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As a native of the DC area familiar with one of these neighborhoods and living right next to the other, the author's descriptions are pleasantly familiar to me.

by ble 5y ago

As a native of the DC area familiar with one of these neighborhoods and living right next to the other, the author's descriptions are pleasantly familiar to me. The author seems eager to fit the neighborhoods into his sociological and political analysis so some parts seem reductive but he's rather overt and honest about it. The author seems impressed with his social analysis and political opinions and I'm glad he has them but not sure how much I agree. In my positive assessment, it doesn't hurt that I agree with some of his general sentiments: Anacostia is mostly homey and run-down, not brimming with menace; Crystal City is dominated by the offices of corporations and doesn't have much going for it, e.g.

winternett 5y ago
Almost as if the writer is looking at a fish tank, it demonstrates how everyone is now in a constant state of isolated perspectives, and unable to walk in the shoes of others. Whatever is normal for us defines our world. The constant underlying battle is that we're less and less capable of walking in the shoes of others. If you live in rural America, you'll realize the same blights and issues exist too. People go through trauma and tragedy, and they often simply give up, this world is harsh on people who give up, or use drugs, or resort to harmful behavior especially if they're financially and racially not able to overcome societal stereotypes that are promoted. Just as there are individuals using crack and heroin in the inner city, there are wealthy people in Hollywood doing exactly the same things. Society works so hard to define differences and then to rebrand them as case studies and perspectives, but no one talks about the human nature perspective because it's really uncomfortable for humans to examine their own individual faults in the process. I've lived in DC for over 30 years, and seen every corner of it. I was born to middle-class priviledge, but I've also As a minority myself, I know how hard it can be at the bottom through not being intimidated of living inside of that "fish tank", and knowing from that experience that there are people born to, and suffering from, much worse situations than mine. If we look at the ways out of poverty and desolation as a scientist, we're already failing because there is no really effective way of grouping individuals into any actionable case study. It's frickin everyone that is the issue now. The cure for ignorance is understanding how every last one of us is vulnerable, susceptible, and accountable for their individual perspectives and actions and self education about wealth inequality and racial insensitivity... world wide.

by ble 5y ago

winternett 5y ago

Almost as if the writer is looking at a fish tank, it demonstrates how everyone is now in a constant state of isolated perspectives, and unable to walk in the shoes of others. Whatever is normal for us defines our world. The constant underlying battle is that we're less and less capable of walking in the shoes of others. If you live in rural America, you'll realize the same blights and issues exist too. People go through trauma and tragedy, and they often simply give up, this world is harsh on people who give up, or use drugs, or resort to harmful behavior especially if they're financially and racially not able to overcome societal stereotypes that are promoted. Just as there are individuals using crack and heroin in the inner city, there are wealthy people in Hollywood doing exactly the same things. Society works so hard to define differences and then to rebrand them as case studies and perspectives, but no one talks about the human nature perspective because it's really uncomfortable for humans to examine their own individual faults in the process. I've lived in DC for over 30 years, and seen every corner of it. I was born to middle-class priviledge, but I've also As a minority myself, I know how hard it can be at the bottom through not being intimidated of living inside of that "fish tank", and knowing from that experience that there are people born to, and suffering from, much worse situations than mine. If we look at the ways out of poverty and desolation as a scientist, we're already failing because there is no really effective way of grouping individuals into any actionable case study. It's frickin everyone that is the issue now. The cure for ignorance is understanding how every last one of us is vulnerable, susceptible, and accountable for their individual perspectives and actions and self education about wealth inequality and racial insensitivity... world wide.