Most recent public comments by Ryan Smith https://nowcomment.com/users/51173 https://nowcomment.com/documents/136072?scroll_to=1315790 https://nowcomment.com/documents/136072?scroll_to=1315790 Money in the drug trade is inconsistent at times, so I believe this respect between dealers and junkies displays a mutual relationship for money. The idea that D'Angelo doesn't get respect from police is a possible outcome of why he feels the junkies need to be respected. As junkies are at the bottom of the social hierarchy, he knows the atrocities of being an outcast because he is a former felon. Thu, 04 Apr 2019 10:50:41 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/136072?scroll_to=1315780 https://nowcomment.com/documents/136072?scroll_to=1315780 I believe this is a prominent issue in the United States because many of the citizens in the United States who aren't affluent or working will exploit the system to receive money. Both of my parents are social workers, and this is a recurring issue that they deal with on a daily basis. Although this is morally wrong, there is no significant way to measure suffering, so it is extremely likely that Caesar has post-traumatic stress disorder from working in the drug trade, which could trigger his "rage." One aspect of your comment that stood out is the word, "survival.", and this shows the level of morality and integrity when measuring the values of a person. Thu, 04 Apr 2019 10:29:01 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/136072?scroll_to=1314423 https://nowcomment.com/documents/136072?scroll_to=1314423 Many people in the working class are pushed into illegal acts such as selling drugs because the pay isn't decent enough to make an honest living, but it is ironic because the drug dealers want to escape their life too. Poot didn't get a regular job at Foot Locker until many of his friends died, and he only survived because he moved away from the drug trade. He watched two of his best friends, Wallace and Bodie, die and this most likely had traumatizing effect on him. This is the concept that Primo is attempting to explain to Phillipe, the challenges are greater than the advantages. Being constantly surrounded by violence and death outweighs the benefits of a lavish lifestyle and consistent income. Wed, 03 Apr 2019 22:10:19 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/136072?scroll_to=1314364 https://nowcomment.com/documents/136072?scroll_to=1314364 One of my favorite lines from The Wire is when Marlo visits Avon in prison. While Avon is explaining to the young Marlo, he asserts his dominance and describes himself as an authority figure. When evaluating the array of drug dealers in The Wire, we never see any of the kingpins wasting their money on their workers, and this is why each kingpin is successful in their operation. Rather than providing them with charity, they make their workers earn promotions and let them rise throughout the ranks by doing various tasks to increase their wealth and respect. This is where Benzie and Caesar's operation failed because they weren't hard enough on their workers and splurged money on drugs and hotels, instead of wisely spending or saving it. In The Wire, Proposition Joe didn't really care for Cheese, but he gave him an outlet to rise. Same for Avon & D'Angelo, Avon made his nephew work just like everybody else because it taught him about the importance of work ethic. Thu, 04 Apr 2019 02:20:47 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/136072?scroll_to=1314293 https://nowcomment.com/documents/136072?scroll_to=1314293 When drugs are active and present in a person's surrounding, it is almost impossible to avoid using them. The Wire does an amazing job of explaining the ramifications of drug abuse, and Primo and Caesar parallel with many of the characters who become addicts in the show. In the Wire, Bubbles begins as strictly an addict, but as his life progresses, he distances himself from this manipulative lifestyle. He constantly tries to save others around him including Johnny and Sherrod, but he realizes the consequences of this horrendous addiction. Although Bubbles was no saint himself, he understood discipline and worked whenever he wasn't abusing drugs. To work and recover from addiction, it ultimately led to his survival because he was an anomaly amongst the other addicts in the show. Thu, 04 Apr 2019 08:34:55 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/134033?scroll_to=1312862 https://nowcomment.com/documents/134033?scroll_to=1312862 It is disheartening that we live in a country where there is outright hatred against minority groups that the government commits genocide on minorities to suppress them. When reading the rhetoric of Alexander, she is too nice and forgiving in her tone. Alexander adopts words like "odd coincidence" and "bold accusation" when describing this war. The war on drugs is a legal and immoral tactic by the government to control aspects outside of the government's reach, and this is an unfair and unjust process. Alexander is too acceptant because nearly 80% of people in federal prison and 60% of people in state prison for drug offenses are black or Latino. Tue, 02 Apr 2019 10:26:51 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/134033?scroll_to=1309569 https://nowcomment.com/documents/134033?scroll_to=1309569 This thought process of reforming prison is important and needs to be addressed in a political context. How can we strategically change the prison-industrial complex and the blatant discrimination against minorities? Philadelphia rapper and social activist, Meek Mill recently went to prison for popping a wheelie, and he was sentenced to two to four years for violation of parole because of a previous probation charge at 19. Other celebrities such as Michael Rubin and Robert Kraft recognized this crisis and provided an immense amount of support to help him in his situation. Rubin, co-owner of Philadelphia 76ers, believed the prison system worked great, but he soon realized is flawed judgment is ignorant to a place that never affected him. Meek Mill asserted to him that there are "two Americas" and this opened Rubin's eyes dramatically to a prejudicial criminal justice system. Thu, 28 Mar 2019 10:17:05 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/134033?scroll_to=1309559 https://nowcomment.com/documents/134033?scroll_to=1309559 Generally, gateway has a positive connotation as an entrance or means of access, but Alexander explains the concept brilliantly when analyzing the prison system. This path that is opened for convicts is detrimental to their success and escape from this marginalized position. People don't understand the ideology that once a person is classified as a prisoner, there life immediately falls, sometimes indefinitely, in the hierarchy of society. From this new entry into America's undercaste, this "gateway" is opens a path to detain and prevent the mobility of minorities. Thu, 28 Mar 2019 09:42:16 -0400