[MICoastieMom]

As a kid, my dad's job took us all over the the USA. I have lived in every section of the USA except the Pacific Northwest and New England (although I did live on Cape Cod in my early 20's). IMHO, Michigan has more variety in seasons and weather, geography, cultures, and recreation than just about any other state in the union. And I think they are way more friendly than our neighbors in Ohio and Indiana (and I lived both places.) Even with setting aside the issues of bad roads, high taxes, lack of services, poor economic outlook, we have sadly allowed ourselves to become a state of polarized citizens: UP vs. Lower Peninsula, West Michigan vs. sunrise side, U-M vs. MSU, Detroit vs. out-state, professional vs. working class, up-scale neighborhoods vs. ethnic neighborhoods, and so on, and so on, .....

At the risk of being ridiculed for sounding like Rodney King, how much nicer it would be if we all worked together. I prefer to be inspired by the Depression-era Gary Cooper movie, Meet John Doe. Surely things are not as bad now as they were 80 years ago (we haven't resorted to moving families to Alaska yet, LOL). If there was a belief then that a grass-roots movement of service to others could improve the quality if life then, why not now. And why not in Michigan?

So the auto industry is on a down slide? So the unions are being castrated? So high gas prices are threatening the upcoming tourism season? So if Michigan is worth saving, isn't it worth it to us to do the saving? We need to wrestle the land back from big business and tell them we aren't going to stand for them raping and polluting the land and water and then skipping out and leaving us with another toxic dump site. We need to put an end to urban sprawl and the gobbling up of prime farmland. We need to tell the construction industry we want them to re-build and restore the cities. We need to wrestle the cities back from the drug dealers and pedafiles and prostitutes and make them safe for families again. And then we need to let our actions demonstrate to our legislators and our mayors, and our governor that we are mad as hell and we aren't going to take it any longer.

I'm not talking anarchy here. I believe that these goals can be accomplished within the letter and the spirit of the law. I believe that we are not slaves to the government. We are the people. The government is there to serve us. And it is up to us to make sure that it does. I have said my piece, thank you for listening; getting down from my soapbox now.

[YAZ]

Anyone that knocks MI should spend a week or so on the sunrise side.

There are spots on Lake Huron that are paradise to me.

Leland is a slice of heaven, the Lake Superior coastline has more majesty than anything in California, and the hunting/fishing is world class.

[khfar]

Honestly, I never even thought about Michigan until we found out we were moving here. I think to many southernors, the midwest seems boring and dreary. Most of us don't like the cold!

And yes, when my husband said "Detroit", I almost passed out. Because of the negative media exposure Detroit gets, I think most people who have never visited, think it's a dump. And parts of Detroit certainly ARE dumpy. But not downtown, and all the beautiful lakes and other areas of metro Detroit. I had to find out for myself, though. And all of my friends and family that have come to visit have been pleasantly surprised as well. We're going up north this summer, and I am REALLY looking forward to that.

[Steve-o]

Those who think MI is cold/dreary 24-7, flat, ugly, etc, are either A) blind, B) stupid, C) ignorant, or D) all of the above.

I choose D.

I wanna know who could possibly think that Traverse City, Holland, Mackinac Island, Sleeping Bear Dunes, Isle Royale, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, the Great Lakes, Porcupine Mountains, etc, etc, etc are "ugly" or "boring" or "flat". UGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[khfar]

Originally Posted by Steve-o

Those who think MI is cold/dreary 24-7, flat, ugly, etc, are either A) blind, B) stupid, C) ignorant, or D) all of the above.

I choose D.

I wanna know who could possibly think that Traverse City, Holland, Mackinac Island, Sleeping Bear Dunes, Isle Royale, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, the Great Lakes, Porcupine Mountains, etc, etc, etc are "ugly" or "boring" or "flat". UGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think you forgot E) Never been to MI before, therefore they don't know.

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by khfar

I think you forgot E) Never been to MI before, therefore they don't know.

Which would make them C) ignorant.

[Njrover0216]

I have only been to MIchigan once for a long weekend in June. I thought it was nice there, OKemos was where I stayed.

[khfar]

Originally Posted by Steve-o

Which would make them C) ignorant.

Are you kidding? Why? Have you visited EVERY state in the US? Unless someone has visited Michigan, they probably don't know all there is to know about it. Doesn't make them ignorant.

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by khfar

Are you kidding? Why? Have you visited EVERY state in the US? Unless someone has visited Michigan, they probably don't know all there is to know about it. Doesn't make them ignorant.

Perhaps youre not understanding me???

If someone stereotypes MI, and has never been there before, that damn well makes them IGNORANT.

No need to get your panties in a bunch over there. Sheesh.

[Iggs]

Even though I have lived in and around Chicago since college graduation I am proud to say I am originally from Michigan. People have usually been positive and say nice things about MI. A lot of people vacation in Northern, SW and NW MI from this area and really like it.