Some say it would be doomsday. Rational individuals from all over would flock to the United States and disrupt native livelihoods and ecosystems. Others speculate that it would cease the incidence of conflicts abroad, and that to fail to open borders is morally wrong. Where do you come down?
OK, yeah. Our military presence tends to aggravate and perpetuate fear and insecurity, thus increasing the chances of further armed conflicts. But if there’s money to be made from war, isn’t increasing its likelihood the point?
Never one to shy away from his opinions, acclaimed and contentious filmmaker Spike Lee ripped into gentrification during a lecture at the Pratt Institute last Tuesday night. It doesn’t go unnoticed that Lee, having made millions on the stories and injustices suffered by many African Americans, doesn’t really have to worry about skyrocketing rents that have given cause to people’s decisions to move outward in the first place. Or that, if people make this decision to move, that it’s not unfair for them to want to see better schools, sanitation, security and infrastructure.
In any event, Lee’s thoughts are worthy of consideration. The full text can be read below:
From VICE: “Ryan Duffy travels to the Philippines to explore the rampant political violence during election season and VICE co-founder Shane Smith heads to Afghanistan to speak with would-be child suicide bombers who were captured before they could kill themselves and others.”
“Pick EveRy University. Because really, what other choice do you have?”
