So what do you think about this shirt? I heard about it on the radio yesterday and saw the story today. Lennon Caruso, the owner of Caruso Caruso, the Birmingham store selling the shirt, says, “Detroit is fine. There’s nothing wrong with it, absolutely.”
And if you don’t like it, you can instead purchase his “Detroit is for Lovers” shirt.
Maybe not quite as offensive as the Urban Outfitter t-shirt: “New Mexico. Cleaner Than Regular Mexico.”
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I think who cares. It is just a t-shirt – really what influence does it have over someone’s impression on Detroit? Detroiters make so many digs at other places (Canada, the ‘burbs, Maine, etc), I don’t get where they can complain about a shirt.
Have you seen the one that says ” I am so bad, I vacationed in Detroit”? Laughed my arse off when I saw that one and this one.
(precursor: this is not intended for Stacey!)
I live here (duh), and I think it’s hilarious.
In fact, the uproar about this shirt illustrates a very important point: we get upset and exorcized about the dumb stuff, and not the stuff that counts.
Where is the real outrage at the city’s unemployment rate? Where’s the outrage at the complete abandonment of the city’s outer ring? Where are the marches protesting the rate of black-on-black violence? Why do we get upset at a fucking shirt, when we have ENTIRE FAMILIES DYING from poverty — in America! Why is this acceptable, but we have a crisis over a shirt?
Detroiters actually expect this kind of shit from the ‘burbs. It’s not Detroiters that get their panties in a bunch over this stuff; it’s the people that either need something to talk about, or are so worried about the city’s image that they spend their time fighting shirts.
When will the suburbs get it? When will they understand that when the city works, it’s better for all of us?
Want to stop shirts like this? Wanna improve the image of the city? DO SOMETHING TO IMPROVE THE CITY. It’s actually up to you. Each of you. Individually. Make it a priority. Help people. Bring your business here. Support legislation. Support first responders. Kick out corruption. DEMAND BETTER by setting an example. Bring your family here for a dinner. Stay after a ballgame. Discover other parts of the city you haven’t been to. Yes, you can complain and do nothing about it. In fact, it’s done every day. Look around you.
The point is that you CAN change it, but you have to want to. Now, we’ll see who wants it to.
“Detroiters actually expect this kind of shit from the ‘burbs. It’s not Detroiters that get their panties in a bunch over this stuff; it’s the people that either need something to talk about, or are so worried about the city’s image that they spend their time fighting shirts.”
I am with urbantiki on this one. Its just a shirt. Same with Grand Theft auto, and the Ten Commandments, and any other target of the thought police (ad hoc or institutional)…my theory is that sometimes to disagree with what you are seeing will inervate you more towards action than a shirt that said “Detroit is a blend of good things and bad things” – accurate but hardly provocative!
You would be surprised at how many cities would jump at the shot to have its name on a t-shirt, period.
Any publicity is good, regardless.
a fellow i know who works for midtown development said it best, “i used to try to argue with people about how great detroit is, but now i don’t care what they think, i know it’s great”… that’s pretty much the sentiment i have… though, i suppose i’d rather have more positive shirts…
on the same note, i found the “New Mexico. Cleaner Than Regular Mexico.” shirt to be pretty funny… but if i were from mexico maybe i’d be offended…
I agree with the other comments.
I’m sure this story was written on a slow news day, otherwise, nobody would care about it.
Personally, I find it campy and amusing.
And the New Mexico shirt – come on, that’s *genius*.
It’s the best shirt since “New Jersey Girls Aren’t Trash – Trash Gets Picked Up”
I actually prefer the one that says, “Friends Don’t Let Friends Move to the Suburbs”.
I saw a shirt that said “F**k vactioning, I LIVE in Detroit!” I want that shirt.