It is widely known that the United States government has a wide data base on its citizen's personal information. The question is however, how much information do they have and is it necessary for the government and security officials to keep this information? I have linked below various Ted Talk speeches on this topic and in this blog, I will discuss my opinion on the concerns that were brought up in the following videos.
Why are these issues even important? To start, growing up and having my childhood and teenage years- where I and my peers around me are our most impressionable, being surrounded by online businesses such as Facebook who is actively invading your privacy is dangerous. Especially when these businesses don't advertise that they collect your data, track, and inspect what you had otherwise thought to be private.
Many younger kids between the ages of 10-12 are now getting cell phones and therefore having access to online websites and social media. This can be dangerous if they are not taught how to be responsible with online sites and once posted, is online forever. These young kids could also be shown mature content that is pushed out by the owner company when their brains aren't old enough to comprehend it and then this could lead to psychological issues down the road.
Then is the issue regarding the information and surveillance done by the police force. I understand the need for the technology and think it is a very useful tool when used for its designed purpose.. finding and tracking the suspected and convicted. The storing of data from day-to-day civilians, I do not think is necessary. All the extra data that is recorded and has nothing to do with current police investigations should be deleted. The argument "we might need it in the future" is understandable, but by keeping the data, its invading innocent American's privacy. Besides, if a case comes up, they can go out and find the information again.
To sum up, the internet is a newer concept for us as humans, and it is important for all of us to know and to be aware, that just because we are behind a screen... doesn't mean we have privacy.
With the increased access to technology and even new innovations where iPads can be used as a notebook, there seems to be less need for paper. The phrase, 'History of Paper' might even seem a bit silly, but humans have been documenting and recording their thoughts since the dawn of time. Many early civilizations used mostly what as available at the time as an early form of 'paper', clay slabs, tree bark, and even pressed papyrus, which is actually what early paper was made out of.
200 BCE- China
Early Chinese Paper Mills
The earliest known paper was traced back to the early ages in China where a paper prayer was embedded on the brick of a home. In this time, paper was generally reserved for religious purposes, the government, or wealthy business owners to complete transactions. The early papermakers used old fishing nets, bamboo, mulberry bark, and even hemp to make the papers. Firstly, fibers were collected from the materials and then sent to pits either lined with stone or wood to soak for up to three months. Next, the papermakers would ground the fibers into a pulp using wooden tools or rocks. Scoops of the pulp where then poured on top of a rectangular framed mold and spread out evenly with their hands. Water was then drained through a screen to separate the pulp from the wet paper. The molds with the paper where then left out in the sun to dry and then peeled of the mold once done. The average papermaker at this time owned approximately 25-30 molds.
600 CE- Korea
By 600 CE, the art of paper making had spread to Korea. The core basics of the process stayed the same, but by this time, the Koreans were using new advanced technologies to help speed up the paper making. For example, they were using an animal powered grinding or pulping mill process. They also invented the laid paper mold- a bamboo frame with a screen cover and two deckle strips; and started to lay the wet paper sheets to a wooden board to dry instead of leaving them in the molds, allowing for the molds to be reused more quickly.
610 CE- Japan
Ten years later, the paper making process made its way to Japan by Korean Buddhist Monks. In 770 CE, the Empress Shotuko ordered a mass printing of paper, which is commonly know as Hyakumanto Dharani.
1264 CE- Italy
Early Italian Paper Mill
Fast forward to 1264 CE in Italy where there were already many established paper mills. The Europeans by this time used cotton and linen in their mills, which is more similar to the paper we know today. The method of using linen consisted of, cutting the cloth into strips and then rolling these strips into balls, coating them in lime, and then leaving the cloth to ferment for weeks. Around one third of the rags rotted and were unstable while the other two thirds were ready for the next step of the process. The papermakers in Italy were also the ones who perfected the paper molds. They used wood and metal, which consisted of a wood frame and a metal screen that they dipped into a vat of 90% water and 10% pulp. The water and pulp mixture was then shook on the screen to evenly distribute the pulp while the water drained out.
