quo.ti.di.an

war and peace; brooklyn and manhattan

Machiavellian and Hegelian theories put forth the idea that war and peace are mutually dependent.  Theoretically, both war and peace are essential in maintaining a properly functioning democracy.  They are two sides of the same coin—that coin being democracy—and with good reason, they carry different connotations.

We had our apartment-warming party in Brooklyn last night.  It was fun, but I’m still struck by how many people fail to recognize Brooklyn as part of New York City.  In fact some people had to “leave the city” to see us.  Last time I checked, Brooklyn is part of “the city.”  The point is that just as democracy is dependent upon both war and peace, New York City is dependent upon all five burroughs that comprise it; it would be best if New York City were thought of as a five-sided three-dimensional figure (since there isn’t a five-sided coin) with each of the five burroughs represents one of the five sides.  Although I wouldn’t imagine the five burroughs to be perceived as differently as war and peace, but I recognize that each burrough carries a different connotation.  

According to the US Census, as lifted from Wikipedia, the population of Manhattan in 2007 was 1.6 million whereas the population of Brooklyn was 2.5 million.  I understand that Manhattan has is a corporate and cultural mecca, but people are also essential to the life and spirit of a city.  Not only does Brooklyn have one million more people than Manhattan, but it also has Blue Marble Ice Cream, which is delightful ice cream and coffee shop in Prospect Heights that fills its customers with yummy happiness.  I challenge anyone to find a better ice cream shop in Manhattan.

I’m really baffled at the Manhattan snobbery propagated by past Wesleyan students, not because there is a need to be politically correct, but because they spent their undergraduate careers in Middletown, Connecticut.  And now they have beef with Brooklyn?!  Gedovahyaself!