon-held the city. There was no room for diversification.

It seems that if Detroiters want a better Detroit, they first have to take a good long look in the mirror and ask themselves what kind of Detroiter are they? Do they sit idly by and allow crime to happen? Do they over look trash blowing down the street? Do they accept substandard government because it is what they are used to having?

For anyone who reads this, I have an assignment for you. I need to you spark a discussion with at least 5 people you know who would not read a blog or research local government politicians. Engage these people to find out what kind of Detroit in which they want to live. Find out how much are they willing to do to make their Detroit a reality.

The thing that really gets me about the news paper articles, talk shows and blogs that talk about how to accomplish a better Detroit never once mentions those who don't read the paper, listen to or watch talk show or read blogs. It is that very demographic that needs to be engaged to change this city. As I often say, the suburbanites evacuated the city and left it to Bay Bay and Ray Ray 'nem and expects the city to function properly.

If we really want a better Detroit, we'll have to demand better Detroiters. Detroiters who care about their city as well as the image it portrays. Detroiters who are willing to work for utopia and not just hope for it.

How much is your integrity worth?

Who hasn't fantasized about a bag of money falling off a truck? While at lunch today the guy ahead of me in line dropped a quarter, which I promptly returned. He then asked, "Would you have been so quick to return it if it were a $20 or $50 dollar bill?"

I quickly replied, "I would have returned it in either case!!!" I immediately began thinking, "Is there an amount and circumstances in which I would not return the money?"

Let's use the scenario at the beginning; an unmarked truck drives by and a bag containing $100 in singles falls off. Do you look for a way to return the money? By all accounts, honesty should be an absolute, you are either honest or you are not.

Would your answer change if it were $1 Million? What if you found out that the money belonged to orphans, would that make a difference? What if it belonged to drug dealers, would it make a dfference now?

Both, amounts and circumstances, could change, but your personal integrity should not. If your answer changes according to amounts or circumstances, you should really re-evaluate whether or not you consider yourself an honest person.

It is the subtle shades of grey that often unseat us from our true character. My grandfather once told me something a long time ago that still holds true to this day: "Money is a temporary possession. Those that seek to hold on to it too tightly, often lose sight of the reasons for earning it in the first place."

Greed, or avarice is often the downfall of many great people. A zen-master once stated to me, "The man who can find happiness with what he has, will never be defeated by want again." We enter and exit this world the exact same way: with nothing.

The things that we acquire during our lives, regardless of how much joy and pleasure they may bring, are often inherited by others and continue on without us. Can we learn to continue on without them as easily? Are we the sum of the things that we have acquired during our respective lifetimes?

I like to think that a persons true wealth is measured by the love shared with friends and family. Frank Capra's "It's a wonderful life" may have been hokey and corny, but I think it absolutely illustrated wealth as it pertains to the human condition.

Again, I'll ask the question, "How much is your integrity worth?"