1869- United States
Early U.S Paper Mills
The process of paper making reached Mexico and the United States around the year 1575 when the first paper mill was created in the city of Culhuacan, just south of present day Mexico city. The first uses of wood fibers to make paper weren't until 1869 by Denison Remington of Remington Paper Company of Watertown, located in New York. William Russell, another papermaker, has built two paper mills in New Hampshire and Vermont around the same time as Remington. One of Russell's salesman filled the Boston Herald's news print order with wood and didn't tell the publisher. The printing process worked so well with the wood made paper, that they refused to use anything else afterwards. Now, majority of paper is made out of wood as it is less expensive to mass produce and the materials were more abundant than cloth.
The Impact of Paper:
As humans, we use some form of paper everyday. To the paper we use to take notes in school or work, the napkins and paper towels we use in the kitchen, to even the money we exchange day to day. Paper has even revolutionized the way humans could now communicate with each other. Letters could be written and sent thousands of miles away, ideas could be written down and remembered later, and it is now used for advertising and convincing communities to buy your products. The collaboration of different cultures over thousands of years to create the paper we know and use today is truly remarkable and really exemplifies human's ability to create and evolve.
As an American citizen, one of the first things you learn about in history class is the different United States Amendments. Specifically, the first amendment. The first amendment gives U.S citizens the freedom of free speech, but what exactly falls under this category of "Free Speech"? Listed below I will discuss and evaluate four of the values/ideas that are protected by the first amendment.
1. Marketplace of Ideas
John Milton
The main idea behind this first value was originally said by John Milton- a former secretary for the commonwealth of England; when truth and falsehood are allowed to freely argue, truth will win out. The freedom of being able to have opposing views or false information and be able to voice them without the government punishing you is not only a freedom, but beneficial for a country as well. When an establishment only has one stream of information and opinions, it can weaken the creativity of the individuals within this said establishment, and in turn weaken the whole as they are not able to grow and shift with new and opposing ideas. The stream of information being given could also be just generally incorrect and without the freedom of letting truth and falsehood grapple out, no one is to know the truth that their establishment is based on.
2. Check on Government Power
The Watergate Scandal
The second value of free speech I wanted to discuss is the ability for American citizens and the press to be enabled to know when there is an "abuse of power" within the government and then the choice to change the leadership at the ballot box. I think this is freedom is beneficial to promote a transparent and healthy government system. This freedom is also unique to many other nations, which I find fortunate to live in a society where citizens have the ability to hold the government accountable. Moreover, countries where their citizens have the freedom of press- to report news and circulate ideas without censorship from the government- creates a government who is less likely to take advantage of their citizens. The ability for voters to check the government decreases the chance of economic exploitation, unsupported violence initiated by a country's leader, and even the possibility of anarchy or dictatorship as citizens are enabled to learn about abuses of power.
3. Promote Innovation
Flag Map of North Korea
Another value is the idea that when communities, countries, and establishments give their individuals the freedom of speech, it promotes creativity, and therefore innovation. For example, the communist country of North Korea has severe restrictions on their citizens when it comes to freedom of speech and religion and are known to be significantly behind in their technological innovations. The ability to share ideas and collaborate with others helps create new ideas and in turn new inventions. The promotion of free speech and ideas also equates more prosperous societies as the citizens feel like their voices are valued. Such societies are more diverse and interesting and provide a more complex place to grow and live.
4. Individual Self-Fulfillment
C. Edwin Baker
Lastly, the fourth free expression value is the right to express themselves and create their own identity. I think this value is really special and citizens are able to be their true selves and in turn helps form a more positive society. As stated by C. Edwin Baker- a Professor of Law and Communications at the University of Pennsylvania, "Speech or other self-expressive conduct is protected not as a means to achieve a collective good but because of its value to the individual." The freedom to create and express your own identity also allows for individuals to find those that they genuinely connect with.
