The Tragedy of Wisdom

     Sweat by Lynn Nottage is a tragic story.   One about friends who grow hateful of each other, and people of different backgrounds finding animosity between them, all in the name of survival under capitalism.   Tracey and Cynthia may never mend their friendship after Tracey believes that Cynthia betrayed the rest of them after being promoted, but they are both fine in the future.  Chris and Jason may never be true friends again after Jason led Chris to hurt others, but they went to prison and eventually got out.  Of course Oscar may never forgive them for what they did, but he owns a bar now.  But the person who got hurt the most, was the most empathetic, Stan.

    Unlike the others who fixed blame on each other, Stan managed to understand the backgrounds and reasoning of everyone.  When Cynthia wonders why everyone is so mad about her promotion, Stan replies "Can you blame 'em?"   He understands why everyone thinks the way they do, and he even sympathizes with Cynthia asking "How are you holding up?" when nobody else will.  Stan, as the wisest and most experienced character, understands that things are getting heated and blame is shifted to the wrong people.    He tried to explain that "...Olstead, his cronies.  Fucking Wall Street" are all to blame.  However his cries fall on deaf ears and the other characters find the easy scapegoats.... Each other.  

    Stan defends Oscar when tensions get high, saying "it isn't his fault..." and "Oscar ain't getting rich off of your misery," something Jason and Tracey frustratingly don't understand.   This ends up being to his demise as he is injured by Jason after he tries to defend Oscar, and is revealed to be crippled, suffering from a traumatic brain injury.   Stan understood the people on top try to create animosity between the common working people to continue to succeed, and his knowledge ended up being fatal flaw to himself.  

When will America be America again?

     "Let America be America again. / Let it be the dream it used to be. / Let it be the pioneer on the plain / Seeking a home where he himself is free."  - Langston Hughes, Let America be America Again.

    Hughes wrote this poem in 1935, speaking on how the American dream didn't exist for lower class and minority Americans.  He details the the hardships impoverished, African-Americans, Native Americans, and also immigrants, mentioning places like, Ireland, England, and Poland.    Hughes makes a point to be inclusive about who was fooled by the American dream (the answer to which is everyone).   However despite Hughes' remarks about its shortcomings, he is hopeful about America's future, calling his audience to action and claiming that "America will be!" and we will "make America again!" 

    However this poem was written in 1935, and in 2022 can we truly say that America is America again?  Most would argue not.  87 years since the poem's publishing, and it's hard to say that Hughes' hope that "every man is free" has not completely come to fruition yet.  Sure it is easy to say the world is different since 1935, but we are not free of our problems when it comes to the experience of the impoverished and the minorities in America, and that has been especially clear.   How long will it take till these issues are gone and America is America again?  I don't know.  Will they ever be gone?   It's hard to say.  To hope that the America can live up to its previous "American dream" seems like such a long shot with these uncertainties.  We can only hope and help catalyze change to our best ability, so that later on America, and the world, may be just a bit closer to that dream.  

Gatsby in Bikini Bottom

 There was a new player in town.   And a new house.   A really big one, just across from Squidward's house.  Despite just moving in, evidently the newcomer and his abode was a hot commodity.  His first day in his newly constructed home, and he's throwing a party, all residents of Bikini Bottom are invited.

Oh puh-lease, thinks Squidward, Am I never going to have any peace? 

Although his first impression of this newcomer isn't so positive, his neighbors think otherwise.

"Hey SpongeBob, I heard this guys throwing a party, and EVERYONE's going"  

"I think you've got the right idea Patrick, we should meet this guy"

Mr. Krabs wasn't so up to the idea of losing all of his customers for one night, but even he was going to this party.  

When SpongeBob and Patrick arrived at his house, they were amazed.  The sounds of laughter and a live orchestra surmounted in the air.  They somehow found their way to the "cocktail table" and Patrick had his first drink.  Soon to be followed by many more.

"Gee, Patrick, looks like I have to find the host of this party myself"

Spongebob wandered through asking about this supposed "Gatsby," hearing rumors about him.  Supposedly he may have "killed someone" and moved here, or that he was a "German spy".  These rumors only sparked SpongeBob's curiosity even more.  He really wanted to meet his new neighbor.  Thankfully he finally met a familiar face.

"Sandy, I didn't know you'd be here!"

"Hey SpongeBob, I thought I might find you here.  I knew you lived next door"

After catching up with Sandy, and meeting new people, Spongebob ended up at a table with a man who struck up conversation with him.  The man was wearing a helmet like Sandy's.  

"Want to go out Jellyfishing with me next morning, old sport?"  He suggested after they got to know each other.

"Wow, that sounds like fun!   I am sure glad I met you, but its really strange I haven't seen the host, Gatsby , once."  Spongebob exclaimed.

He looked at Spongebob as if he failed to understand

"I am Gatsby," he said suddenly.

"What!?  That's crazy!"

Spongebob was glad to have met his neighbor, but he said his goodbyes and went home, he had to work at the Krusty Krab the next morning.   Gatsby made sure their plans tomorrow were solid, he sure wanted to meet his neighbors, but this wasn't the one he was looking for.  He looked across the road to the Moai, the Easter Island head, and his one true dream...

what did I just write.