Reading Response 6

In reading, “Lest We Think the Revolution is a Revolution” by Cynthia Selfe, I noticed that she mentions “the computer network that spans the globe will serve to erase meaningless geopolitical borders, eliminate racial and ethnic differences, re-establish a historical familial relationship which binds together the peoples of the world regardless of race, ethnicity, or location” (Selfe 194). This essentially means that people expect the expansion of the internet to unite the world. Because of the internet’s ability to connect people anywhere in the world instantaneously, it is natural to try to divine the effects of the internet in the future. It seems that there is a common humanitarian believe in a future utopia, a world were all the differences in the world are erased.

In order to unpack this idea, one must ask, “What separates people from one another?” In truth, Selfe gives the answer. Geopolitical borders create two disparate countries and racial and ethnic differences have been the sources of countless atrocities throughout history. Through a screen, all these differences are erased. Whatever the result would be however, would be so wildly alien to the way our brains are traditionally programmed that we would never actually create such a future. This “global village” completely undermines the hidden values in American society. Americans place great importance on the idea that with hard work comes great reward. Having worked hard and earned great rewards and privileged status in the world, it seems highly unlikely that Americans would willingly surrender the advantages we have worked hard and fought for. All personal interest aside, all patriotism would be extinguished as well. This internet utopia future of the global village, really reminds me strongly of “Imagine” by John Lennon. This song, while full of hope and idealizing a utopia is really advocating communism, another word that strikes a hard note in American hearts. Communism in theory is a very sound system, however it generates dictators like Stalin and Castro, so one may ask, if the internet community comes to life, who is the new leader of the world? Unpacking the hidden connotations is a very useful tactic for predicting how the public will receive the idea. Many people may think that the internet utopia is a good idea. Looking at the surface of it, it generates images of happiness and togetherness of the world. However, the cold hard reality is that we are divided. Sometimes because of these differences we can live life separately and in peace, rather than forcing our ideologies down one another’s throats.