Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Detroitblog
Here is a very cool collection of essays on Detroit. It explores and displays what's left of the glorious past of Detroit. At the same time, it emphasizes what is happening now. This guy has a way with words and pictures to show what's left of what once was. Boarded up wrecks still show flashes of old-time elegance among the winos and drug addicts. This guy brings it to life. It must have been quite amazing to wander the streets of prewar Detroit. For all our accomplishments and advances of today, those days of the 19-teens had some cultural significance that is a major loss.
Like most cities, especially those of the midwest, much of Detroit is collapsing upon itself. What was once known as MoTown and was at one time the center of automotive excellence is now a festering expanse of abandoned and dying neighborhoods and retail areas. Sure, I know there are new developments going on, but much of Detroit looks like the aftermath of a war. A couple of times when I've had to drive there, I made a wrong turn or looked out while motoring down the expressway and have seen buildings and people that are boarded up and have given up. Flint and Saginaw are part and parcel of that metropolitan disease of abandonment to crime and apathy. It is really sad to see just how far Michigan has fallen.
Labels: gripes, michigan, oldies
