"No."
"No, it's more than that. This is more important than who knew what when, or who falls on his sword, or whether somebody can use this disaster to make a political point or two. We can forgive Major Colvin, who, out of his frustration and despair, found himself condoning something which can't possibly be condoned. We can forgive that much. But gentlemen, what we can't forgive-- what I can't forgive, ever-- is how we... you, me, this administration, all of us... how we turned away from those streets in West Baltimore, the poor, the sick, the swollen underclass of our city trapped in the wreckage of neighborhoods which were once so prized, communities which we failed to defend, which we have surrendered to the horrors of the drug trade. And if this disaster demands anything of us as a city, it demands that we say enough... enough to the despair which makes policemen even think about surrender, enough to the fact that these neighborhoods are not saved, or are beyond saving, enough to this administration's indecisiveness and lethargy, to the garbage that goes uncollected, the lots and rowhouses that stay vacant, the addicts who go untreated, the working men and women who everyday are denied a chance at economic freedom, enough to the crime which everyday chokes more and more of the life from our city. And the thing of it is, if we don't take responsibility and step up, not just for the mistakes and miscues, but for whether or not we're going to win this battle for our streets, if that doesn't happen, we're going to lose these neighborhoods, and ultimately, this city, forever. If we don't have the courage to fight this war the way it should be fought, the way it needs to be fought, using every weapon we can possibly muster, if that doesn't happen, then we're staring at defeat. And that defeat should not and cannot and will not be forgiven."
-Councilman Tommy Carcetti, The Wire
I can officially state for the record, without any sense of hyperbole or exaggeration, that The Wire is the best show in the history of television, absolutely bar none, and if you haven't taken the time to watch it, you are officially missing out.
The third season finale was on last night and before I watched it, I was sad because I had heard HBO was not planning to renew it for another season next year. But after watching the finale, I really can't blame them if they don't renew it, because I seriously doubt it's possible for them to top what they've already accomplished in these 3 seasons. David Simon has crafted a 37 hour work of television literature that perfectly and unflinchingly illustrates the ugly mechanics of almost all the problems facing our modern culture of despair. I am going to have to stop now because I could probably write a book detailing exactly why this show is so brilliant and so different from any other television show of it's kind, and so I will offer you one piece of advice: go to your local video rental establishment, find the first season DVD of The Wire, take it to the counter and rent it and go home and WATCH the first few episodes, and then find out for yourself exactly what I am gushing about.
This show is the exception to the rule about television being an inferior art form and the reason everyone who says "Kill your TV" is just throwing out the baby with the bathwater. If all you want from a tv show is bite sized, pre-chewed, CSI gee-who-dun-it cotton candy, then this advice is not for you. But if you've ever thought that a televised medium could be used for something more than just selling advertising, I would highly recommend you invest at least a few dollars and an hour or two to discover why I'm so fucking gushy over a cable drama. And if you do that, I will bet green money that you will be awaiting the DVD release of season 2 with the same spastic enthusiasm.
"No, it's more than that. This is more important than who knew what when, or who falls on his sword, or whether somebody can use this disaster to make a political point or two. We can forgive Major Colvin, who, out of his frustration and despair, found himself condoning something which can't possibly be condoned. We can forgive that much. But gentlemen, what we can't forgive-- what I can't forgive, ever-- is how we... you, me, this administration, all of us... how we turned away from those streets in West Baltimore, the poor, the sick, the swollen underclass of our city trapped in the wreckage of neighborhoods which were once so prized, communities which we failed to defend, which we have surrendered to the horrors of the drug trade. And if this disaster demands anything of us as a city, it demands that we say enough... enough to the despair which makes policemen even think about surrender, enough to the fact that these neighborhoods are not saved, or are beyond saving, enough to this administration's indecisiveness and lethargy, to the garbage that goes uncollected, the lots and rowhouses that stay vacant, the addicts who go untreated, the working men and women who everyday are denied a chance at economic freedom, enough to the crime which everyday chokes more and more of the life from our city. And the thing of it is, if we don't take responsibility and step up, not just for the mistakes and miscues, but for whether or not we're going to win this battle for our streets, if that doesn't happen, we're going to lose these neighborhoods, and ultimately, this city, forever. If we don't have the courage to fight this war the way it should be fought, the way it needs to be fought, using every weapon we can possibly muster, if that doesn't happen, then we're staring at defeat. And that defeat should not and cannot and will not be forgiven."
-Councilman Tommy Carcetti, The Wire
I can officially state for the record, without any sense of hyperbole or exaggeration, that The Wire is the best show in the history of television, absolutely bar none, and if you haven't taken the time to watch it, you are officially missing out.
The third season finale was on last night and before I watched it, I was sad because I had heard HBO was not planning to renew it for another season next year. But after watching the finale, I really can't blame them if they don't renew it, because I seriously doubt it's possible for them to top what they've already accomplished in these 3 seasons. David Simon has crafted a 37 hour work of television literature that perfectly and unflinchingly illustrates the ugly mechanics of almost all the problems facing our modern culture of despair. I am going to have to stop now because I could probably write a book detailing exactly why this show is so brilliant and so different from any other television show of it's kind, and so I will offer you one piece of advice: go to your local video rental establishment, find the first season DVD of The Wire, take it to the counter and rent it and go home and WATCH the first few episodes, and then find out for yourself exactly what I am gushing about.
This show is the exception to the rule about television being an inferior art form and the reason everyone who says "Kill your TV" is just throwing out the baby with the bathwater. If all you want from a tv show is bite sized, pre-chewed, CSI gee-who-dun-it cotton candy, then this advice is not for you. But if you've ever thought that a televised medium could be used for something more than just selling advertising, I would highly recommend you invest at least a few dollars and an hour or two to discover why I'm so fucking gushy over a cable drama. And if you do that, I will bet green money that you will be awaiting the DVD release of season 2 with the same spastic enthusiasm.