In response:
On Sep 3, 2005, at 2:01 AM, Andrew Pleasant wrote:
In response to some of the general flow of the discussion ... and I
didn't and wouldn't post anything about Pat Robinson ... it is clear
that the hurricane ripped open not only buildings and levees but also
society and perceptions of the country. These are issues that can't be
separated from politics.
Technology is great in its correct context and moments. But to look to
technology for a 'solution' is to miss the point as much as it is to
define the digital divide as if it is simply, and only, a
technological issue.
The solution will lie with people. They may use technology to forge a
solution, or they may not. But first, you've got to get them to pay
attention and to care - hopefully about everyone equally. You've got
to get presidents off vacation, you've got to get participation and
support rather than anger and fear, you've got to have adequate
leadership emerge, you've got to quit blaming people who had no power
or cars or money to leave or those who have been systematically denied
access to power for being angry about the situation, you've got to
replace special interests with human interests.
ap
Very well stated. I think that the people - including the media - took
the bull by the horns and utilized technology to promote human
interests when the government was slow to do so. It has been apparent
that journalists are outraged (as most people generally are) by what
they witnessed in the aftermath of hurricane Katrina and, along with
showing viewers what has been happening, they have also broadcast a
multitude of ICT resources people could use to post and access
information to communicate with loved ones. Over and over again I have
heard it said (on TV and radio) that the Internet has been
instrumental, in fact crucial, in facilitating access to information
and communications when other more traditional methods have failed. I
think this is a magnificent example of how the Internet, an open and
free human arena, not widelly controlled by special interests, has been
a vehicle to support human interests and needs.
TP
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