Kaban ni Adri Pearl: ANG GAHUM SA TEKNOLOHIYA

Oscar Wilde once said, “Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth”.

In present day society, filled with social media and instant communication, people have learned to mask their selves behind screens rather than plaster. Although the guise of social networking and mass communications has enhanced the idea of anonymity and superficiality, when put to a productive good, such advancements in global communication technologies will lead inspirations “beneath the surface” and closer to reality. I believe that as college students remaining connected and reflective must be approached in a way that maximizes communication outlets for the greater good.

The Middle East is infamous for its unstable, corrupt and repressive governments. Middle Eastern countries such as Egypt, Syria, Libya, and Iran leave their citizens to suffer totalitarian oppression. On December 12, 2010 a story of an unemployed Tunisian man who committed self-immolation after losing his vegetable cart went viral. In the disguise of the internet, Mass communications helped spread the story leading to protests and the resignation of Tunisia’s president. However this did not stop in Tunisia alone, a domino effect occurred in the Middle East as country by country started protesting for just governments. Today Tunisia has voted in a new president under free election, Libya is free from the reign of Gaddafi, Mubarak has resigned, and progress towards freedom and opportunity has grown. The great success of the Middle East revolutions lay heavily on the new mass social communications for organization and information. I believe that college students can learn from middle eastern countries to not take for granted the power of social organization and limitless information that today’s technology provides. Libya, Egypt, Syria and the other Middle Eastern countries harnessed the imagination to have a better world came to life from brains, screens, and actions. With serious agendas, perseverance, and faith, College students can too turn an idea into reality with brains, screens, and actions.

Superheroes like Batman and Spiderman wear masks in order to do their heroic duties. In real life people hide behind screens to speak a truth that they may be restricted to say out loud. Although one can hide behind a screen to spark action, one must also take advantage of filtering the truth from the same screen. Through today’s mass information it is hard to depict the truth from the lies. However as John F. Kennedy once said, “A nation that is afraid to let its people judge the truth and falsehood in an open market is a nation that is afraid of its people”.  With the large market of information that present day communications has opened up, one must not let the fear of falsehood prevent the search for truth. Today’s college students can take advantage of such a large market to reflect on what is plausible and what is lies. With an unlimited amount of sources, students should be able to conduct research to form a balanced opinion. Rather than being spoon fed the facts, students will develop more as people who strive for the truth. Social media may be an obstacle, but it is an obstacle that will be present with or without technology. One cannot trust others to tell the whole truth, but must search for it in multiple places and experiences, for there may be one truth, but there are multiple perspectives.

As Fr. Adolfo Nicolas has ventured out into vast Asian territory to give and receive truth, college students must also venture out into the vast unknown inter-webs of communication and give and receive truth. One must venture beneath the surface, beneath the mask and screen, and let imagination grip reality.

(Bug-os ang pasalamat sa KAHAYAG ngadto sa magtatampo nga si ADRIANNE PEARL LOBEDICA GIMENEZ. Nagtakuban siya sa pangalan, “ADRI PEARL”.  Natawo siya  sa Illinois, Amerika   kaniadtong August 5, 1995,  isip kamagwangang anak nila ni Popoy  ug Amay, mga Sugboanon   nga malipayong nanimuyo na karon sa tinipong nasod sa Amerika.  Sa linghod nga pangedaron nga 17 anyos, nagpakita siya ug pagkamahiligon ug dakong gugma sa panulat. Bisan pa sa pagkayungit niyang molitok sa pinulongang binisaya apan mapasigarbohon siyang mopahibalo nga wala gayud mawala sa iyang kasingkasing ang dugo sa pagkapilipina.  Gawas sa dugo sa pagkamagsusulat nga naglatay sa iyang kaugatan,  aktibo usab siya sa uban pang mga kalihokan sa eskuylahan sama sa pagka-atleta, artista ug magbabalita sa peryodiko sa iyang tunghaan. Mituo siya sa prinsipyo, “I MAINLY ENJOY PIECES ON PHILOSOPHY, IDEAS, AND SLICE OF LIFE. IN THE FUTURE I REALLY JUST HOPE TO BE HAPPY WITH WHAT I DO AND TO BE PASSIONATE ABOUT IT.”