Today isn't as much significant for what transpired now as much as what effects will take affect later on. What happens in the space of 24 hours isn't as relevant as what consequences those events will cause. From a historical perspective, today is merely significant for what already happened in order for today's events to take place. Tomorrow and the days afterward are relevant for what happens today.
Taking an example from this week's headlines, Vice President Joe Biden yesterday was expected to present President Barack Obama with his report on gun policy including a heavy recommendation of gun control, assault weapons bans and background checks on gun purchases. Today, President Obama is expected to present to congress his own gun policy proposal which in addition to similar recommendations also includes more funding to mental health services. Biden had reportedly advised Obama to bypass congress with these potential laws as he is likely to face many objections from them on these fronts.
For some, this story has caused some tensions and emotions to run very high. For one thing, it's quite understandable that this talk of gun control policy and assault weapons bans would stem from two of the most horrific and tragic mass shootings in recent memory occurring within only less than six months of each other last year. Reaction is strong not only among families of those victims, but among gun owners and strong advocates of the second amendment such as radio host Alex Jones and firearms training enthusiast James Yeager who have gone so far as to imply that a second civil war will ensue if Obama's plans go through. While such an idea may sound frightening to our nation, it should be taken with a grain of salt coming from such...well, "colorful personalities" as these two gentlemen. Still, if they or any of their followers acted on these beliefs and incited some form of gun violence against the government than this date would be significant for the events that it triggered going on into the following weeks, days, months or possibly even years to come.
There are things like this that are relevant to just about everyone and then there are things that are just relevant to you and a relatively smaller group of people which have no direct effect on the lives of others. For example, I have just completed my second day of classes here at CU Boulder. This is only significant to me and a few other CU students (about a few thousand out of roughly seven billion or so people) for a number of reasons. It is significant today because as a student, I am just getting into a new schedule. It is significant in the months to come because I am getting acquainted with what my professors expect from me in their classes and what sort of weight the course material will carry. As a student, I must plan accordingly around all of this in a way that is the most conducive to my learning. Pretty much all of college significance involves planning for one's future and this being my senior year, this is especially important to me. These classes carry some significance in my career path later on in life. This date is especially important in fulfilling the credits I need to graduate and when I am able to do so. This date is significant to determining the study patterns I need to follow in order to succeed as an undergrad. I guess you could say this date is significant because it's the beginning of the end of my undergraduate career.
Since significance itself can be categorized as an ever fleeting concept, digital media technology is important in capturing it. Since the internet has been increasing in availability and media presence, it has provided everyone with the sense of immediacy necessary to react to our own events in real time. These records can also be preserved so that future generations may look upon them, learn form them and determine how they are significant to the challenges they may face. The internet basically functions as one big time capsule that any one of us can dig up any part of, any time or anywhere. Whether it's blogging your own commentary on today's world headlines or just expressing your feelings and sharing parts of your own life via social networking, digital technology plays an ever vital role in processing what is significant to us on a day by day basis.
Casey,
ReplyDeleteThis is a good first post, though it might be a bit ambitious. There's a lot going on here: a deconstruction of "significance," with examples that themselves are full-blown topics.
I think this is why the post is somewhat unbalanced: while the external application is strong and clear, the personal voice is soft and bit muddled. This often happens when there's too much to report and not enough space to reflect or react. Who YOU are is important to the author/reader experience. Remember that your goal is to start a conversation, so establishing your voice (with personal context) is important.
Also be careful about style and grammar issues. "Congress" the ay you used it should be a proper noun and capitalized. Same with "Internet."
More broadly, you touch a great point that goes underdeveloped. Significance is based on fleeting judgment. Insignificant events today take on a new significance in the future as they are considered by a new audience in a new context. I think you graze this without really digging into it or exploring the mechanics. Just a missed opportunity, but consider it for the future.
Pointing out that it's difficult to judge in any one moment what's significant without bringing to bear well-defined criteria is a valuable observation. And it reinforces why establishing your own criteria and personal context are important for your readers.
But don't worry, you'll have plenty of opportunities in the future to perform this action.