Rant of the Day: Google

[purplkat]

No, this isn't a rant against Google. It's a rant against all the people who have their panties in a bunch about the kind of information that Google makes accessable.

Comments

[miintikwa]

Dude, I had no idea about that Japanese neighborhood info. That's fascinating. Thank you.

[weaselofjustice]

In all honesty, I can't think of a single culture which would be totally okay with their dirty laundry (cultural prejudices, horrible historical actions, selfish/hypocritical/evil foreign policy) aired for all the world to see. Some cultures are more accepting of the past than others - West Germany, for instance, seems to view Germany's part in World War II with a cultural shame the likes of which I cannot comprehend. But the western powers generally ignore the fact that most of their history is full of imperialist land grabs, genocides, wartime atrocities, resource-grubbing and systematic violations of human rights

[akumadaimyo]

But putting it on Google DOES make it more easily accessible, whereas before they might have to do a bit more digging.

[purplkat]

I think that information is a catalyst for change. These things will be constantly perpetuated as long as they're not faced.

When Gavin Newstrom (sp?), the mayor of San Francisco and possessor of GIANT BRASS BALLS decided to start allowing gays to marry in the city, there was a huge backlash from the gay community, saying that putting gay marriage in the spotlight would set the cause back. And initially, that's what happened, as the right all got their panties in a bunch and started squealing.

But a dedicated group didn't back off, and they forced people to look in the face of what was going on, and look what's happening now. It wouldn't be happening if Newstrom had hid his head back in the sand.

The civil rights movement is another example. Nothing ever would have changed if someone hadn't come forward and made people look at the way things were. And again, it was very, very ugly at first.

Information is the catalyst for change and justice. It forces us to face the places where our actions don't meet our ideals.