The Facebook.com: I Went To UM And Got Poked

It appears that today’s technological devices are inhibiting person to person interaction in today’s society. From digital media players to PDAs to Blackberrys to instant messaging to the new thefacebook.com (“An online directory that connects people through social networks at college.” (From website)), we block out the world on the streets and hide in the shadows of our computers and digital messaging devices.

The creation of these new communication devices have brought new ways of communicating with the world, while taking away a large amount of the person to person interaction we experience on a daily basis. Removing face to face contact, we gain the courage to talk with members we may be sexual attracted to on thefacebook.com, whom we otherwise would have only admired from afar. Instant messaging gives us the freedom to say things that otherwise would not be said in public, and the ability to cover ourselves when we have stepped over personal boundaries by replying “J/K (Just kidding).” This non-emotional, non-face-to-face communication has its benefits but also creates some difficulties.

Instant messaging and digital media devices take over our primary attention and make public interaction secondary. Digital devices allow us to bring our music, books, and lectures with us at all times as we walk to class or work. Now that we have all of these new tech devices that allow instantaneous communication, will they eventually cause a disruption of physical human interaction? Will this instant text messaging cause us to lose our ability to approach someone we may be attracted to or stunt out ability to communicate on a professional level? Is thefacebook.com an aid in forming relationships or is it the beginning of socially acceptable internet relationships? Is this impersonalizing human interaction or are we witnessing an evolution in human communication?

These impersonal tech communication devices allow us to worry less about rejections and bad conversations. However, part of the human experience is the ups and downs that go along with communicating with people. How do we learn from our verbal mistakes and triumphs when we are becoming dependent on devices that require non-emotional communication?

These new tech devices enhance our communication process but should not become our primary means of communication. We seem to be isolating ourselves more by using them and becoming less daring to approach other human beings. Until tech devices can reveal our emotions, emoticons will have to suffice for now.

This Article Published In "The Hurricane"

Civil Rights For Us Americans? Yea, Whatever

It has now been over a week since the 2004 presidential election took place and 59,459,765 out of more than 120 million U.S. citizens reelected President George W. Bush to a second term in office. President Bush won by 3.5 million votes. I have had some time to reflect on this historic election and allow my emotions a chance to calm down. An opinion written on an emotional high or low would be beneficial to no one.

Two days after the election, a student for Kerry said to another student wearing a “W-Four More Years” t-shirt, “The country is going to sh--.” The Bush supporter responded, “Yeah, whatever.” Eleven states have outlawed gay marriages, paving the way for the government to attack more civil liberties. Yea, whatever. Our President has misled the country with his reasons for engaging a war in Iraq. Our fellow brothers and sisters are dying every day as they still search for weapons of mass destruction and wage war against people who have no fears in battle, did not seek war, and have now basically lost everything. Not to mention the number of civilians we have killed and wounded in the process. Yea, whatever.

After this election, civil rights for Americans seem uncertain. Eleven state governments have successfully enacted an amendment to define marriage, a term defined by monotheism. And where has separation of church and state gone? If our government can regulate against one minority group, then I feel that there is nothing to stop it from doing it to another. If there are enough people in 11 states that cannot see that the rights of homosexuals are no different from the rights of everyone else, then would those 11 states still allow Jews to attend synagogue, Muslims and Buddhists to still go to their temples, or Christians to practice their faith as they please? Should we bring back designated “white” and “colored” bathrooms and water fountains?

Americans are forgetting that we all deserve the same rights. Marriage is a word. Who are we to stop two, loving, same-sex citizens the right to marry and share the same rights given to heterosexual married couples? Every single person on this earth and in this country deserves the right to be happy and enjoy his or her life like the next person. We should learn to live in a country in which tolerance is our guide. Do not let your ignorance, hatred, or mental sufferings interfere with others’ attempt to reach happiness.

I am a firm believer in upholding civil rights for all Americans, no exceptions. To those who enjoy all the civil rights America has to offer: Why are you and not others guaranteed all your rights? Are some citizens more equal under our constitution than others? The answer is not, “yea, whatever.” It is, “absolutely not.”

This Article Published In "The Hurricane"