Yesterday afternoon I had the displeasure of coming across this gem of a video on YouTube:

I know many of you have seen it, being that it spread through the #lovelansing community on twitter like a wildfire. And I definitely  know I am not alone in feeling disgusted that the GOP would use the city I love, the community I have built my home within, to sling the proverbial mud at the democratic candidate for Governor, our  city’s Mayor, Virg Bernero.

Now I know what many of you may be thinking, “Come on, what do you expect? After all, this is the game of politics.” But to me, becoming a player in the game is no exuse. You are not just taking a stab at the democratic candidate, but at all of us who love this city.

What the Pure Lansing advertisement does not show is the amazing sense of community one gets from becoming a resident of Lansing. It does not show all of the wonderful things people are doing in the city- from networking events such as Lansing Breakfast Club, Lansing Happy Hour Club or Ignite Lansing, to re-energizing downtown through the works of the Principal Shopping District and the like. It does not highlight the creativity that is bursting at the seams of this great city by showcasing the art galleries, Delux Inn grafiti art or the Riverwalk Theater.

As an MSU alum, I will admit that I had thoughts of escaping Michigan upon graduation for a warmer climate, “big city” and fresh start, which is not unlike many graduates embarking upon adulthood. However, after leaving the state for a short stint, I returned to Lansing, hesitant about what I would find here. To my surprise at the time, I was welcomed with open arms and that opened my eyes to all the city has to offer. I have built a “Lansing family” of sorts here, a community of people who continue to inspire me, impress me, care for me and motivate me to dream big.

I for one am proud to be a resident of Lansing and couldn’t be more excited to cast my vote for Virg this upcomong November.

So nice try, Michigan Republican Party, but you failed to evoke anything in me but pride for my city and its Mayor. I am going to look to the issues and refuse to become jaded this election cycle, in hopes that we can create some real social change throughout Michigan these next four years- and really, isn’t that all politics should really be about?