On July 18, 2013, the city of Detroit, Michigan filed for chapter
9 bankruptcy protection. The largest municipal debt filing in U.S. history
captured national media attention and caused concern throughout the country. The
fall of a once flourishing and dominant American city raises numerous questions:
“Will this happen elsewhere? What went wrong? What can be done to prevent
similar problems?”

 Under the direction of Louis IV’s representative
in the new world Antoine de la Cadillac, French soldiers and trappers
established a trading outpost and fort along the narrow strait connecting Lake
St. Clair and Lake Erie in 1701. They named the settlement with a descriptive
French word meaning strait-Detroit.
Although the outpost prospered, strife sprouted between competing interests
of businessmen, church leaders, and government officials. Cadillac was
eventually transferred by the French crown to Louisiana in 1710, and the
following two decades of poor leadership presaged things to come. 
 
Throughout the 1800’s the city gradually grew due to its strategic geographic importance for shipping and other transportation. Around the turn of the 20th century, manufacturing transformed the city into one of the most powerful economic centers in the country. Hard working innovators and visionary entrepreneurs like Henry Ford and Walter Chrysler led Detroit to become the
automotive manufacturing capital of the world. The assembly lines of Roosevelt’s “Arsenal of Freedom” rolled out tanks and planes destined for the hedgerows of France and the skies over the Pacific. The Detroit Arsenal Tank Plant  manufactured one fourth of all U.S. tanks, and Willow Run Bomber Works produced  over half of the B-24 Liberator heavy bomber fleet. By 1947, the city ranked  third in the United States in the value of all manufactured goods. The 1956 Encyclopedia Americanagushed, “Exceptionally high income has given Detroiters a standard of living
that is probably unexcelled among large cities. High living standards, a  pleasant climate that is relatively free from extreme conditions of heat or  cold, and freedom from floods, earthquakes, and tornadoes, have done their part  to make Detroit one of the healthiest cities in America.”

 A markedly different state of affairs now defines Detroit. Single
mothers head a full 30% of homes. “Non-family” households comprise an additional
40%. The demise of the family and a void in leadership, I believe, tell a story
punctuated by Detroit’s recent bankruptcy. Leaders, real leaders, model what
they say they believe. And, those they are privileged to lead generally
follow.

 Poverty and single motherhood are linked. A weak
tax base, a paucity of once plentiful industrial manufacturing jobs, a poor
educational system, and a decimated housing market strain the city’s ability to
provide public health, sanitation, and crime prevention services. 
Rampant crime plagues the city. Could it be the root problem is the
prolonged lack of caring, committed, and competent leadership in the city and
its families? Could the solution be a return to true family values which are
encouraged at all levels of city government? What if the ethic of hard work,
sacrifice, delayed gratification, and integrity were adopted and modeled by the
Detroit city “fathers”? Could we see a revival of the “Motor City” if men were
taught and bought the responsibility of becoming loving husbands, fathers, and
citizens? I believe we could.

 May this kind of revival become a reality, and may Detroit one
day become a gleaming example of what a culture built on strong families can
look like.

The hallmark of dementia is a short term memory deficit. A second, equally devastating symptom, is a progressive lack of communication.

My family and I attended a public gathering last evening in a neighboring city with an estimated 800 in attendance. The occasion was promoted as an opportunity for dialogue. I was disappointed, but not surprised, at the lack of dialogue. The word “dialogue” comes from the Greek root “dia”, meaning “through”, and “logos”, meaning “word”.  A dialogue then is to be a “talking through”.  Tragically, the factions last night did anything but “talk through” their differences. The host group talked down to the audience, while many in the audience shouted at the various speakers. The chance for honest give and take had been lost when the organizers’ format resulted in a series of lectures rather than a panel discussion with adequate time for reasoned questions and answers.  The resulting frustration of some in the crowd was vented via repeated interruptions. This discouraging event was simply one manifestation of our cultural lack of either the desire or ability to really communicate.

We have more means of “talking to each other” than ever in history. But, I am convinced we see less real communication than ever before. Thus, we have national dementia.

The speed of society has driven some of this relational demise. Years ago I read Richard Swenson‘s book Margin. He nails the dilemma squarely by identifying our penchant for overcommitting. This lack of restraint may be well intentioned but is unhealthy none the less. It leads to underperformance as we never seem to get done the things we “need” and want to do. We are attempting so many things simultaneously that we can’t seem to do anything well. We have self or otherwise imposed deadlines that we just can’t meet. We rise earlier and earlier and go to bed later and later. We’re always fatigued. By the end of the day we are totally exhausted, frustrated, and not infrequently cranky. In this milieu, try having a deep, meaningful conversation with your spouse or child! 

As a family doc, I see this behavior causally related to a host of health problems. People are so busy without adequate time for sleep, exercise, intimate conversation, or simple reflection. They major on fast food, power lunches, and quick snacks on the run. We did Sunday School survey years ago and were stunned by the abysmally low number of meals shared each week by the “average family”. I suspect today’s families fare no better.

Alzheimer’s dementia is largely irreversible. But, our national plight is treatable if enough individuals are willing to go against the culture and have the courage to lead us out of the morass. Each of us must choose to limit our activities to what is manageable. We must learn to say, “No,” to good things so we may say “Yes,” to the best things. We must return to a time of sitting at meals together with family and friends and eating slowly with pleasant conversation. We must turn our cell phones off for a time and talk to the person sitting across from us. We must go for walks, or rather strolls, in the park or through the woods or around the block. Texting has its place, but real dialogue includes eye contact and body language and tone of voice.

If we choose to live intentionally and well rather than fast, we may regain a sense of balance and margin in our lives. We can connect to our family and friends. We can know what is really going on in the hearts of our loved ones. We can live healthier and happier lives. We simply have to want it bad enough to make some real changes. May God give us the grace to do so.