The Supreme Court- a judicial power that makes up one of the three pillars in the United States government. The name on its own gives the impression of regal, elite, and impassive. In simpler terms, the Supreme Court seems untouchable. At least that is the opinion I held before watching the following videos:
Supreme Court: Part 1
Supreme Court: Part 2
The Quiet Workings of The Supreme Court Justices
Current Supreme Court Justices: 2025
The position as a Supreme Court Justice is one of honor and dedication, not only to the career itself, but to uphold the rule of law. While watching the attached videos, I learned that an average Supreme Court Justice serves for 16 years. They often are in their position for decades after the president who appointed them leaves the oval office. Each Justice does their own work separate from their colleagues and come to case decisions in private. Before this video, I had always viewed the Justices as cold and reserved from the American people. However, I have learned this perception is far from true. This group is dedicated to uphold the freedoms and liberty laid out throughout the past 200 years, the Justices are simply just people given a case to think about and compare it to The Constitution.
The Supreme Court's Complex Process
The Supreme Court Building
Every week the court receives around 100 news cases and approximately 7,000 new cases per year. Many of these cases come as petitions or arguments hoping to persuade the Justices on why a lower court ruling was incorrect. Out of these thousand of cases that pile up, only a hundred a year will be chosen for full consideration. New petitions as well as cases that have already been accepted are then stacked and sent to the Justice's chambers once a week. Each Justice has a team of law clerks and secretaries who assist them, however, the individual Justice is responsible for coming to a decision about each presented case. The main task of The Supreme court is to review the facts from a lower court preceding such as, was the law applied correctly or is the law constitutional? The Court meets weekly to decide which cases should be accepted and vote on previous discussed cases. The first draft of a written opinion on a case decision usually takes four weeks, the drafts are then sent to the other Justices to view or edit. The author of the written opinion may then adjust their writing as to get the rest of the Justices to agree with their position, this process of editing, discussing, and compromising on cases can take many months to resolve. Overall, The Supreme Court's job is limited to issues that are pushed up by the American people and each petition, wether written by a Harvard legal professional or by a prisoner in jail, each case gets the same individual consideration, which is a very surprising thing I learned by watching the videos.
My Takeaways: The Supreme Court
The biggest idea that I came away with after watching the two videos is that The Supreme Court and its Justices are very engaged and open to the cases and issues presented by the American people. The videos also changed my perspective of The Supreme Court as being cold and untouchable to dedicated and level-headed. Another aspect I took away was due to The Court's openness with the large amount of cases they review and how it allows for The Supreme Court, along with the pillars of the institution and the core aspects of The Constitution, to continue to grow and evolve with the American people and the United States and giving it the stability to continue throughout the country's future.
With the age of technology and having so many news sources at the touch of a button, it may be overwhelming to figure out where to find different types of information to stay up to date. Listed below are are my top five news and information web cites that I think give me a well-rounded perspective on the world!
I look at USA Today because it covers national news and gives more of a broader scope of topic and news reporting. This is helpful in times where I want to see what is happening on the other side of the country. I also think USA Today does a good job at staying more middle biased when it comes to reports about politics.
The second source I use is, Fox News. I mainly look at this source for political reports as they are known to be more right leaning and I think it is good to look at news media that fall on both sides of the political scale.
In elementary and high school my teachers would play CNN 10 for our class everyday, so I have been familiar with CNN for a few years now. As stated before, I like to look at Fox News, in contrast I also look at reports from CNN as they are known to be more left biased and therefore, gives me the ability to compare their reports to Fox News and see what is consistent between both sources.
I go on People mainly to view pop culture news. I think People has a lot of good connections that allow them to get inside views into events or interviews with celebrities, which I always find interesting.
Although, Instagram isn't an actual news station, it does provide information on friends I don't see as often and provides information more in photo form than in words. Instagram may not be the most reliable in terms of politics, but for the social aspect, I think it is very useful.
To conclude, the process of viewing news and information has drastically changed from the way the generations before us have previously done it. Thousands of articles and websites are available at the touch of a button. While this age of new technology has many positives, it is important as media consumers to be conscious of the websites we are viewing and fact checking the information we view against other news and information websites.
