Driving Forces: Technology
We all know how important technology has been for progress and human development worldwide. Electronic communications that links everyone living on earth together as part of one global community overtime will bring down all barriers that currently keep us apart and at war. Medical advances as well are helping people worldwide and we now have the ability to effectively and economically eliminate malnutrition, even within the poorest and most remote settings.
However, for every positive effect technology brings to the world, there are those currently who use it for destructive means. Remember, Sir Isaac Newton? His third law of motion indicates when bodies remain at rest they are being influenced by equal and opposite forces. When one force becomes greater than its opposite force the greater force prevails, resulting in movement. When we flip a coin into the air, at some point in time the weight of the coin and the friction of the atmosphere overcomes the force of flight, and the coin begins its return to the ground. The point being, to overcome the destructive capabilities forces can use technology to produce, as societies, we have to find greater sources of opposing force to limit the escalation of danger or eliminate it entirely.
One set of opposing forces results in the use of confrontational action. Another approach is to eliminate any needs for confrontation. Globally, we use religious and political issues for confrontational causes to mask poverty and ignorance. Within this nation, it’s poverty and ignorance that is paramount in keeping us from achieving America’s highest principles.
Today, through making access to information and knowledge through communications open and available to everyone, we are well on our way to diffusing the influence ignorance plays. It’s now time to begin a second front where we focus national attention and interests on poverty – not only here, but, globally for assisting developing nations.
If we’ve learned anything from the most recent wars in Eastern Europe and in the middle-east, it should be that we in fact are our brothers’ keepers; and unless we’re willing to help others as we help ourselves, war and terrorism will continue – as will crime across America.
We can use technology to our advantage by using it as a strategic tool as well as a tool for commerce. Please provide us with your thoughts – and we’ll respond. We’ll also connect you with others so you can learn how they think as well!
Thanx!