The Challenge that was posed to us early in the semester to give up our worldly possessions is a lot harder than I thought it would be. Like I said in class Thursday, my phone died last Tuesday, so I was without my phone for about 3 hours. I hated it. i couldn't talk to my girlfriend, I couldn't check my email, and I simply couldn't check the time. My phone has become part of me. I guess it could be because i had to have my phone with me all the time, or my dad would take it away. He wanted my sister and i to answer the phone whenever he called, and i did it. He saw it as more of an emergency line than anything. How I felt when I didn't have my phone to use was awful, but I don't think I would have any problem giving up my TV or xbox. I barely watched TV this summer and used my xbox maybe once or twice. There truly are way more productive things that I could be doing rather than watching TV or playing xbox. This is the first time in my life that I am actually reading for leisure. I'm still not the biggest fan of reading, but the books seem to keep me interested more now for some reason.
I also want to say a little bit about our small conversation about corporations and what will happen if there is not more control of them. I really liked when Abraham Lincoln was quoted in Culture Jam saying, "Corporations have been enthroned....An era of corruption in high places will follow and the money power will endeavor to prolong its reign by working on the prejudices of the people....until wealth is aggregated in a few hands....and the republic is destroyed." (68). We can see corruption in high places everywhere. Bernie Madhoff is a prime example. Men with too much power will abuse it to a dangerous extent, and maybe the only way to stop it is another revolution.
I believe too that the worst part of the challenge would be missing my phone. I wouldn't care about the computer or tv. Then again, I have an iphone and that is basically my computer. I totally agree with the fact that our corporations are too big and have too much power.
ReplyDeleteI also agree that missing the phone is the worst part! My boyfriend lives 3 hours out of town so the only communication we have is by phone. There's no way I'm ditching my phone for a week for bonus points.
ReplyDeleteI think that corporations have too much power as well... but it's America's fault remember!? In Culture Jam, Lasn explained how the Supreme Court gave corporations 'more' rights and freedom than we have as American citizens. That is so frustrating to me! I don't understand how people couldn't see how dangerous that choice was.
I give you props for giving up technology for a week! I would never be able to give up my phone, just like you my phone died the other day for a few hours and I just felt lost without it. I think its good that you are being able to engage in other things beside technology such as reading. I also agree that many people do abuse their power when they have too much.
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