What is the REAL Problem?

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In My Opinion
By Bobjohnson
In response to the reactions from the comic strip as well as the Violence in Saginaw article, I would like to clear up some things. Before I do I would like to say that I am saddened at the lack of responses I received about the positive things in and around Saginaw. Before I wrote this issue’s article, I went around and asked one simple question: What are some of the positive things about Saginaw? I asked different people but most of them were from Saginaw. Almost no one had anything positive to say. Even the ones that told me to come to them for my next article and they would have all kinds of positive things to say about our city. Well when that day came most of them changed their mind and others did not want to be quoted in the Collegiate. This really upset me because everyone had some really amazing things to say OFF record. SPEAK UP! Don’t talk to deaf ears! This issue of the Collegiate would have been the PERFECT time to express yourself because now we have gained national attention.
Now in response to the comic strip:
First, if a person just reads the comic strip alone it may seem a little raw and distasteful. But the comic strip was meant to be read AFTER the front page article. They were a package. Most of those I talked to that took offense said they didn’t read the article first. Then after reading the article they understood the comic – or so they told me.
Secondly, there was a little confusion over whether or not I knew the comic would be published. I knew that the comic strip would run. I was unsure exactly how, but I knew that something very similar to the original comic would be published. I was not offended by the cartoon although; I can see why some would be. As a result of me being on campus four days out of the week from morning till night I have become used to the way surrounding counties view Saginaw. I take classes with people from small towns that I have never heard. They have never been to Saginaw. Most of them are scared to death of Saginaw. They hear the stories and watch the news. I have been desensitized to the violence because I live here so what is normal to me is not to them. I used to feel offended when they would ask me certain things or assumed certain things. I soon realized that they were asking about the things they see and hear about.
Finally, I have some questions I would like for us (Saginaw residents) to think about. What are we going to do about it? Are we going to stand by and cry about it or will we begin to address the violence problem? Will we spend unnecessary time discussing issues that do not matter or will we actually work on the problem? Do we care about our image in Saginaw? Will we fix our image? Do we want to draw in outsiders? Do we want to continue losing people to other cities and states?
For all of you that live in Saginaw and really love it here, I applaud you. To everyone that has not given up, everyone that tries to make Saginaw a better city, you are my heroes. It hurts me to see the Facebook statuses that read: “I hate it here. I can’t wait until I finish school so I can leave this town!” or “I’m glad I got out, I’m never coming back!” That is a very selfish act to me. This is the city that birthed and educated you. To you I say, “If you are not part of the solution here in Saginaw, you are part of the problem. There is no in between. So if you are part of the problem, we don’t need you anyway!”








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