It's a Detroit Thing (or why are we so sensitive to national perception?)

So the All Star Game has come and gone, and by all accounts, it was a huge success. So why are so many Detroiters not happy? Most of the national media gave Detroit relatively rave reviews, and the players themselves acknowledged that the event was well done, and that they had a good time. The problem? Jeannie Zalasko. Apparently, during an on air interview of Hall of Fame broadcast legend Ernie Harwell, she cut him off mid-sentence, saying, "..we could go on and on..." implying that Ernie was a bit loose and tangential, and that we was not really interested in hearing what the great legend (who she probably thought was some goofy old man) had to say.

This was an act that generated outrage in the Detroit community. Our beloved Ernie! One of the few sports icons that Detroiters have that other cities wish they had. One of the few sports icons that puts us on par with the great baseball cities of the country (along with NY's Red Barber, St. Louis' Jack Buck, Chicago's Harry Carry, and L.A.'s Vin Scully). How dare she not treat him with respect. In fact, disrespecting Ernie is a sign she doesn't view him in the same vein as other broadcast legends, and it must be that she doesn't give him the same credit becasue he did his fine HOF work in Detroit! So, Jeannie Zalasko disrespected us.

And back it comes to our thin skin. Whether it's al michaels (no caps intentional), Jimmy Kimmel, Jay Leno, or Jeannie Zalasko, we as a community get pretty easily offended when we aren't given "our props." I completely understand it; we get our share of negative pub, so when we do something right, or have someone special, we want the national media to recognize it (or him or her). A part of us wants the recognition b/c we would like "a little love" once in awhile. Another part of us wants the positive press b/c the only way to change the perception of Detroit that many unfamiliar with our community seem to have, is for those who are aware of our gems to celebrate them, not walk all over them as Zalasko had done.

This is where patience must be exercised, and thought placed before action and protest. My belief is that one (or in this case, a community) cannot demand respect, but rather over time, one commands respect with one's attitudes, ethics, and behavior. Someone who has developed a well-earned reputation for being boorish, obnoxious, and angry will require a long period of engaging in genuine loving acts of kindness before those around him/her will believe the change is relatively stable. It is not always fair, but that is how we are. We don't want to believe that someone has genuinely changed until we are certain. Perhaps we don't want to be fooled by them. Sometimes we will doubt that person for their entire life. If that person was changing in order to earn our respect, and that respect wan't coming quickly enough, s/he might throw his or her arms up in despair, say, "this isn't worth it," and go back to being boorish and obnoxious. But if that person had a genuine change, and was beginning to recognize the value of being a genuine good person regardless of the notice of others, s/he will be a much happier, satisfied, and fulfilled person knowing the effort that it took to make the change and watching life bear the fruits of that change.

So, too, Detroit. While I agree that we have been, and continue to be, disrespected, much of that is beyond our control. What we can control is to continue to develop as a community, to improve social services, enhance diversity, and make our community one in which people feel safe and welcome. We do it for our sake, and we feel better for it. And perhaps, eventually, others will respect us. However, if we continue to demand respect, others will think we are trying too hard, and they'll continue to step on us.