Importance of Awareness

A crisis, whether it occurs between the grandeur God and man or among the streets of West Baltimore, has the potential to change through awareness. Through the poem God’s Grandeur, by Gerard Manley Hopkins, as well as through the creator of the HBO television series “The Wire,” David Simon, both expose the harsh reality of the world in which we live; hoping to alert us, make us aware, and change such crises for the better.

The crisis conveyed through Hopkins’ Italian sonnet was found in the lines “Why do men then now not reck his rod? Generations have trod, have trod, have trod;” meaning why does man continuously take from the world, that which God created, and not expect nature to ever diminish. The alliteration in certain lines, especially six and seven, signify all the harmful things man is doing to the earth, such as pollution and depletion of soil: “And wears man’s smudge and share man’s smell: the soil is bare now, nor can foot feel, being shod.” Hopkins paints an ugly picture for the reader’s senses. In the finishing lines, however, the reader gets the sense that nature prevails through all and that God will always replenish his creations, even if humans continue on the same path of destruction. It is at the end of the poem that Hopkins hopes the reader becomes aware of what people are doing to the world. Through his poem, he explains the power of God, presents the dilemma God has, and then finishes by explaining God will always prevail. The underlying reason for writing this was to open the reader’s eyes to the world in which he or she lives by presenting the problem or crisis; but Hopkins’ goal for the reader is not to answer the problem, but simply to realize, or become aware that a problem even exists. It is through the poem that Hopkins stimulates the senses of his readers; hoping to release the reader from isolation. When one is isolated, one is not aware of his or her effects on the world. After reading God’s Grandeur, the reader is aware that a crisis exists and more importantly, that something can be done about it.

It was after learning about “The Wire” at David Simon’s lecture that I realized a crisis existed in West Baltimore, just around the corner from where I go to school. Simon, a realist to some and a cynic to others, began his discussion with the dilemma of drug rings infesting the streets of Baltimore. As a police reporter at the Baltimore Sun newspaper, Simon witnessed and became aware of the conditions of West Baltimore early in his career. By taking leaves of absence from the Sun to write two novels, Simon intended to expose the gritty truth about the city of Baltimore to his readers. Eventually, HBO turned his writings into successful miniseries, which many enjoyed. It was through Simon’s writings and lectures, such as that at Loyola College on February 6th, which enabled others to become aware of those lives affected in West Baltimore. Like the poem God’s Grandeur, Simon stressed the importance of awareness. He didn’t aim to push community service or charities, he just wanted to expose the truth and educate people of the current situations that still aren’t getting better; because it is this awareness that will eventually bring about change.

There is only so much regeneration that can occur without people being aware of what needs to be accomplished. The world needs people to be aware that we are slowly but surely depleting it of its God given resources. Similarly, Simon needs people to be aware of the drug infested inner cities- not just in Baltimore, but across the country. According to Jesuit educators, it is the way that we live our lives that makes for a difference; so therefore if we live our lives to become aware, changes can be made for the best.