A Different Type of Attack
“The value of…education is not the learning of many facts but the training of the mind to think.”
~ Albert Einstein
A thousand years ago, warfare consisted of one army laying waste to another on the field of battle and either killing the opposing king/chief or capturing them. It was pretty straightforward…typically not a whole lot of subterfuge or treachery (yes, it happened…but stay with me on this) …just destroy the enemy on the field of honor and glory. In the twenty-first century, things are a little more complex. Yesterday, social media giant, Facebook, suspended over 650 ‘fake’ accounts that they deemed to be run by foreign governments that were designed to help sway the thought process of the American people as we get closer to the midterm elections this November. This, in my way of thinking, is an outright attack on the American people and the system of government we have in place to serve the people. All this goes back to the opening quote of the importance of education…it’s not all just about facts but education should help us develop the ability to think for ourselves and to form informed thoughts that lead to informed decisions.
Social media mogul, Mark Zuckerberg (founder of Facebook), developed his social media platform to help people connect or reconnect. As our social patterns have evolved over the years, more and more people move away from family and friends to chase careers or dreams all over the globe…social media has given us all the power to stay connected to the ones we care about and love in an easy to use platform. As with all things associated with the internet, there are dangers that lay in wait for the naïve, the unthinking, and the careless. What I’m talking about it the information that one can find on the internet and the value of the credibility of that information found on the internet. One of the many clichés that comes to mind when I think about information I read online, especially on social media platforms is, “It must be true, I read it on the internet,” a tongue in cheek thought, which just means that any information on the internet, unless researched and verified, is suspect of bias and being inaccurate depending on the source. Many people blamed social media outlets for the misinformation that appears on their platforms but in reality, blame also lies with people who blindly accept what they hear and read on social media as well. Social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter are clamping down on fake accounts that are aimed at swaying political thought and policy, but responsibility also falls on the head of the users of social media too.
An example of the success of foreign input through social media to influence an election can be seen with the November elections of 2016. The influence provided just enough push to create doubt as to the validity of the election process thus putting doubt into the process as a whole. One of the things that makes our country unique, and in my mind, a special place, is election process of our leaders. We as a population have the privilege to vote in elections and know that their vote counts. My friend and class mate who ran for the House of Delegates for the State of Virginia, tied the incumbent after all the recounting had been done, lost the seat after her opponent’s name was drawn out of a bowl…democracy in action. Every vote counts…just ask Shelly. As much as I advocate for people to get out and vote, I also advocate for people to go and make INFORMED CHOICES. Learn about the people and issues you’re voting for, so your vote really can make a difference.
The midterm November elections are just over ten weeks away. Become a critical thinker as you approach your ballot in the upcoming election. If you see something on social media that enflames your passion…something that breaks the last straw in your belief system about a particular issue or candidate…take a moment and do a little research to see if that statement on social media is true. It usually only takes a moment. Never leave something as important as your vote up to something you read on the internet…it just might not be true. Don’t forget to register to vote if you haven’t already, that deadline is rapidly approaching as well. Take care of yourself and each other, remember, we’re all in this together.
Wm Reid
Best Home Care Services
325 N Eastern Ave
Connersville, IN 47331
765-827-9833
wmreid@bhcshealth.com