Wanderings

The historic breakthrough in information and communication technology, which represents so potent a means to promote social development and the deepening of people’s sense of their common humanity, can, with equal force, divert and coarsen impulses vital to the service of this very process.

~ Baha’i International Community, 1999 Feb, Who is Writing the Future

I believe this passage is referring to the rise of the internet, e-mail and other related communication methods.  There can be no doubt that these technologies have been able to transform our world by hastening the rate at which information can be exchanged.  However, it has also served to create more of a divide between the cosmopolitan elite who are able to do things such as read this blog, read news from other parts of the world and contact loved ones.  Just like humans themselves, modern technologies have the potential to do great works towards restoring a balance throughout the world and promoting the social development of humanity, but only when used to that end.  They also have the power to become destructive forces.

TeacherJay Baha'i International Community communication, globalism, poverty, technology, unity