Anyone watching the Chris Hanson special?

boogerbearoriginal

It just started - I'm very curious to see how Detroit is portrayed.

weddingcourt

I am. It's funny because I was talking to my nana about this yesterday. Her and my grandfather moved to detroit and lived downtown when it was the city of opportunity.  She had some pretty cool stories, it's terrible to see what it has become.

boogerbearoriginal

I bet - its so strange to hear the story of what Detroit was - my Mom talks about when she was growing up her and my Grandma would take the bus downtown to go shopping. They'd get dressed up for an afternoon out. Now there's a few blocks downtown and the rest is so sad.

Its really depressing to go on google and look at the satellite pictures of the neighborhoods.

What's even more depressing is when you hear the people in the suburbs who refuse to even go downtown for a Tiger's game. Its a shame they don't realize the big city is what feeds the suburbs - as Detroit goes so goes SE Michigan.

weddingcourt

It's a shame how people just don't care about Detroit. I had a friend that went to Wayne State for med school and lived just outside of the campus in a loft. We would hang out at his place then go to the different events that Detroit hosts throughout the year and it was difficult getting people to come with us. They just had so many preconceived notions about Detroit, but once they came they always were ready to go back. I think it is actually really fun downtown, some of the bars and restaurants are my favorite places to go. It's a shame more people aren't aware of just how great the city can be. I know the crime rate is scary, but it gets worse as less and less people support the city.

culbycheese

FI and I are watching it... I'm a little annoyed at this part about a guy that is shooting and eating raccoons and stuff. Like Detroit is the only place this happens??

boogerbearoriginal

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_michigan-detroit_anyone-watching-chris-hanson-special?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:88Discussion:4f58e72d-a0c8-48f7-8067-712a3cf05e96Post:51f474db-f4ca-49ec-881b-9a876bdaaf23">Re: Anyone watching the Chris Hanson special?</a>:
[QUOTE]FI and I are watching it... I'm a little annoyed at this part about a guy that is shooting and eating raccoons and stuff. Like Detroit is the only place this happens??
Posted by culbycheese[/QUOTE]

LOL - Hillbillies everywhere are confused - That's good eatin'!

I do find it a bit ironic that Chris Hansen claims it as his 'home town' but he went to Brother Rice? I'd be curious to know how much time he actually spent in the City before coming in for the documentary.

Julz629

We're DVRing it...about to start watching...

Sue-n-Kevin

I watched it, and it was pretty much the same story that's been done several times before. We were great once, auto industry made the middle class, etc.

I grew up in Detroit and lived in the same house until I was 21 (NW side, 8 Mile & Meyers area). I moved to Massachusetts then for my job, and came back in 1982. My dad was carjacked at gunpoint in his driveway. Silly jack*ss that my dad is, he went out LOOKING for the carjacked car, found it and drove it home, LMAO.

My son graduated from Wayne State, we've always spent a good amount of time downtown. I don't agree with people who don't like going downtown, but I won't persecute them either. It is their loss.

I have so much hope for Dave Bing & the city of Detroit. It has fabulous people (which I LOVED in the stories they showed), both inside the city & the suburbs. People like Kid Rock, Aretha Franklin, Anita Baker, who still live in the area shows me it's "home" to many. I'm an optomist and don't plan on leaving the area.

sunkissed212

We watched it. It was depressing but I (like sue) have a lot of respect for Dave Bing and I know that no one can turn that city around overnight. It took a very long time for Detroit to go downhill like it has and it's going to take a long time for it to make a recovery. It's nice to see someone actually taking initiative to make a move in the right direction...instead of just sitting around and watching it sink deeper and deeper into a hole of nothing.

I think that the urban gardens are brilliant! I was so sad when I saw that woman shopping at the store and her saying that they don't have any fresh produce in the area. When they showed the urban gardens, I thought "what a genius idea!" They aren't doing anything with those vacant lots anyway and this is a great way to offer fresh, healthy produce to people that live in the area but don't have the access and/or funds to get fresh healthy produce for their families. I think it is such a fantastic use of vacant space and I hope that they continue them.

Julz629

I watched it and although nothing was new or shocking, its so sad to see what some areas of Detroit has become.  It was also sad when they spent a few minutes on all the drama that has gone on with the city's leaders -- Kwame, Tom Riddle, Monica Conyers, etc etc etc.  The city never had a shot with people like them leading.  I have a huge amount of respect for Dave Bing and am truly hopefuly he can make some positive changes in the city.  Also, I am wowed by people like that mom that was featured who has practically nothing and still gives so much by taking in kids and raising them.  The warmness of her heart is so inspiring.

boogerbearoriginal

I was glad to see they didn't just show doom/gloom - I liked that they showed there are people in the city working very hard to make things better. I would love to see a major revitilization in my lifetime - not just of the downtown - but of the neighborhoods. A place where people don't just go and watch the ballgame and leave.

Unfortunately its a bit of a vicious cycle - no one wants to live there because its in such bad shape, but it will never improve unless more people live there that care about the community.

It was really sad when they were talking to the older guy who had lived there forever and he said the best of Detroit was gone. That is really a depressing thought. I feel like a lot of people have simply given up on the city.

MeghanAshley00

In Response to <a href="http://forums.weddings.com/Sites/Weddings/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_michigan-detroit_anyone-watching-chris-hanson-special?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:88Discussion:4f58e72d-a0c8-48f7-8067-712a3cf05e96Post:5981898d-af86-4e97-8152-54141cdef488">Re: Anyone watching the Chris Hanson special?</a>:
[QUOTE]I bet - its so strange to hear the story of what Detroit was - my Mom talks about when she was growing up her and my Grandma would take the bus downtown to go shopping. They'd get dressed up for an afternoon out. Now there's a few blocks downtown and the rest is so sad. Its really depressing to go on google and look at the satellite pictures of the neighborhoods. <strong>What's even more depressing is when you hear the people in the suburbs who refuse to even go downtown for a Tiger's game. Its a shame they don't realize the big city is what feeds the suburbs - as Detroit goes so goes SE Michigan.</strong>
Posted by Booger+Bear[/QUOTE]

<div>We wanted to have our wedding Downtown - my MIL said she would not go to our wedding if it was downtown Detroit. She was 100% serious. People with that sort of ignorance drive me insane. </div><div>
</div>