Exploring other spaces and ideas
Lead Summary
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By Jim Thompson
HCP columnist
There is some talk about pervasive sectarianism today. I would disagree. In fact, I would argue just the opposite – that it is definitely on the decline.
When did this decline start? Samuel F.B. Morse started it with the invention of the telegraph. Mr. Morse’s telegraph drastically improved the pace of communications and made it easier for people in one part of the world to know what was going on in another part of the world.
Just a couple of decades earlier than his invention, Gen. Andrew Jackson won the Battle of New Orleans – after the Treaty of Ghent, the treaty that concluded the War of 1812, was signed (on Dec. 24, 1814).
This battle was fought on Jan. 8, 1815 at a loss of 330 American and 2,000 British casualties (as compared with 383 American fatalities in Desert Storm, 1991).
Mr. Morse’s telegraph could have prevented this.
Easy communications save lives and erase misconceptions. Mr. Morse was the first person to find a practical way to harness electricity and speed communications.
In our day, the internet and social media enhance the erasure of time and distance.
Today, I converse daily with relatives, high school classmates, friends and others from far in my past with these modern means. Social media keeps me from remembering people frozen in a certain time and place. I now know what they are doing today or yesterday (and vice versa). If I don’t, it is easy enough for me to ask them how they are doing, what is going on in their lives.
Social media allows me to make acquaintances around the world. Just this week, I was talking on Linkedin, the business equivalent of Facebook, with a colleague in Egypt, who is originally from India (I have never met this person face-to-face).
I happened to mention another colleague in India. My Egyptian-based colleague knew the latter and gave me some feedback on his business practices. It was as if we were standing in the same room.
This morning, I had a call with a client which included one of my coworkers in Highland County, and two of the client’s colleagues, one in Florida on his way to the dentist, and one in the client company’s headquarters in Germany.
This call was at no incremental communications costs to any of us. We have this call once per month.
As recently as 1988 (recent for me, a long time ago for you young whippersnappers) when I lived in Helsinki, Finland, calls home were $5 a minute. That was not particularly conducive to keeping in touch with folks back home.
I understand the sectarian argument that says we tend to hang with our own kind. But that has always been true. Today, however, we can choose to get out of that box and explore what others think and do at no or low incremental costs.
The means are easier and more economical to implement than ever before. The question is this: Do we have the will to explore other spaces, other ideas? I hope I do, and I hope you do. We are richer for the experience when we do.
Jim Thompson, formerly of Marshall, is a graduate of Hillsboro High School and the University of Cincinnati. He resides in Duluth, Ga. and is a columnist for The Highland County Press. He may be reached at jthompson@taii.com.
HCP columnist
There is some talk about pervasive sectarianism today. I would disagree. In fact, I would argue just the opposite – that it is definitely on the decline.
When did this decline start? Samuel F.B. Morse started it with the invention of the telegraph. Mr. Morse’s telegraph drastically improved the pace of communications and made it easier for people in one part of the world to know what was going on in another part of the world.
Just a couple of decades earlier than his invention, Gen. Andrew Jackson won the Battle of New Orleans – after the Treaty of Ghent, the treaty that concluded the War of 1812, was signed (on Dec. 24, 1814).
This battle was fought on Jan. 8, 1815 at a loss of 330 American and 2,000 British casualties (as compared with 383 American fatalities in Desert Storm, 1991).
Mr. Morse’s telegraph could have prevented this.
Easy communications save lives and erase misconceptions. Mr. Morse was the first person to find a practical way to harness electricity and speed communications.
In our day, the internet and social media enhance the erasure of time and distance.
Today, I converse daily with relatives, high school classmates, friends and others from far in my past with these modern means. Social media keeps me from remembering people frozen in a certain time and place. I now know what they are doing today or yesterday (and vice versa). If I don’t, it is easy enough for me to ask them how they are doing, what is going on in their lives.
Social media allows me to make acquaintances around the world. Just this week, I was talking on Linkedin, the business equivalent of Facebook, with a colleague in Egypt, who is originally from India (I have never met this person face-to-face).
I happened to mention another colleague in India. My Egyptian-based colleague knew the latter and gave me some feedback on his business practices. It was as if we were standing in the same room.
This morning, I had a call with a client which included one of my coworkers in Highland County, and two of the client’s colleagues, one in Florida on his way to the dentist, and one in the client company’s headquarters in Germany.
This call was at no incremental communications costs to any of us. We have this call once per month.
As recently as 1988 (recent for me, a long time ago for you young whippersnappers) when I lived in Helsinki, Finland, calls home were $5 a minute. That was not particularly conducive to keeping in touch with folks back home.
I understand the sectarian argument that says we tend to hang with our own kind. But that has always been true. Today, however, we can choose to get out of that box and explore what others think and do at no or low incremental costs.
The means are easier and more economical to implement than ever before. The question is this: Do we have the will to explore other spaces, other ideas? I hope I do, and I hope you do. We are richer for the experience when we do.
Jim Thompson, formerly of Marshall, is a graduate of Hillsboro High School and the University of Cincinnati. He resides in Duluth, Ga. and is a columnist for The Highland County Press. He may be reached at jthompson@taii.com.