METAPHORS FROM OFF THE WIRE 2

As I've mentioned before in The Bastille, "Many metaphors for life can be found in the critically acclaimed HBO drama, "The Wire". The following situation is no different.

As of Friday, August 8th, in accordance with the global peace being spread all over Beijing, China at the opening ceremonies of the 2008 Summer Olympics, Russia stampeded into the little country of Georgia (a former member of the Soviet Union). Georgia is a small democracy of 4.4 million people, that is a member of the U.N. and the infamous Coalition Of The Willing (COTW), that's helping the US in it's daily destruction of Iraq, for reasons still unknown. Since, there has been a cease fire by Russia and less than 24 hours later, a subsequent UN-cease fire, so Russia is backing to kicking ass. I liken Georgia to Bodie, the loyal middle middle management drug dealer in the Barksdale drug crew. President George "Chucklepuss" Bush and the U.S. represent the long respected Barksdale crew, who is steadily losing it's reputation in the streets to new crews, like the deadly Marlo Stansfield's crew, who is the new bigger and better, Russia.

Now as a member of the COTW, Georgia was protecting the Iraq border from those rabble-rousers in Iran, like Bodie holding down a Baltimore corner for the Barksdale crew. Georgia only left their post, to return to Georgia and protect their homeland. So if Iran wanted (the country to, whom Chucklepuss keeps saber-rattling) they could roll on Iraq with reckless abandon. Georgia moved into the world of democracy and aligned themselves with the United States and President Chucklepuss, who seduced the Georgians with the promise of a strong ally and protection from neighboring countries that may decide to go apesh** on them for no apparent reason at any time(see Russia 2008). In any other case, I would now expect the U.S. to be running into Russia guns-a-blazing, but supposedly we can't do that now, because Georgia is not a part of NATO. I don't know, haven't we been in a war with Iraq since 2003? And we didn't have any regards for the U.N. then. As a matter of fact, the Bush Crime fami-- I mean administration had no regards for the US Constitution or the UN, when we went into Iraq to find 9/11 perpetrator, Saddam Hussein (see Osama Bin Laden still at large). Suddenly we are supposed to believe that Chucklepuss has regards for rules. I think not. Now Georgia has staunchly played by the rules is now looking for their protection, particularly from Chucklepuss, who can now only give Russia a stern talking about large countries bullying little ones (where have I heard that one before? I think you know). Now don't get me wrong, I don't want to go into Russia, but right is right, if we are the so-called poster children for democracy and prepared to stop tyranny across the planet(then again if that were so, we'd be in the Sudan stopping that genocide). Georgia now feels helpless-- helpless as Bodie did, when Stringer Bell couldn't give him any more muscle to hold down their corners and sell weak ass product, despite the increasing heat from Marlo Stanfield's crew. Stansfield's crew were the new kids on the block, who took advantage of this chinc in the Barksdale armor, by having no regards for the history, rules or codes of the street. Watch the clip up top and recall Bodie's last stand for Avon Barksdale, for it may be a harbinger of Georgia's near future.

Now Follow Me! Follow Me To Freedom!

METAPHORS FROM THE WIRE

If you are a frequent reader of The Bastille, I will assume, you know that I am a fan of the critically acclaimed HBO television series, The Wire. Since I won’t be seeing any new episodes, I went back to watch the earlier seasons on DVD. I’m presently halfway through the fourth season, which focused on the eroding Baltimore school system. I noticed that this epic show runs some parallels with real life, so humor this entry.

In the episode titled, “That’s Got his Own”, there’s a scene in which, Namond Brice, wannabe corner boy and offspring of Wee-Bay Brice (former #1 soldier for the Barksdale drug crew) comes clean about who he is. In front of boxing coach/former Barksdale soldier, Cutty and a policeman, Sgt. Carver, Namond says through his tears, “I can’t do it. I can’t. She wants me to be like my father. I can’t be him.” Namond’s overbearing mother has forced Namond to get his own “packages” and sling dope on the streets of Baltimore. She expects Namond to be the man that Wee-Bay was and let me tell you, DNA does not a ‘street soldier’ make. Namond has cracked and realized that he isn’t built to run a drug crew and be the man of his house at the age of thirteen. She has spoiled Namond rotten for years with the expectation that he would be a true earner like his father, Wee-Bay. Well, don’t go chasing waterfalls lady.


Namond’s actions began to remind me so much of George. W. “Chucklepuss” Bush, I was perplexed by the similarities. Chucklepuss was a young spoiled, brat, who has been protected all his life by mommy and daddy and been groomed for “the game” (aka US government). Chucklepuss brags about his family being in “the game” (see Chuckle in documentary “Farenheight 9/11”) and wants to enter the “the game”, despite his lack of experience and heart. Chucklepuss’ actions are so Namod Brice, I want to see him get a patented “Namond” ponytail.

Now if you are a fan of “The Wire”, take a moment and feel me on this. Namond’s mom (a composite of George Sr. and Barbara) got former Barksdale soldier, Bodie (a composite of George Sr’s friends and administration) to help Namond (Chucklepuss) get started with a “package” (the presidency). Now Chucklepuss has been steadily f***ing up his “package”(just like Namond) over the past seven years—going on eight. But Chucklepuss, unlike Namond, has got Barksdale muscle (i.e. Dick “There Will Be Blood” Cheney, Karl “Liar, Liar” Rove, etc.) to cover up his incompetent leadership. With that type of muscle, Chucklepuss has been able to take over federal budget, the Justice system, spread “democracy” to Iraq and destroy the U.S. Constitution. So it is safe to say, that Chucklepuss has taken over all the Westside corners, from where the Towers once stood to downtown, Baghdad --- I mean Baltimore. I would like to believe that Chucklepuss has broken down and cried like Namond once or twice about this quagmire called The Iraqi War, but then I think better of myself and less of him.

I once recall Namond, “punking out”, when our quartet of boys got into a fight with some boys from the Eastside, and then running away in fear, when he saw Michael getting beat down by two boys. It recalls the morning of 9/11, when Chucklepuss shuffled off and flew to Shreveport and no one knew his whereabouts for a few hours. There was also the time 10 year-old Kenard stole money from, Namond and he had to get Michael to help him get his money back from Kenard. This incident recalls how Chucklepuss had to get his daddy and Bill Clinton to help, allay the ire of people, over the government’s slow response to Hurricane Katrina. Chucklepuss is Namond Brice, a fraud of a kid riding on his daddy’s rep in the street hoping that his secret will never be exposed. Bottom line, I think we all accept that there are many Namond Brices in this world holding down corners, but we don't want them holding the office of Presidency of the United States.

Now follow me! Follow me to freedom!