Google for Thought...

Although I previously talked about the increase in Internet availability- I began to think about what does that even really mean? Although people in China have access to the Internet, isn't it important to address the content (or lack thereof) that they have?

Although in China, it is possible to "google" something, the likelihood of getting all your questions answered is slim to none. Case in point- China Censorship Impact on Google So even though people have internet access- in China the internet is not a functioning public sphere. Individuals can not openly voice their opinion nor be guaranteed the right to learn the true facts. Below you can see the vast difference found on Google.com & Google.cn for Tiananmen Square

Google.com 

(although small, you can see the first row shows the tanks and people in despair)

Google.cn  
   (there is no sign of any type of violence- rather a cartoon is the first image result!)

I think it is important to address this and see that there is a clear problem. Although not as significant, China still does not allow Facebook access either- which is another outlet that is clearly valuable within the public sphere. Although internet access has exploded- it is evident that it is not equal around the world.

The Media, Internet & Our Current Society

After reading this week's assignments- I found what struck me the most was the significance of time in our society. Most of the articles were from the early 2000's with the most recent being from 2011 and within that relative short period of time -- the impact of the internet on society has truly exploded and helped to revolutionize certain parts of the world. 

                                    

In Papacharissi’article, it was mentioned that in 2001 only 6% of the world had access to the internet and those who would benefit the most from it didn’t have access to it. My how times have changed! According to a recent report, Aljazeera reports that now 1/3 of the world’s population have internet access (http://www.aljazeera.com/news/americas/2012/09/2012923232111323871.html). Although there are still gaps in certain countries, others have impressively pushed for their citizens to have access to the internet. For example, nearly 100% (97.2%) of homes in South Korea have internet access but only 1% have that access in Niger (Aljazeera, 2012). 

In that same article by Papacharissi- it was mentioned that “new technologies… cannot single-handedly transform a political and economic structure that has thrived for centuries.” Yet once again, as time has passed since the publication of this article- time has proved otherwise. Look at the power of social media and the Arab Spring, both Twitter and Facebook played a huge role in helping to take down the regimes of the varying nations. Although this scholar made valid arguments, all of the different readings helped to show how the impact of the internet & media is constantly changing and evolving. At the time when the majority of these articles were written- the very of social media didn’t even exist. It's challenging to think of a Pre-Facebook world, but nonetheless, the evolution of the internet over the past 10 year has been remarkable. 
                     
The media has take this expansion of the internet and ultimately increased the public sphere. Although every media outlet has their own agenda (at least I think so) they all are able to use the internet to not only publish their stories and articles but have it as a venue for people to voice their opinions. Many news sites are interactive and consistently updated to provide the most current news stories. All media related websites give individuals an opportunity to offer their opinion with little to no hurdles. Most sites ask individuals to do a quick and painless registration with their website, which enables people to easily comment and post on stories relating to their local schools and at the same time address global crises. The media may not always be fair and balanced- but the internet allows individuals to have the chance to learn about current events in a way that wasn't possible before. 

Deepa Kumar's Enlightening Lecture

I thoroughly enjoyed the presentation by Deepa and would have liked it to go on even longer. I found the analogies and stories she provided to the group to be interesting and engaging for the diverse audience that was there. What initially grabbed my attention was Deepa correcting this misconception about the “Muslim Enemy.” She mentioned that of all of the thousands of murders committed in the U.S. last year – I believe the amount committed by Muslims were in the single digits. To expand this- she went on to say that outside of the war in Afghanistan & Iraq, worldwide 15 people were killed by individuals that identify as Muslim. This number is miniscule- especially when you compare this number to the amount of people being killed during this very hot summer we just had in Chicago. At one point throughout the summer, more people were being killed in Chicago than servicemen and women in Iraq & Afghanistan!

                Overall, Deepa really brought compelling evidence that “Muslim extremists” aren’t America’s number one enemy to fear. Rather we should be more concerned about the 45,000 people who die each year in America because of the lack of proper medical care & insurance. This idea of the Muslim enemy is something, as Deepa explained, that has been politically created as propaganda as a means to justify certain political and military actions. Although she wasn’t able to dive into as much detail (due to time constraints) as I would have liked – I know am really interested and excited about learning more in her book. I only hope that we continue to have speakers like this, and perhaps Deepa herself again, at North Central to present on such relevant and important issues in our society. 

Public Intellects Who are Shaping 2012

When having to consider who I think are 2012’s significant public intellectuals there are several names that come to mind. The first two are actually married, but I believe they are both significant and important public intellectuals as individuals.

1.)   Hillary Rodham Clinton

        2.)   Bill Clinton

I do not feel that either are error prone necessarily but that isn’t to say that they don’t make mistakes. Of course, as Posner clearly pointed out, the end of Bill Clinton’s presidency wasn’t his finest moments but nonetheless I am considering Bill & Hillary Clinton as to their current role in our society. Hillary, currently our Secretary of State, holds one of the most important roles in our entire government. She is our nation’s most travelled Secretary of State and has visited nations where other past diplomats wouldn’t have dreamed of going. She has met with women in Yemen, spoken up for the people who have no voice, and made dramatic but important statements that have helped to shape a dynamic and successful foreign policy. She is a public intellectual who is most certainly held accountable for her words and actions because of her role not only in our society, but the entire world.

