It's been a long time since I talked about my favorite HBO show that hasn't aired in a couple years, mainly because I'm in serious withdraw and need to get my hands on Season 4 and 5 to complete my collection.
If you still haven't found time to check out The Wire in any way you can, do it, because it's incredible.
How incredible? Incredible enough to become the basis for a class at Harvard.
Now, some people are going to think what I am going to say in this post is ridiculous, and that is perfectly fine; I don't expect everyone to agree with everything I say. That being said, reading about the introduction of this class gives me hope for the future.
William J. Wilson, the professor who will be offering the class, offered this explanation for using the program as the basis for a course at the Ivy League institution:I do not hesitate to say that it has done more to enhance our
understanding of the challenges of urban life and the problems of urban
inequality, more than any other media event or scholarly publication including
studies by social scientists.
While some may think that it is impossible to learn more from a fictional television show, the truth is that the things happening right now in our world are far better teaching tools than anything you can find in an antiquated textbook.
The world is changing rapidly and discussions of the ills that infect our society cannot be found in the history books; they are modern problems that need modern answers and to be discussed without pretense, which is precisely what The Wire did with urban life for five years on HBO.
Though I agree with Santayana that "those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it," I am more inclined to see the problems affecting our world right now be taught, studied and dealt with than worrying about what could happen in the future or what took place in the past.
What good is learning about wars that took place decades ago when poverty, drugs and crime cripple communities every day and go undiscussed? Instead of learning about the sociology of ancient civilizations, why not study the societies right outside our windows?
Is a class framed around the struggles portrayed on a television show the answer to the challenges of urban life?
Probably not, but at least Professor William J. Wilson and Harvard are willing to take a real look at the question...
Monday, November 2, 2009
There is Hope for the Future: Harvard Class on The Wire
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Things I Learned This Week
1. 24 Hours Just Isn't Enough
Sleep surely takes up anywhere from four to nine of those hours. Usually it's somewhere in the middle, like six. 18 hours left to my own devices may sound like plenty of time, but really, it's not enough. Not when you drop in a shift at work - anywhere from two to seven hours - and time doing domestic duties like washing the dishes, preparing meals and spending quality time with The Missus.
A day like today is the perfect example. Sarah's at work, which means dinner is on me. Additionally, I have a ton of writing to do, but a shift opening the bar also beckons, a shift that quite frequently turns into getting home six hours after I left. Mix in walking the dog before and after work and I'm left with a two or three hour window at best to get my work done.
Bottom line: I need another two or three hours in the day ... or someone to pay me to write so I don't have to go to work any more.
2. I Have Limited Abilities at Predicting the Future
Unfortunately, they're limited to knowing when certain people won't show up for work, not anything useful like lottery numbers or what the next big money-making invention the world will stupidly scoop up in massive quantities like the ShamWow is going to be.
Thankfully, I'm smart enough to use this gift to my benefit, getting out in front of the call-ins I know will happen to ensure that my phone doesn't ring as the desperate scramble to cover the vacated shift goes down.
3. Fedor to the UFC Isn't Happening
Honestly, this one really bummed me out for a couple days.
You would think that with the demise of Affliction, the UFC would be a slam dunk for the dominant Russian heavyweight; the organization with the deepest pockets and best collection of fighters to challenge the man on an eight-year winning streak.
Not so much. Too many hurdles and too much animosity and mistrust between all the parties have led to Fedor remaining a pseudo-free agent and the UFC all but washing their hands of trying to lure him into the fold.
This is precisely why I refuse to recognize him as the best Pound-for-Pound fighter on the planet: he doesn't really want to fight the best guys out there.
4. How Do You Not See This?
Read an article in this month's GQ about a Wisconsin high school student who convinced the boys in his school he was a girl over Facebook and got them to send him intimate snapshots if you will, only to turn around and use said pictures to blackmail them into having various relations with him.
The article is outstanding, right up until the moral outrage of the parents and the shocking reaction they have to the lack of trauma this has caused "the victims." I use quotes not to diminish the situation, but how much of a victim are you if you're the one snapping the self-portraits and sending them off to random "girls" over Facebook?
Open your eyes parents: these aren't your childhood years! Your 13-year-old knows more about sex now than you did at 21 and there is at least a 50/50 chance that he or she has already gone around the bases a time or two.
And don't blame TV and movies either; it's as much your fault as it is the cast of Friends or various Hollywood hits.
5. I Might Be Getting Married Again
No, Sarah and I haven't gotten divorced and yes, we're technically married, but it turns out the process of getting that made legal here in Canada could end up being more hassle than just having a second quickie ceremony at City Hall might be.
After all, it's not like you can just start checking the "Married" box on applications and forms without some kind of legal record of said marriage being on file somewhere. Translating our Spanish documents and going through the various steps on that path could be costly and lengthy, whereas standing in front of a Justice of the Peace and exchanging "I Do's" a second time would be quick and painless, not to mention a funny story for down the road.
I'll keep you posted.
Monday, May 19, 2008
The Rebirth of Slick
The long-forgotten hip hop act Digable Planets' most well-known hit is becoming the motto for this time of renewal in my life.
Over the past ten days, I've had a lot to deal with - getting my head around the passing of my grandfather, thinking a lot about the awkward interactions with my father at his funeral and plotting my course for the next little while, to name a few.
Writing has taken a backseat to getting my ducks in a row.
They're all straightened away now and it's time to rekindle the fire that brought both you and me here in the first place.
I used to wake up on Mondays not very interested in the week ahead.
