Preview

Eugene Jarecki's War On Drugs

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
546 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Eugene Jarecki's War On Drugs
Eugene Jarecki explains that Nannie Jeter was like a second mother to him, and her children, grandchildren a second family and not every one of whom are still alive, and many of whom have been in and out of prison due to drugs. She was contracted by his family to care for him while his parents worked, and she was a part of his family when he first came home from the hospital in Connecticut where Eugene's father worked as a doctor. Later when his family moved to a comfortable suburb of New York City where his father had started a successful business, they offered to double Nannie's pay if she would go with them to New York. She believed that more money would improve a life for her family left behind in New Haven.

Many years later, Nannie
…show more content…
At one point in the film, Nannie explains the difficult choice she made in continuing to work with Eugene’s family when they moved away from New Haven. She tells him, “Eugene that was the wrong thing to do.” She lost her families when she moved to New York. The privileged of Eugene has led him to a lot of positive experiences and a lot of people from her families who were growing along his side were having different kind of experiences due to drug.

Toward the end of the film, Nannie said, "I feel I cheated myself out of what I could have accomplished. I never realized that I wanted to be in politics, to be a voice for someone, to say what was wrong, whether it changed or not, but rather to make it realized that something is wrong. Eugene, Nannie said I've learned so much and I've attempted to instruct it to other individuals, but people would rather go down the similar road that you went down before they learn. You make a lot of mistakes with your life, however when you some way or another blow your children’s life, you always think about it. “I don't understand the War on Drugs. All I know is... I miss my son.” Jarecki uses Nannie's story and words to underscore the individual loss of millions of people who, as Nannie, made difficult decisions to help their families, however weren't able to anticipate the outcomes or to see better

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Johnny felt as if no cared and that even if he lived in a gang his parents wouldn’t do anything. Another example is when Darry hits Ponyboy for being late home and Ponyboy runs away. Darry…

    • 697 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The sky flicker beat and mild wind whiffs around, but for George tonight is one of the longest nights in his life. He was sitting in front of the card table and had already shuffled the deck of cards many times. He wasn’t really thinking about the cards as much as he was about what he had done. He thought about things he would miss, and things he wouldn’t. The death of Curley's wife, the chase after Lennie and finally he was pulling the trigger. "Why did I do it?" George asked himself. "You had to; otherwise, there would have been no end" he replied to himself. Few minutes later after he and Slim arrived at the bunkhouse, the ranch hands returned, and they decided to talk. "At least we don't need to listen to Curley asking, where his wife is!" Carlson said solemnly. There was no reply, only the silence. As George was sleeping, he had a vivid dream: "George, why did you do that to me? Didn’t you love me? At least I have rabbits up here and Aunt Clara takes care of me." Lennie was floating around in George's sub-consciousness.…

    • 1274 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    This includes the “... new born baby, in (Martha Overall’s) arm…” Martha Overall is a pastor at St. Ann’s Church, and the newborn shows that there is hope in the air, there is a new life, and innocence. This shows that although these people live in such a dirty and unpleasant environment, they are always as interesting as they can be. The look towards the bright sides of living in South Bronx. So, if the people can be so happy in a place like that, then we should be able to have confidence when we are in trouble…

    • 765 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    A comment at the beginning of the film made me feel somewhat uneasy: “Want to be a doctor or lawyer? That’s for white people”. This quote depicts the preconception or expectation for the community’s younger generation to end up on the streets instead of continuing their education and getting a job. Because of this, I believe Dennis’s purpose from Fatherhood Initiative to emphasize family life and how the absence of a fatherly figure can affect one’s childhood is very influential and valuable. I remember Dennis asking the prisoners, “How many of you have had your father tell you they love you?” This stood out to me because my father is a huge influence and I cannot imagine my life without him, and I think it is important to accentuate the significance of having positive role models and caring relationships as a…

