A Bridge Between Two Worlds

Think about where you grew up, who your friends were, and what kind of school you went to. All of these are things that have shaped you in to the person that you are today. These items and situations that you have encountered with these items have also shaped your values, opinions, and ideas. We all grow up differently, with different parents, different friends, and in different environments. All of this combined means that we are all different when it comes to our values, opinions, and ideas. This shaping is not necessarily a bad thing, but it limits the diversity in which we are exposed to in our lifetime. Someone who grew up in California will have a completely different outlook on life than say someone who grew up in Alabama. Although there is nothing wrong with either of these lifestyles, these gaps in exposure can be closed with a little something called the internet.

Although some people may disagree, I believe that the internet has opened doors to free speech in a way that was unpredictable to the framers of our Constitution. Lessig makes the claim that there is “a value in confronting the unfiltered,” and the internet does just that. Although the internet can be filtered, so can aspects of real space. Just like the internet can keep you from certain web pages, your parents can keep you from being exposed to certain opinions or certain situations. I believe that this “unfiltered” world in which Lessig speaks of is most apparent on the internet, compared to anywhere else in society. The web creates an array of opportunities to search for information, gain knowledge, and teach one about diversity in other parts of the country, or even other parts of the world. With just the click of a few buttons, one can be exposed to the thoughts and opinions of millions. People often show this freedom by posting things on websites such as YouTube, Facebook, and community chat sites. The media is also able to express this freedom by having their own news sites, such as CNN, Fox News, and NBC. Most everyone has this opportunity to be involved, it all comes down to whether they take advantage of it or not.

So, although you may come from here, and I may come from there, we as people can become more connected with one another’s ideas because of the internet and the freedom that it gives us to speak our mind. Although some may argue that the internet is a filter, it is only what you make of it. If you choose to only enter web pages that are suitable to your opinions, then you are choosing to miss out on the wide variety of new and exciting opinions that are sitting there, waiting for you to read. The internet has done wondrous things for free speech. It has also helped us to create a more diverse society, which in turn will lead us to becoming a better nation.