Computer Idolatry

An understanding of gender needs only to look at the role and function of gender. All men may have been created equal, but men and women are not the same. Just look at the genitalia. In looking at a phallus, does it appear two of these things are meant to go together? Who thought up the idea that because a man does not have a vagina, we could in substitute put the phallus in another man’s ass? Does this appear to be logical thinking, or just desperate? Desperation seems likely. If men are and have been inspired to put their phallus in another man’s ass, then there must be a reason why concerning the female gender. Human beings learn the “facts of life” early. It doesn’t take a necessarily smart baby to realize that what he or she has is unique, interesting, and different than his or her sister or brother. Intrigue is created. “What am I supposed to do with this?” It takes many years of adolescent growth, social experimentation, and trial and error to discover the answers. While sexuality is a core issue and function of the human race, it is not physics. Like any discipline the results will be more favorable if a suitable model is applied. This is what art attempts to do. While many pundits believes art can be a reflection of society, at its most quintessential function art can and does provide examples of an enlightened existence. This is why art if valuable. If society disperses with the notion that we needs role models, then art becomes less valuable. Life becomes like the “Wild, Wild, West.” Everyday is a new frontier devoid of traditional boundaries created by colonial England. (In the United States that is) The problem is, is if we as a country disregard our traditional models for society, then there had better be something in place to take their places. “Shooting from the hip” is not good enough, unless there is enough talent and knowledge all ready there to predicate a reasonable outcome. Today because of lack of quality education, America is “loosing from the hip.” In a few short years we have abandoned almost every available societal model in favor of immediate, juvenile, selfish gratification. Why is this? It is because for traditional models to be effective, we must live in an environment that can support enlightened living. That means that through sheer human effort, traditions are created with intellect. “I think, therefore I am” applies as man uses his brain to plan, create, and execute his world. This is how the disciplines of art and science were created. For them to sustain they must be recorded, preserved, and taught in an orderly system. Media has all but abandoned cultural tradition in favor of the “Wild West.” Because businesses in the U.S. have outsourced their jobs, the traditions of America no longer seem relevant to life now. A virtual “Wild West” has been created catering to the youthful generation. A generation gap has been created, again, but possibly in a more sizeable proportion. Throughout history there has always been a generation gap, but electronic media seems to have widened it. Electronic media seems to have infiltrated every aspect of everyday American life. In certain ways it is not a bad thing. Who could argue the laptop computer is a pinnacle of convenience? It can take the place of a newspaper, a notebook, a stereo system, an encyclopedia, a dictionary, the United States mail, and a dating service. That is a judicious amount of service offered from on unit that sits on your lap. It may not be able to render a pleasing lap dance, but the plethora of pornographic images readily available on the net make a suitable substitution. As a nation we must admit the personal computer is a valuable tool, but it should be a tool and a tool only. Now it has effected mainstream America so greatly, every facet of our lives is grappling with the task of accommodating its presence. Students take notes on it. Parents pay bills on it. Teachers post syllabi and grades on it. Colleges post applications on it. The function of the computer has begun to become our cultural lives. The core interests of the human race are changing and in favor of the computer. Little league, soccer, the Cub Scouts, the Key Club, the chess team, and the debating clubs all seem to have taken a back seat to the computer. Why is this? It is because America in her environment must provide a place that is able to sustain and nurture intellectual activity. When the environment becomes suspect, the process of natural selection begins to create subtle but long lasting genetic mutations that cause us to change. Slowly we as a race of Americans are being manipulated by our environment. The appearance of Attention Deficit Disorder should have been a major clue signaling the inception of the process. Why are we no longer able to concentrate? Why have we become dependant upon immediate gratification? It is because our environment has become so overrun with mania, we literally are being pushed to our maximum velocity by unknown events. While “Life in the Fast Lane” can feel desirable, so can a certain amount of social stability created by something other than Myspace. It used to be church. Church, the nature of forcing oneself to get dressed, commute, and attend a service commemorating the acknowledgement of a Being more supreme than ourselves, gave us the discipline to remember. We learned that there was Something else that altruistically, unequivocally, and unselfishly was concerned about our health and happiness easing social fears. The long term understanding that God was there for us made it easier to tolerate the foibles of life. Today God seems to have lost that power. It seems as if America really is in the “Old West,” and we are scrambling for survival. The introduction of terrorism on our native soul did not help. Neither has a “Campaign of Fear and Intimidation.” Faith is the act of the American people rising above our current social and economic challenges and believing without certainly solutions are to be found. God would not want the extinction of the human race, would He? It is up to man to live up to God’s standards and prove we are worthy of life on His earth. So far we are failing.