Detroit I

i had an interesting plane ride home to Michigan this past weekend. the auto industry, cancer treatments, and the effect of Obama's presidency felt in a tiny town called Silverwood.

once on the plane, i took out my not-yet-on-the-newsstands-copy of The Atlantic and read about how the crash will reshape America and it's effects on the rustbelt, the sunbelt, and the suburbs. very interesting article and one that very much struck close to home with me.

i'm the daughter of a retired Ford auto-worker, the granddaughter of a General Foreman at AC Delco, and the niece of a former GM employee. i was born in a Detroit suburb and now i live in Washington, DC, where Detroit is a fumbling giant that is treated more like an embarassment than a fellow state. i could not be further away from my roots, and i feel a twinge of hurt when i hear talk of crumbling Detroit and Michigan's ineptitude in transforming itself.

there was a substantial group getting onto the plane with me. included in this group was Dan Rather, whom i assumed would be going to Detroit to interview someone in the industry. a fellow passenger in line with me said, "I wonder why all these people are going to Detroit... nothing there." this made me wonder why he was going to Detroit, but nonetheless there is something there. it hurts to realize that what was once a booming city is now being shunned by the general public for giving it what it wanted. it also hurts to see Michigan, a beautiful, truly four-season state with some of the most pristine lakes and wilderness not find a way to adapt easily to the new times. it has potential, but it will take a long time for it to get there.

i guess this is just the cycle that occurs with industry. the auto industry couldn't last forever. but how will it change?

i am interested to see what becomes of my birthplace in the next twenty years.