Anders blog

Eminem's 'Imported from Detroit' Chrysler Super Bowl Ad Speaks to Michigan Pride

COMMENTARY | Eminem's "" Chrysler Super Bowl commercial is getting lots of notice. Gorgeous urban images of Detroit landmarks, skeletal remains ofbuildings, industry, gospel singers and a 2011 Chrysler 200 driven by Detroit native Marshall Bruce Mathers III. The Spirit of Detroit, the gorgeous restored Fox Theater, the glorious art deco Guardian building, Hart Plaza, the Ren Cen, the UAW gear monument, the Campus Martius ice rink, Joe Louis's "Fist": these are sights that should stir Detroit Michigan natives in general.

I'm a West Michigan girl. I grew up darn near in the Big Lake. When we were kids and asked our parents if we could go to Detroit, we were told, "Why would you want to go there? There's nothing there but crime." That was the prevailing attitude. My husband always loved Detroit. We used to argue which was better, the Windy City or the Motor City. He made a good point. Getting around was easier in Detroit and besides, it's one of our own. So we started hanging out there.

I just recently walked those "inner city" Detroit streets again. We drove up Grand River Avenue. Yes, I saw the burned out, broken down and boarded up. I chose to look at the "finer things". I felt a catch in my voice for the Little Gem restoration. I craned my neck to film the Penobscot Building. I stood in awe of the Compuware Fountain. I worshiped at Hard Rock Cafe's Detroit music legend altars: Eminem's sweat pants, Slash's jacket, Madonna's dress. I paid my respects to Tiger Stadium. I whispered a prayer at the "Freedom in Sight" statue and hummed Gordon Lightfoot at Old Mariners' Church. I gaped at the monstrous chromium MGM Grand and Motor City Casinos.

Not all Michiganders feel that way about Detroit. Some critics say Eminem's Chrysler commercial is over the top., North Star National editor, writes about the Super Bowl Chrysler commercial scathingly, "Detroit is a mess. I'm sorry. It is," Calabrese says. "I love the city, and I love many things about it, but overall Detroit is big, heaping, steaming pile of problems. ... If Chrysler wants to make the case for the quality of its cars, that's fine. But it should save the attitude, keep its head down and focus on the mountain of work it still has to do before it can claim to be a respectable company once again. And that goes for Detroit too."

Of course, Calabese would say that. Grand Rapids, his native city, is in competition with the Motor City for top dog in Michigan. Detroit is Michigan's largest city. Detroit is the 11th largest city in the United States. Once Michigan's capitol, the star was relocated to Lansing for convenience. Shame is something Detroit need not feel. Anger maybe. Anger at loss of auto-industry jobs. Anger at being to a large degree abandoned by the rest of the state.

Keeping its head down is just what Detroit cannot do. Head down, means shame. Head down means you can't see what's going on around you. "The attitude" may be just what saves Michigan. An attitude of "we've been to hell and survived" may be just what the Motor City needs.

A life-long resident of "Pure Michigan", Marilisa Kinney Sachteleben is passionate about her natal shore. From the "Big Lake they call Gitche Gumee" to Detroit auto workers, from sand dune to apple orchard, Marilisa cares about education, economy, politics, history, natural resources and social justice in Michigan.