Will Crossing the Digital Divide in The Third World Help Human Rights?

Most believe that the best way to help human rightsmotivated crowd for change which is being
in the third world is to open up the Internet and allowcontrolled, what's the difference? Each group is just
information to flow-in. By doing this it will allow accessanother a name; Democrat, Environmentalist,
to information and bring down dictatorships, badObama-rama, Global Citizen, Anti-war movement -
governments, or propel change which will be goodand all these groups are no better than those they
for freedom, liberty, human rights, and humanity inaccuse, and in fact, their actions can bring down
general. Is this reality possible, or is their more too it?civilizations, societies, and destroy trust within the
Well, it's hard to say really, although not long ago ancitizenry, even condemn innocent people, character
acquaintance mentioned to me that unethical regimesassassinate them to further their own cause.
would have a much more difficult time in brainYou see, as long as you go along with the strongest
washing their masses.movement at the time you stay safe, but remember
True enough, and yet the Internet is mesmerizingtides turn - yesterday your cause was just today
and often creates false realities on its own. Andcondemned or vice-versa - it's all sound and fury, it's
there are specific cases of manipulation of theall a reaction, it's all a choice to pay or play, but in the
masses in all forms of media, even the massesend, what was the result? Good or Evil? It's all in how
themselves manipulate and control each individualyou look at it, where you choose to play your
within. See that point? You should. So, wouldcharacter in the Virtual Reality Game, we call the Life
brain-washing by governments go way if the digitalExperience. Most of our society has chosen
divide was completely crossed and information got topreviously to side with a cause, or stand against or
all corners of the globe? Here are some of myfor something; chances are you will choose again,
thoughts on this topic below:along with everyone else. See that point Mr. Pepper -
Doubtful, there is all sorts of brain washing andor puppet on a string? What's behind your mirror,
censorship online, look at China, Pakistan, etc just forwho are you really?
starters. Don't underestimate nationalism, roteNow then, when crossing the digital divide, we would
memorization in school, re-enforced repetition ofneed to get devices into everyone's hands, just like
religion, governments, authority, and such. And whatTVs in every home brought in instant information of
about the over-bearing social aspects of convincingits day. But don't forget that media was able to brain
the mob, "go along with the mob, and be one withwash too. Okay so, India's $35 laptop and One
us, join the global consciousness" don't you see it, it'sLaptop Per Child could close this gap. This is not an
a scam to control your mind, it's BS. What's theimmediate solution, it will take time to close the digital
difference; "Be a Pepper, Drink Dr. Pepper!"divide, but once it's closed - I ask what about the
All these social online networks are all just socialindividual, original thought, what about that? This
branding, social engineering. The Internet itself now iswould take at least a full generation to effectively
socially engineering humans - it could so easily behave a change on the minds of those against the
turned against them, people better watch out. ThereWest. Of course there is also the cultural clash.
are several large scale movements afoot, PresidentIf the US uses the Internet wisely yes, but the
Obama's election was just one example, what aboutInternet can easily be used against us too. Forcing
Global Warming? What about all the anti-USour views onto a culture could backfire, and trying to
sentiment? All in the name or peace, unity,win the hearts-and-minds will be noticed by those
environment - and yet much of what happens haswho wish to control their people, in their fight against
the opposite effect.us, and they know best which levers to push since
Remember hate is also spread by media, and thethey are fully immersed in their own cultures, beware.
media is now part of war, being exploited by Hamas,This is a dangerous game - and when the game
Hezbollah, and the Russian spies in the US who werereaches all corners of the globe, you can see the
caught were all over it too. See that point? If youpotential for abuse. Think on this.
want to be a soldier in their army, a socially