The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates by Wes Moore is a story written by a man about someone else who shared his name. Their lives diverged and this is an accounting trying to understand the difference.
Started: 4/5/2017
Completed: 5/2/2017
Recommendation: Recommended
Recommended By: My wife
Review:
There are interesting parallels between Wes Moore the Rhodes Scholar and Wes Moore the murderer. They had a large number of parallels in the early part of their lives. In the end, however, it looks like the Rhodes Scholar had extended family who were willing to sacrifice darn near everything to help Wes. This does not minimize the effort made by the murderer's family, who also made great sacrifices. First, raising a child in poverty is really, really hard. Second, raising a child in a drug-ridden environment is really, really hard. The Rhodes Scholar got out of the environment and that was certainly helpful--the murderer had some time out as well, but he was solidly into a life of crime before and after his brief move. Third, raising a child without positive role models is really, really hard. Children emulate those whom they admire. What happens if you admire a scofflaw?
In the end, I am not convinced that one Wes Moore was necessarily smarter than the other (although society could easily make that assessment. The author does a good job of making it clear that he feels either could have been in the other's shoes. In the end, this is a sad story. It is not a hopeful story. It declares, describes, and contrasts the simple line that defines those who can leave poverty behind and those who cannot. It marks the remarkably short lives of the poor.
I am sad to have lost Wes Moore, the murderer. Who knows what positive contribution he could have made and his progeny represent another generation with a father behind bars. I do not mean to suggest that the murderer should not be behind bars, I have no reason to believe that the prosecution was anything less than fair. I am saying, however, that all of the people who die, end up in jail, or become involved in illegal activities are lost to society and those people are important to us all.
There are interesting parallels between Wes Moore the Rhodes Scholar and Wes Moore the murderer. They had a large number of parallels in the early part of their lives. In the end, however, it looks like the Rhodes Scholar had extended family who were willing to sacrifice darn near everything to help Wes. This does not minimize the effort made by the murderer's family, who also made great sacrifices. First, raising a child in poverty is really, really hard. Second, raising a child in a drug-ridden environment is really, really hard. The Rhodes Scholar got out of the environment and that was certainly helpful--the murderer had some time out as well, but he was solidly into a life of crime before and after his brief move. Third, raising a child without positive role models is really, really hard. Children emulate those whom they admire. What happens if you admire a scofflaw?
In the end, I am not convinced that one Wes Moore was necessarily smarter than the other (although society could easily make that assessment. The author does a good job of making it clear that he feels either could have been in the other's shoes. In the end, this is a sad story. It is not a hopeful story. It declares, describes, and contrasts the simple line that defines those who can leave poverty behind and those who cannot. It marks the remarkably short lives of the poor.
I am sad to have lost Wes Moore, the murderer. Who knows what positive contribution he could have made and his progeny represent another generation with a father behind bars. I do not mean to suggest that the murderer should not be behind bars, I have no reason to believe that the prosecution was anything less than fair. I am saying, however, that all of the people who die, end up in jail, or become involved in illegal activities are lost to society and those people are important to us all.
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