We Forward in this Generation
Triumphantly
A Response to Isabella Bonilla's
"A Reflection Of the Past 72 Hours"
The past few weeks, months and years have looked bleak for the grand arc of human triumph over tribalism. From Brexit to Bolsonaro, rifts between groups of people have become evident if not enlarged. Isabella responded to a class discussion on hate crimes committed in recent days with an eloquently worded piece. (Yes I realise I have already responded to one of Isabella's posts, but they are thoughtful and not too many posts for this continuation have been made yet). In it she makes many points about the media's role in covering a tragedy. She also points out that the internet, the modern marvel it is, has a rampant problem with disinformation and promoting radicalizing echo chambers.
I agree in many regards that the internet and social media are not beneficial to the state of public discourse. I don't have any social media because I think it would be bad for my mental health, but I can imagine that scrolling through a feed of ideas you already agree with can force you further and further away from seeing the legitimacy in an opposing argument. But the internet can be used for good. The way it is now used seems to be the opposite of the intended goal. A technology meant to promote communication between different people with different ideas has instead become a self sorting algorithm that radicalizes those originally most prone to hearing arguments and changing opinions. But the internet can be and is being used in a better way. The internet has literally just about everything one could possibly know. News websites are newspapers that are constantly updated, e-mail allows us to instantly communicate with those half a world away, google is basically a genie that can tell you whatever you want to know.(and also spies on you, but you know, life is a double edged sword.) The internet has raised countless amounts of money for charities, it has public debate forums, it has it all. It is hard for us 21st century kids to imagine life without it.
Isabella also expressed that the media was largely at fault for the divisiveness of today's society. While there is no scientific method for measuring societal divisiveness, the media sure likes to promote the narrative that America is more divided than ever and that we are at the precipice of some civil war because of it. Divided is a pretty vague term, though. Isabella places much of the blame for today's political and social climate on the media promoting their own viewpoints instead of objectively covering the most newsworthy stories. She lists many seemingly at odds groups and says that "The majority of one group hates the other, and vice-versa." While I agree that racial, political and other disputes are now often too connected to identity, I sure wouldn't go as far as to say that the majority of white people hate black people or black people hate white people, because that just isn't true. I think to say that is to accept the ultimate lie pushed and propagated by some of the media, that being that most Americans hate each other. Constant stories about crime make it seem more prevalent than it is, and an abundance of stories on racism and hatred make it seem more widespread than it is. People have subconscious biases for sure, there is still everyday racism and one person calling the cops on a black person for going about their life in a completely normal manner isn't acceptable. However, most white Americans don't think their race is superior, aren't in the klan and don't hate others based on the color of their skin.
We sure don't live in a post-racial world as was suggested ten years ago from Tuesday. Racism, sexism, bigotry and general hate are still major problems in the U.S. We don't live in a perfect world or country. But we also don't live in a world where most straight people hate gay people or most democrats hate republicans. The most recent poll on the subject found that two-thirds of Americans support same-sex marriage. Another poll found that sixty-eight percent of Americans think openness to people from other nations is critical to who we are as a country. The grandest project of America is to have every group of human beings able to live here together and side by side in peace and harmony. As evidenced by this week of hatred, we sure aren't there yet. But if the majority of Americans share that view of our country, just maybe we aren't as far as we think.
I agree in many regards that the internet and social media are not beneficial to the state of public discourse. I don't have any social media because I think it would be bad for my mental health, but I can imagine that scrolling through a feed of ideas you already agree with can force you further and further away from seeing the legitimacy in an opposing argument. But the internet can be used for good. The way it is now used seems to be the opposite of the intended goal. A technology meant to promote communication between different people with different ideas has instead become a self sorting algorithm that radicalizes those originally most prone to hearing arguments and changing opinions. But the internet can be and is being used in a better way. The internet has literally just about everything one could possibly know. News websites are newspapers that are constantly updated, e-mail allows us to instantly communicate with those half a world away, google is basically a genie that can tell you whatever you want to know.(and also spies on you, but you know, life is a double edged sword.) The internet has raised countless amounts of money for charities, it has public debate forums, it has it all. It is hard for us 21st century kids to imagine life without it.
Isabella also expressed that the media was largely at fault for the divisiveness of today's society. While there is no scientific method for measuring societal divisiveness, the media sure likes to promote the narrative that America is more divided than ever and that we are at the precipice of some civil war because of it. Divided is a pretty vague term, though. Isabella places much of the blame for today's political and social climate on the media promoting their own viewpoints instead of objectively covering the most newsworthy stories. She lists many seemingly at odds groups and says that "The majority of one group hates the other, and vice-versa." While I agree that racial, political and other disputes are now often too connected to identity, I sure wouldn't go as far as to say that the majority of white people hate black people or black people hate white people, because that just isn't true. I think to say that is to accept the ultimate lie pushed and propagated by some of the media, that being that most Americans hate each other. Constant stories about crime make it seem more prevalent than it is, and an abundance of stories on racism and hatred make it seem more widespread than it is. People have subconscious biases for sure, there is still everyday racism and one person calling the cops on a black person for going about their life in a completely normal manner isn't acceptable. However, most white Americans don't think their race is superior, aren't in the klan and don't hate others based on the color of their skin.
We sure don't live in a post-racial world as was suggested ten years ago from Tuesday. Racism, sexism, bigotry and general hate are still major problems in the U.S. We don't live in a perfect world or country. But we also don't live in a world where most straight people hate gay people or most democrats hate republicans. The most recent poll on the subject found that two-thirds of Americans support same-sex marriage. Another poll found that sixty-eight percent of Americans think openness to people from other nations is critical to who we are as a country. The grandest project of America is to have every group of human beings able to live here together and side by side in peace and harmony. As evidenced by this week of hatred, we sure aren't there yet. But if the majority of Americans share that view of our country, just maybe we aren't as far as we think.
Thank you for the constructive criticism on my post. I have made a few small edits in order to adapt to this new information. I really appreciate it, and am always looking to be further educated on topics. Thank you!
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