David Simon, Writer of “The Wire”

David Simon, Writer of “The Wire”

David Simon’s show “The Wire”, depicts “the other America” that most people do not see. This “other America” is based in Baltimore, but Simon claims can be seen throughout the US in any big city like Baltimore. Simon is very cynical and sees the world in a very negative and pessimistic way. He claims to not have originally been this way but after years as a journalist at the Baltimore Sun, his views started to change. He saw many injustices in the city including racial issues, social issues, and economical issues. He feels that there is no hope left for the American city, but I personally disagree. With consistent effort by people and a new level of awarness, I think that the American city can be what it once was.

Simon felt that cities will depend on how we behave to each other. With this idea, I think there is hope for the city. Simon thinks that people will only behave in a way beneficial to themselves, so that basically, the rich will get richer while the poor will become poorer. I think there is hope for people to get out and help others. If places in the city with resources, like Loyola, help disadvantaged people even in small ways, it can go far in changing America. Many programs sponsored by the Year of the City do just that. For example, Loyola has a program that local elementary school kids are tutored by Loyola students. This little boost in education over many years could help the kids of that community change and help them achieve things that society had otherwise said was not possible.

Another point Simon makes is that people are controlled by greed rather than virtue. Simon feels that pure profits control the bottom line and that people are often disregarded if it won’t help the businesses. He also said how government also does not help the workers. For example, the minimum wage has not gone up in ten years and only now is it starting to be debated in congress again. Things like this promote to keep the “other America” where people resort to selling drugs or other illegal activity because it is not possible to support a family on minimum wage. I think that this could be combated if the government and businesses were more aware of how much it cost to live in America now and set the minimum wage accordingly. Simone says right now the “other America” has two choices. Work a minimum wage job and never have enough money to pay the bills, or sell drugs and do other illegal things and get buy living a very dangerous life.

For the American city to be saved and brought onto the level of prestige it once was, and to eliminate the “other America”, the first that needs to take place is awareness. People need to become aware of this other world so that they can accept it and then address the problems within it. I think that is one of the main reasons for this year being the Year of the City at Loyola College. Loyola’s YOTC programs are getting students out into the city to see this other world and its creating a new level of awareness for the students. This is also in keeping with the Jesuit ideals of educating the whole person, not just in a class room but out in the real world, and today, in cities like Baltimore, this includes the “other America”. By being exposed to this in college, the students who graduate and go on may leave greedy ideals for money to take up more virtuous ideals. If more people can become aware of this at a young age, then the decisions they make will have all of those in the city in mind.