    • 981 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    and prevention was reduced. Funds given to the Department of Education were cut from $14 million to $3 million from 1981 to 1984 (Alexander 33). Reagan employed a Southern Strategy where he promised tax cuts to the rich and punishment for the crack users (DuVernay). In his speech to the Nation on the campaign against abuse, Ronald Reagan gives a rundown of the drug war (Reagan 1). Reagan addresses the American public as a concerned parent, grandparent and neighbor, declaring drugs an enemy concerning the young people who their future demands on (Regan 2). Reagan stated that drugs are killing the children, menacing the society, and threatening their values (Reagan 2). Reagan announces smokeable cocaine, or crack as the new epidemic that must…

    • 318 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The nuclear family with two children and their parents, living together, is represented by the Carver family. Ken Carver (father) s a working man and supports his family while Betty Carver is a stay at home mother. And she performs the household duties. This is the sort of family that, in the past, society has supported. This sort of family is supposed to demonstrate love, security, acceptance and stability. These are the characteristics that children value. The Carver family showed glimpses of these characteristics. Love, shown by Betty Carver, towards her children, and security through the father providing money and material goods. However, this is not the sort of security a child looks for. This family does not function as well as it could. Small town country life may be okay for Ken Carver, but it seems to stifle his wife, and that leads to the breakdown of a happy marriage, and eventually the breakdown of the family life. This family is far from ideal. It does not work and the…

    • 635 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    She is a working mother, which is unthinkable during this era, considering that she is from old money. She has gone without fillings in her teeth, so that he could have straight teeth, and she has sent him to college; something that a single mother generally can not do, which is a huge success on her part. Although life has taken some negative turns, such as the death of her husband, she thinks of herself as a winner because she has been able to single-handedly provide a promising future for her child. It is evident that Julian is aware of his mother’s sacrifices when it is addressed that he “... did not like to consider all she did for him” (O’Connor, 1965, p, 909). Rather than being appreciative, he attempts to find flaws in her decisions, and scrutinizes her every action. He claims that she made “... a mess of things” (O’Connor, 1965, p. 913), and spends most of his time discriminating her life, although he claims that it would be easier to find faults within her if she had been a violent alcoholic. This unthankful characteristic is a widespread phenomenon in the new generation. Many young adults overlook the great sacrifices and obstacles that their elders have overcome in order to provide a better life for them. Rather than being acknowledged, the majority of these selfless acts go unnoticed everyday. This is tragic, because compassion should not become an endangered…

    • 1603 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Although Richard Nixon first declared a “war on drugs” in 1971, the war escalated during the Reagan presidency and shifted its focus from treatment toward incarceration and law enforcement. As George Moss and Evan Thomas explain, Reagan came to Washington “committed to waging a war on drugs and bringing the international drug trade under control” in 1981. Thanks to the rise of the Medellin Cartel in Colombia and other cartels in Latin America during the 1980s, illegal drug trade networks flourished, and America became “the world’s major consumer of illicit drugs.” This increased usage of drugs led to many social crises, including heightened urban crime and health problems, which encouraged both the Reagan administration and private groups…

    • 1367 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Glass Castle Response

    • 658 Words
    • 3 Pages

    She got enough money by babysitting and jobs that she was able to go to college out there and was able to start her own life. Once all the kids got old enough to move and go to New York they made their way out of Welch and up to where Lori was living. When arriving the kids were still needing some guidance so Lori helped them grow up and be a parent to them. Sooner than later, Rex and Rose Mary made there way to New York in a van that had many issues on the way there. Just after a little while in New York the two end up homeless. Although the kids attempt to help their parents they were not able to do anything for them. Therefore, the couple becomes a squatter in abandoned houses and apartments until Rex dies of having a heart attack. By the end of the memoir, Jeannette has been married twice and is living the life she has always dreamed of. Although growing up might of been hard, it made her realize how much she helped her family and how much responsibility she took on helping to raise her younger siblings. This memoir explained a lot about how growing up on your own and how much of a big responsibility it is. These kids practically raised themselves together and set goals for themselves to get through everything. It makes people realize how you have to be thankful for what you have and appreciate your family and not take anything…

