Speaking Truth to Power

The documents in this chapter were shocking, disturbing and inspiring. I think the title "speaking truth to power" is quite fitting in someways. technology has become the tool in more recent times to uncover truths, and witness blatant injustice. However, in this chapter, we also see how it can be used to cover up truth. Either way, technology plays an important role. as social beings, viewers experience various emotions when we watch a video, it is like experiencing a real moment, we are interacting with the speaker, or performer, or subjects of the film as we watch. In some cases we can be inspired, or even manipulated, by videos.  Photographs can be staged, or capture a brief moment in time which portrays human emotion in its rawest form. The internet and social media today are the fastest ways of spreading information. It allows us read, listen, and watch what is happening live, across the globe and it is easy to feel inspired by social movement activists. Videos go viral, and the more 'likes' or 'shares' we see can influence our perspective if we are not cautious of their effects. Before the internet, television acted in this way. Document 10.1 shows how Madres called out on a global level. viewers relate to the emotions, shown by their expressions, if not by their words. La Alegria ya viene and the flash mobs in Chile show groups of people coming together to share a common vision or purpose. The sight of large masses of people can be emotionally inspiring, and compelling. The most shocking of videos can bring rushes of sadness, fear, and anger. the fact that I am focusing on videos for this post is proof of their impact, as these are the documents which brought the most emotion for me (compared to the written ones). Having said that these documents only brought a sliver of awareness compared to emotions that would come from being directly involved in or affected by these movements. Reading this chapter I wonder to myself where the separation from humanity happens when one comes into power. In general, why do some leaders lose touch of basic human rights and values, while some leaders thrive because of their dedication to it? Is it the overwhelming effect of emotions, like the ones we get from these documents, that play a role in this inhumane separation? or are these acts of violence part of human nature? These are philosophical questions which are perhaps a bit off topic. A more tangible question might be, do these documents help in creating peace or do they promote a more 'us' vs. 'them' mentality?