There is only one device that can span all cultures, that has the potential to anger, inform, provoke, entice, entertain, and threaten. This invention, the blog, has come to affect the lives of millions of people around the world and can easily be deemed the greatest invention of the 21st century.
Though the weblog appeared in its infancy stage in the late 90′s, the technology and software that has opened both access and availability to literally anyone came as a result of the momentous growth the weblog experienced in the dawn of the 21st century. Today, any person who has access to a computer can go to Blogger, LiveJournal, or Xanga and focus their transcendental lights, turn on the microphone, and get on with the show.
Now, what has blogging done, exactly, apart from what emails and message boards and homepages previously allowed us to do? A lot. Bloggers began by sharing thoughts or experiences that provoked discussion. Before long, blogging became a way to communicate differences across cultures, which gave way to the function that is still incredibly popular today: criticizing media and political outfits. In most popular media, bloggers are frequently mentioned daily, sometimes even granted a small soapbox for their opinions – a hat tip, so to speak, to acknowledge that perhaps popular media doesn’t always fully represent popular thought today. Indeed, one of the most powerful impacts of bloggers is the indirect influence these sometimes anonymous critics have; journalists today write under the pretense that anything they say can and will be used against them in the expanses of the blogging world.
The very fact that public opinion, in its new, highly globalized forum, can draw so much influence over outlets from The New York Times to Fox News has agitated some. Who, afterall, gave these people the right to criticize anything? What do they know? This very statement may be telling of perhaps how far we’ve strayed from the inception of our Constitution and Bill of Rights, over two hundred years ago. Everyone has an opinion, and everyone is entitled to that; we’ve always been privileged with our freedom of speech. For class reasons, political issues, and bias against race or sex over the years, some of us have just felt less entitled to that very freedom.
So, in that same vein, the blog has allowed groups of people to come together, whether it be mothers and other U.S. citizens against war, or victims of domestic abuse who need a helping hand. The blog has also become a magical outlet for secrets otherwise kept bottled and depressed, and it has given us glimpses into even some of the most troubled minds.
Altogether, the blog has helped to undo and break down the walls that many of our inventions of years past have helped to develop. There are no rolled up windows here; there are no headphones sounding drowning melodies; there is only you, me – my words, your comments – and enlightenment, action, wisdom, and peace.