The internet: product of American virtue

[mw]

Throughout the Egyptian events, that's the one thought that keeps coming to mind.

The internet is a product or expression of American virtue.

Think about it. The American virtue of openness and free exchange of information culminated in the invention of the internet.

Now, much like the storied robots that learn to replicate themselves and grow without the help of humans, the internet has become bigger than any nation or people, has spread across the world, and can never be stopped.

The internet is bigger than America now. And it has changed the world.

America has, once again, changed the world.

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. While it has turned this way

it is a product of DARPA and the cold war. It was an experiment... to make sure our computer systems survived a first strike.

This came straight from DoD funding... so a tool made for war, may help to create a more peaceful world.

[mw]

3. Where in America it started isn't relevant to the point

Besides, the first connected computers were university computers. Yes, then DARPA made it bigger. Then visionaries--including Al Gore--passed legislation to commercialize it.

But the point remains: the internet was destined to be invented in a wide-opened society like America.

[nadinbrzezinski]

5. With funding from Darpa

and yes it is relevant.

But hey, I guess the US will liberate all because we believe in it... really.

I get so tired of the damn exceptionalism bit.

[mw]

7. It's relevant maybe to your point, not to mine

Your point is you're sick of exceptional things America has done. So you apparently want to quibble about the details of exactly where and how the internet was invented.

My point is the internet is an exceptional invention, and to America's credit that America invented it. Which is far from a blanket "American Exceptionalism" statement like the reich wing likes to blindly spew.

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. I pointed out where it came from

sorry if that is a problem to you.

Carry on...

Oh and welcome to my ignore list, please have the common decency to do the same.

[mw]

10. Thank you. nt

nt

[applegrove]

2. Yes. America has led the world in many incredible ways and the world thanks you.

[mw]

9. You're welcome. :P NT

NT

[tridim]

4. Imagine what would happen if the whole World pulled an Egypt.

If we're together as one on the Internet, who really has the right to say that we're enemies? Governments? Right wing talk show hosts?

Humanity is starting to impress me lately.

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. The Chrysallis Effect, recommended readying.

http://www.amazon.com/Chrysalis-Effect-Metamorphosis-Global-Culture/dp/1845193113

[saras]

11. Wouldn't have happened without LSD

While DARPA was the major source of funds, and the ultimate beneficiary, of the earliest research, others that deserve credit would include Vannevar Bush (no, not of THAT family) in 1945, and a bunch of early computer researchers who took acid during government 'intelligence increase' research in the late fifties/early sixties.

Or, to borrow a nice sentence from JohnSeven's review of Lutz Dammbeck's film "the Net", "As Dammbeck goes to great pains to document, the early architects of the Internet were a group of hippies very obviously seeking transcendence and they saw the field of cybernetics as a way to pursue it". http://johnandjana.net/archive7/?p=3473

So if this is your version of American virtue, then - sure thing.

[jtuck004]

12. A product of American investment in weapons (or at least science) and education for our people.

DARPA (arm of DOD) and the Universities.

In these times when cuts are so popular we need to remember it was that American investment from the taxes paid by labor
that made all that possible. And cutting those investments in our country and people is going to cost us everything.
Wonder what changing our thinking to growth would bring us, and what these cuts will cost us that we never see?