Talib Kweli put my feelings on this particular Monday best in his contribution to the Soundtrack of My Life:
This morning, I woke up
Feeling brand new and I jumped up
Feeling my highs, and my lows
In my soul, and my goals
Just to stop smokin, and stop drinkin
And I've been thinkin - I've got my reasons
Just to get (by), just to get (by)
Just to get (by), just to get (by)
I took the last couple days off to just get home and get right; relax from a taxing ten days and plot a course for the summer that is rapidly approaching.
I set some goals for myself:
- Drop some weight - 20 pounds or so
- Get in shape
- Stop smoking - I know, I know... you've heard that before
- Write every day
- See if anyone is interested in publishing the ideas that rattle around in my head
Imagine how nice it would be to roll out to VanCity all tucked up, off the darts and able to tell my future Mother-in-Law that instead of worrying that I am going to be a low income, starving artist, house husband as originally expected I am a full-fledged, well-received, soon-to-be-published author.
As cool as that news would be to deliver to Jane, I want to deliver that news to myself and Sarah more than anything.
This is the first step to that end.
This is The Rebirth of Slick... Continue reading ...
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
The Next Move
With one part of life sorted out, we've wasted no time in getting down to work on the next phase of life, deciding where exactly we want to set up shop for the foreseeable future.
Eschewed are the pipe dream ideas of moving to the Cayman Islands or England or somewhere exotic; while any of those would be nice, they're not really feasible and since we're in the process of growing up, being realistic is important.
Over coffees (both of us) and cigarettes (just me) this morning, I think we narrowed the field down to three legitimate, realistic choices. They are:
- Cambridge / Kitchener / Waterloo
- Northern British Columbia
- Midland
NBC makes sense because the fine folks in government in Sarah's home province would pay back her sizable Student Loan for her, as well as contribute extra cash on every pay cheque for her having two degrees. Couple that with being in closer proximity to her Mum and brother, the beautiful and spacious outdoors Sarah loves and I'm coming to enjoy as well and these two lead dogs are neck and neck...
Midland is a distant third simply because, well, it's Midland. The benefit, or potential benefit, is a place to stay at a reduced rate when Sarah's Aunt and Uncle make their regular winter pilgrimage to California or Florida or whatever warmer climate they decide to inhabit this winter. Faye might be up there too, but since Faye has about as much of a plan as to where she'll be in September as we do, we're leaving her out of the discussion for now.
Feel free to cast your votes in the comment section.
Sorry Newfoundlanders, but coming back to St. John's isn't an option. Continue reading ...
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Damn Straight, Sheryl Crow!
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
An Open Letter to Anyone Who Wants to Listen
Yesterday, I sought out clarity and understanding of an issue.
Today, I want to pass along what my venture has taught me and what I pledge to do from this day forward as a result.
In hoping to have a discussion, I was sent a link to Google images of horrible atrocities.
In sending a private email asking for insight and opinions, I was told that is what us white folks always want to do.
In asking to help educate and open minds, I was told that educating and opening minds wasn't part of the deal.
Racism and bigotry are issues that have always struck a chord with me. That's what happens when you're the white kid who grew up loving hip hop, hung out in a melting pot of cultures and ethnicities and was nicknamed "United Nations" by his old man for being so accepting of everyone, no matter the skin tone.
I do not tolerate either and do not understand those who do. We no longer live in a time where "that's the way they were raised" can be used as an excuse, not that it should have been in the first place.
I also do not understand being bound to the past beyond the point of moving forward. The sins of the father do not always fall to the son and the ills of the father work the same way. At some point, history and the past must simply be that; remember it, swear to never repeat it and work towards the future. The future is what we can control and change and influence. That should be our focus.
Yesterday, part of one of the comments nearly brought me to tears:
If you've had thousands of your people killed and burned while White offspring laugh and smile at the feet of their murderous fathers, then you would totally understand. Slave ships traveled to and fro for 200 years. Two thirds of Africans died on each trip. Do the math.These are the images burned in our memories from birth and where the majority of our distrust for Whites is grounded.
That shit is sick! It's fucking disgusting and an entire race should be ashamed that their grandfathers, brothers, uncles, neighbors, priests and presidents basically authenticated DEATH with no action!
I am not ashamed of who I am, nor do I feel I should be. Slavery and the atrocities committed during those times were not committed by each and every white person. I am as sickened by the pictures linked to me in the comment as anyone with any moral fiber should be, but I am not responsible for those sins. Please don't judge me as such. Doing so is as mistake and a missed opportunity.
I saw yesterday as an opportunity, to open a line of discussion on a topic that is of the utmost importance in our world. Instead of discussing the random, unimportant topics that are usually featured here, I wanted to do something I think is important - educate.
It's not my job or any other Black person to educate Whites on what is right and wrong to say.
Get a fucking book and educate yourselves instead of focusing on yourselves and yourselves only.
No one else in this country does this. We know more about Whites than they know about themselves because we are forced to know.
My question is this: Why not you? Or me? Or anyone?
There isn't any rule that says you can't help someone grow and become a better person. This isn't about black or white, it is about educating, understanding, learning, growing and becoming a better world.
For me, the future is what is most important. It is the world in which my children will live and grown and learn. I cannot change the things that have happened before my time, but I can educate myself, my children and anyone else who wants to listen to where we have been, where we are and where we can go.
Education and communication are the answer.
I refuse to stand in the past and not be a part of building a better future, for everyone.
My world is colour blind.
I only hope that yours is too. Continue reading ...
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