I have to confess that the Internet often bugs me. Most of us living in the 21st century, after all, have become virtual slaves to web-based programs like Google, Flickr, and Amazon. These programs were supposed to make our lives easier and enhance our freedom, but the opposite has proven to be the case. We are now poised to become a generation of Internet idiots—people who will no longer have the attention spans required to write great novels, study philosophy, or practice meditation, or who will no longer have the emotional intelligence needed to interact meaningfully with our fellow human beings. And that’s mainly due to our addiction to the soul-sucking Internet.
That having been said, every now and then I come upon a website that actually has the potential to transform human society for the better. And when that happens, it slightly reaffirms my faith in the Internet as a tool for personal and social empowerment.
Change.org, I believe, represents what is best about the Internet, because it allows ordinary people like you and me to harass the powerful and mighty into changing the way they do business. Last fall, for example, Molly Katchpole, a 22 year old nanny, was incensed that Bank of America wanted to charge a $5 a month fee for the use of debit cards. Molly wrote a petition on Change.org, and 306,000 signatures later, Bank of America totally backed down on their plans.
More recently, another ordinary American, Mark Shields, gathered 250,000 petition signatures to demand better working conditions at Chinese factories making Apple products like iPhones and iPads. Conditions in these factories are so appalling that there has recently been a rash of workers—including child laborers—killing themselves out of despair. A lurid New York Times exposé wasn’t able to shame Apple into changing its practices, but Mark’s petition seems to be having some effect. Yesterday, Apple’s CEO announced that the company will immediately be starting factory inspections in China.
As I was searching through the Change.org site, there were several petitions that I immediately signed (one being a petition to end corporate personhood) and I was inspired to begin writing my own petition for a cause that is near and dear to my own heart—calling for the end of China’s genocide against the people of Tibet.
My question to each of you out there is: is there some cause about which you feel strongly enough that you’d be willing to sign a petition or even start your own? If so, what would this cause be?
You know what my causes are… Now share yours.
I feel we should have higher standards for immigrants from ALL countries to become naturalized.
ReplyDeleteIf I could make a petition to change anything it would be to make gay marriage legal in all states of the United States. Why should it be fair that citizens be limited on who they marry because some religions or people do not agree with their choices. It doesn't affect anyone else and they are not saying everyone should be homosexual, so they should have the same rights as everyone else.
ReplyDeleteI think that children should not be allowed in the media at all. Shows like Toddlers and Tiaras put children in the spotlight and they get judged for just being little kids doing what they love. There are too many child stars and children of celebrities that have been painted in a bad light and grow up to be disturbed individuals. Let kids be kids.
ReplyDeleteIf I could make a petition about anything it would be to stop animal testing. Why should poor animals have to suffer. They are beings just like us and although they may not speak our language they have feelings and emothions just like us. They don't deserve to be mistreated. Wouldn't you want to stop human testing? Why not stop animal testing.
ReplyDeleteI would start a petition to put an END to affirmative action. The Declaration of Independence says: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”
ReplyDeleteIf we are all "equal" under the law, why is favoritism permitted for those who suffer from discrimination? This is a socialist form of ruling, that takes away from a hard worker and gives to another on the basis of discrimination compensation. Where does our country's Constitution say anything about this?
Someone please enlighten me!....give me a reason to believe that this practice shows EQUALITY.
A cause I feel strongly about are the closings of several police stations in Nassau county.I think it is extremely silly that to close these police stations down in order to resolve New York State debts.Crime is on a rise and closing police stations would makie things even worse!When there are emergencies responding to them would take much longer.I am sure there are other ways to resolve these debts. We need to take action before its too late!
ReplyDeleteMy petition would be to allocate some of the money paid to professional athletes to police officers and fireman. It's absurd how much money athletes like Alex Rodriguez make, who get paid hundreds of thousands of dollars for each at bat. It's time to reward the people who jeopardize their lives each day for our safety.
ReplyDeleteIf I could make a petition about anything it would be to make old people retake the driving exam. I hate when I am driving down the street in a hurry to catch a meeting and an old guy is traveling 10 mph. Always to my luck the old guy is making the same turns that I am. I feel as if they are asleep at the wheel and are just making my life a living hell on purpose. Half the time when I am behind an old person they signal left when they want to go right.
ReplyDeleteIf I were to make a petition it would be about euthanasia. I would like to see how people feel and their opinion on the topic. I think it would be interesting to hear from people that may have actually be in a case in which they had to make a decision of euthanasia, and how they felt about it.
ReplyDeleteIf I could make a petition about anything, it would be about making English the base language of the United States. Immigrants invade our land and expect us to step up and completely change our way of life by speaking their language. This is my home, you are the guest. Learn English or leave.
ReplyDeleteA petition I would lovew to make would be one to make abortion illegal. I hate rubbing my opinions in peoples' faces, but I truly believe that abortion is an inhuman act and should not be permitted in our country. If it is illegal to go out on the street and shoot someone as murder, it should be illegal to kill a child no matter how small they are.
ReplyDeleteIf I could start a petition it would be to make gay marriage illegal. I completely accept gay people for who they are but marriage is defined between a man and a women and not two people of the same sex.
ReplyDeleteIf I could start a petition, it would be against illegal immigration. I feel that it is un-American to have these people come into our country, steal jobs Americans can have and do not even pay tax. Yeah the jobs that they have are jobs no hard working American man would do, for example mowing the lawn or cooking in the back of the restaurant, but they can go to the young teenagers all looking for a job. I would rather have a hard working teenager, who is getting taxed and paid, even for low pay, but at least its going to Americans.
ReplyDelete