Bill Clinton has truly taken an honorable and respectable path since finishing his term as our nation’s president. He, like Hillary, really takes into account society’s concern and tries to not only educate the public but make a positive difference. He brings awareness to countries that have been devastated by natural disasters and has created the Clinton Global Initiative to help those who are in real need. Since he is such an important and respected (by most) public intellect, he is not one to say things that are reckless because he has nothing to gain from that. He has already been President of the United States, he has spent enough time in the limelight and wants to use the rest helping those who need it and be their voice.

       3.) Samuel Huntington

Maybe it’s my inner political science geek but I find Samuel Huntington and his work he contributed to the foreign policy and political science forum to be incredibly fascinating. Although he has since passed, I believe that his contributions will not be forgotten. Since he is someone who holds significance throughout the world, from what I know of – he would not be one to be careless or not hold himself accountable. His ideas and theories are still mentioned and talked about currently when trying to determine how to solve a certain problem in the world. He brought ideas, albeit some controversial, that really had the political science world excited and by gaining that power he used it to further expand the field and enrich it, rather than abuse it. Prominent political scientists in the field today, can and continue to thank him for his contributions which continues to make him relevant and incredibly important in the incredibly globalized world we are living in.

4.) Angela Merkel

Alright, maybe my bias is coming out a bit here but nonetheless Germany’s chancellor is one powerful woman. She is respected by men in places who often think of women as second class citizens. She, like Hillary, uses her power to the fullest strength by being since and not leading the public with dishonest remarks (for the most part). Rather she holds herself (as do the citizens of Germany) accountable because the European Union is looking at her to help them in the current financial mess that they face. Being such a powerful public intellect, she uses it to see how she can help to make lives better rather than exploiting it for her own personal good.

Although I do find of course that there are many other significant and important public intellectuals that are considered to be important in our society- these four have not only helped others in a positive way but they have looked as to how they can make their field/predicament, etc. better rather than just be mediocre and I applaud them for that. Is it too early to say Hillary 2016? 

The Ironic War of Words

Scalia via Huffington Post

I find it ironic that after our class discussion to find that Richard Posner, who clearly thinks quite highly of himself going up against the very conservative Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. These men are very intellectual, strong, and powerful men in our society who feel they can do no wrong. Leave it to Posner to challenge Scalia for his interpretation of the law and in a sense calling Scalia a hypocrite. Yet it was made very clear from our discussion this past Monday- that Posner himself presents ideas that clearly clash with one another. As men who are distinguished public intellects in our society, shouldn't their focus be on addressing public issues and making a positive difference? Rather they choose the latter to squabble over one's words that have no relevance about the betterment of our society and the world we live in. Shame on them.

Posner via Chicago Tribune

Globalization of Rational Thought

Egypt denouncing attacking on the U.S. embassy- Hezbollah is urging protests in Lebanon- Al Qaeda calls for even more attacks on U.S. embassies; these are just a few of the headlining stories currently being splashed across the internet as another weekend closes to an end. Of course it’s important to consider as well that further turmoil is occurring across America with Chicago’s public school teachers continuing to stay on strike and the Presidential election that is quickly approaching. Although these events are all a cause for serious concern, it does help to display how America’s public life and public sphere is alive and thriving.

(Huffington Post)                                             

As American citizens we are given the opportunity to read about the attacks against America going on in Tunisia and at the touch of a mouse enrich our knowledge about what Romney’s next campaign strategy is. We, as the American people, have the chance to stay connected to ideas, events, and the latest news so easily; yet other nations don’t give their citizens that right and limit the discussion that takes place in the public sphere. Naturally there are limits as to what can and can’t be said in the United States but the freedom of what can be discussed, argued, theorized, etc. is nearly limitless. Ever since the world has become interconnected via globalization and the spread of the internet,we now have the opportunity for someone in Bemidji, Minnesota to share their thoughts (via a social networking tool possibly) to a complete stranger across the globe in just a matter of minutes (perhaps even seconds).

(CBS World News)

                                       

 Look at the current uprising in the Middle East- an obscure film which spurred riots and violence in not just one location but throughout several different countries in a small period of time. This shows how this interconnectedness allowed a massive movement to change and completely alter individual’s rational thought. The internet shared this movie to individuals across the Middle East and essentially made many stop with their lives completely and enter into the “public sphere” by voicing their opinions about the United States. Granted their communication has ceased from being rational thought and moved into a whole other realm.

                I don’t necessarily believe that I am concerned about the current state of public life and rational debate because it allows many, whose voices in the past have been silenced or shunned, to have the opportunity to finally speak. The internet truly does make it much easier for citizens of the world to access knowledge and breaking news- yet one may argue that we are now flooded with information. Nonetheless,   although opinions expressed in the public sphere can be troubling to hear, I do feel that as Americans we should be grateful to have the chance to not only share our opinions but to use that outlet as a venue to learn more the people around the world too.