Michael1942's Blog

Recently the Governor of Michigan appointed Kevyn Orr as city manager of Detroit. The surprise is that Detroit  has been in trouble for years since the decline of the motor companies. Strangely enough Mr. Orr is Black (African-American) or what ever you chose to call him and negotiated the  Chrysler bankruptcy. The surprise is your surprise (some of you)!  Why would anyone be surprised if they are as liberal or ethnically open as the purport to be? This would  fly in the face of longtime accepted ideas of the place in America for Blacks, Browns, other non whites and different gender  (preferenced) people. To get to the point, why are we surprised? Some of us are surprised because we have had and currently have an ill-conceived and learned  ideas of what other Colors and gender people are really like. Would any of them be surprised to know that the person who invented the improvement on elevators that prevents a car (cage) from plummeting to its lowest point (bottom) was Black? Or that Raymond Burr, Rock Hudson or  Liberace were gay? Why are we surprised? The surprise in rooted in our past upbringing, learned behavior and stubborn adherence to family lore which often is flawed. The surprise is that many people cannot realize their perceptions are wrong and require updating. The surprise is that many high profile legislators, industry Captains are so outmoded in their thinking. We of the modern(?) times have not evolved from the  ways that restrict the real growth potential of our citizens, which by association restricts the growth of our nation and economy.