The Wire: All Due Respect -- television at its finest

"That small, wrinkled-ass paper bag allowed the corner boys to have their drink in peace, and gave us permission to go. and do. police work...the kind of police work that's actually worth the effort. That's worth actually taking a bullet...

There's never been a paper bag for drugs. Until now."

Arguably one of the greatest moments in the history of American television, this speech by Major Colvin ("Bunny") of Baltimore's Western District is a stellar example of how The Wire puts 99% of television to shame.

The summary of this episode can be found at
http://www.hbo.com/thewire/episode/season3/episode27.shtml
and a summary of the Colvin's character, played by Robert Wisdom, is at
http://www.hbo.com/thewire/cast/characters/bunny_colvin.shtml

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[ohen]

In my opinion, Bunny is the most tragic character of The Wire. He was involved in two experiments (Hamsterdam and the corner kids classroom) which, if implemented on a larger scale, could have had a profound influence on the society. Unfortunately, bureaucracy, infatuation with self-preservation (and therefore statistics) prevented him from achieving those things, culminating in Season 5" "Well, I guess Mr. Mayor, there's nothing to be done." I always saw him as the show's conscience.

[ohen]

The writing in The Wire was so above and beyond anything else on TV. Not even comparable.

[potwaka]

　waistline/

[roryphelan]

@ohen Excellent comment.

[nemopunk15]

@Rorystorm24 Not quite. the "Medical" in "Medical Marijuana" is in no way representative of the speech above. The Dutch model for quasi-legal Marijuana sales is a good example of a "paper bag". Vast differences in the 2 systems. You might enjoy the Youtube info on the Federal Medical Marijuana program that is likely much older than you are.

[Madorem]

@RoryStorm24 no his comparison is more accurate

[RoryStorm24]

@RelentlessBoner actually, it's similar. It's sort of like calling the 'medical' in 'medical marijuana' a paper bag.

[talktalktalktalktalk]

Taking a bullet for a guy drinking from a bottle?? lolololol

[gauchebag]

bunny colvin, living the high life

[RelentlessBoner]

So basically we should legalize marijuana as long as it's in a blunt or a tobacco pipe and we can't tell exactly what it is? Sounds good to me

[johnnyk427]

@GozerTheGozerian The theory makes sense to me - less unwanted people (of any race) is going to have a dramatic effect. And if we're talking statistics, most of the crimes were committed by the poor minorities (ie blacks), so while its certainly not a pleasant thing to confront, the statistics do tell tales. Who are the ones committing crimes? Minorities. Who are the ones getting abortions? Also minorities.

[GozerTheGozerian]

@johnnyk427 If the proponents of that theory thought it through, what they're really saying is that crime fell because there are fewer African Americans in New York City. A few months ago there were news reports that 50% of all abortions in NYC are performed on black fetuses, and two thirds of black babies are aborted. Two fucking thirds!

So they're saying crime dropped because almost 70% of black children are aborted. Personally, I'd steer clear of that and just go with the Guiliani theory.