    • 658 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Furthermore, not only do the parents disregard their kids and cause them to face difficult situations on their own, but they also hindered their [the kids] progress. “Someone had slashed him [Oz] apart with a knife and stole all the money. I knew it was Dad … stoop this low … I just want to win a stupid little scholarship” (Walls 228,227). The siblings acquired jobs to help them escape to New York because they felt unfulfilled with their current life in Welch. Ordinarily, Dad’s interest was solely in the money he used for buying alcohol or gambling and he refused to care about the children’s dreams. When Dad stole the money, intended for Lori’s escape, the kids’ challenge was to work harder to recoup the lost money. Jeannette matured through her new experiences with her father as she realized that her Dad was not a hero but an alcoholic who would steal money from his kids for his desires. With his strong opinions, Dad did anything in his will to prove Lori wrong and his frustration caused him to ruin Lori’s sculpture for a scholarship. Living with neglectful parents was hard enough, but the worst result was that it brought out mental anguish in the children, especially…

    • 507 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    “For many the American dream has become a nightmare.” This quote by Bernie Sanders tells us how he feels about America’s state right now. He wants to make the people of our country have power again and be free. Bernie Sanders should become our next president because of his ideals and his stance on marijuana, immigration, and the college for all act.…

    • 621 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    As time went on, new opportunities arose. “He spoke for change and chance. Still she hung back. The memory of Nanny was still powerful and strong.” (29) Joe Starks was a relief for Janie. At this point her desires came back into play, Love and romance were again an option. Despite this newfound hope, she was aware of the outward existences, in particular her Grandma. Tension grew more as Janie considered running away with Joe. He appeared to be what she always wanted…

    • 721 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The history associated with drug criminalization in America contains more political motivators than concerns for public health and safety. The biggest politically motivated aspect to drug deterrence comes from Richard Nixon’s s war on drugs in 1971 which has created a system that discriminates against minority groups and has had little effect on deterring drug use. The war on drugs has thus far been notoriously noted for discriminating against people of color by pumping drugs into their communities and then imposing severe criminal consequences for drug possession, use, or distribution. In fact, one of Nixon’s aides John Ehrlichmen stated that the war on drugs was intended for the following:…

    • 802 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    War On Drugs In The 1960s

    • 662 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The 1960s were marked by a plethora of social and political changes, with the counterculture movement being one of the most widely historicized and familiar aspects out of this period. While this movement did contribute to positive changes in some ways, a rise in drug usage amongst young people occurred. Due to the inherent dangers drugs impose on the individual, concerns were raised throughout the country. In response, President Richard Nixon moved to enact legislation hoping to curb drug usage. This initial “war on drugs” was controversial and characterized by very little success.…

    • 662 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Racial Identity Confusion

    • 1485 Words
    • 6 Pages

    McCandless’s childhood was very difficult due to his parents lack of emotional affection towards himself and Carine, his sister. Considering their loneliness Carine and McCandless grew very close to each other and looked up to one another. Even as McCandless grew older he prioritized his sister, “Even when Chris went on to junior high and I was still in grade school, he would get out earlier than I would but he’d hang around art his friend [...]and wait for me so we could walk home together”(123) said Carine. The thought of McCandless caring for his sister in this way was indeed not a selfish act if anything it was generous. Carines safety was McCandless biggest priority as a result of their parents inadequacy of sentimental feeling towards their children. Another contributing part of McCandless’s quest for “ultimate freedom” is this lack of his parents consense. Walt and Billie McCandless were always working “Ever since I could remember mom and dad were always working, when we got up in the morning to go to school they were in the office, when we got home they were in the office, when we went to bed they were in the office, they never really got out of the office [...] it was always just me and chris I think thats mainly the part we were so close to each other”(135) Carine told Krakauer. The thought of McCandless and Carine having…

    • 1485 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays