Global Kids' Online Leadership Program

Anyway, for me, reading the first few pages did not come as a shock, mainly because it has become so normal that it should be expected. Friedman begins off with a new and improved--and not to mention technologically improved--cheating tactic: taking pictures of the exam with answers (of course that isn’t necessary...just having prior knowledge to test questions is already cheating) and sending them to a friend before they take the exam. It isn’t hard to believe that people would do that--it should be expected that as technology advances so will the people--and especially youth. Plus, putting more restrictions on things does not stop any one--it just challenges them to create a loophole; for example, if a person is not allowed to have their cell phones out during a test, what is to stop them from going to the bathroom and texting someone and asking them for the answer? Plus, take the "no cell phones in class" rule--teens are expected to turn their phones off before coming to class, and if a teacher hears it ring then they will take it away. So, a loophole to that was made, the Mosquito ring tone, a ring tone that can only be heard by younger people, not adults. Isn’t it interesting to think about it? People will try to invent new and creative ways to cheat their ways through life--but won't put the same effort into learning something. It really shows how people have become, and how corrupt society has gotten.

Anyway, back to the "Unflat World", he also discusses another issue that people have in the modern world, cameras in the locker rooms. This is a scary thought for everyone--because I know when I change in my locker room, that everyone else in that room has a cell phone, there is no doubt in my mind about that fact. So what’s to stop people from taking pictures while you're changing? It really is a scary thought. As a girl, you no longer have to worry about a guy walking into the locker room--you have to worry about an inanimate portable object that everyone carries around, (which can be used to take pictures or videos of you) that can have you up on a public website within seconds. It really is a horrific thought.

As for things that impact us less, but should concern us about the same, Friedman also discusses what is going on in India and China. Those are the two fastest technologically developing nations at the moment---if you went to India or China a decade ago, you would not have seen as many automobiles and cell phones as you see now. It really is extraordinary how quickly they developed. But, in order for a government to grow, its economy has to grow, and in order for an economy to grow...you need a strong middle class--that’s what I have been taught all this time. I was also taught about social mobility and etc, but until I read this section of Friedman's work, I never knew that anyone could consider themselves a part of the middle class. He said that to be a part of the middle class, you have to believe in some kind of social mobility and believe that there is hope to advance in life and for the future generation to lead better lives than you did.

Although, you might hear about how well and quickly India and China have been developing, and making their way to the top and powerful competitors in the modern world--the fact of the matter is, they will need to improve so much before getting to that point. The thing about those two countries is that although technology has increased, there are still large portions of the population that still live in that 'unflat' world and because of that, they will not be able to advance as much. But hopefully, as technology grows in those countries--it will help decrease things like poverty. But it will be a while until those people living in poverty will gain access to technology--some of those people have not seen clean clothing or water--so getting their hands on the new Motorola KRZR is not the first thing on their mind. Maybe instead of thinking about trying to make the entire world 'flat' maybe we should put our concerns on making the world HIV/AIDs and Poverty free at first--because if achieving global peace is possible, then it cannot be done with the snap of a finger. In the real world, unfortunately enough, we do not have magical capabilities and we cannot create things and resolve things as quickly as we can do in Second Life.

Another thing that Friedman discusses is the problem with HIV and AIDS. It was World AIDS day just a couple of days ago, and that’s why reading this now seems so relevant. A huge reason these people are being hindered from developing is because they don’t have that equal opportunity. They don’t have that opportunity to live--to have a chance at a good life--to live a life that most people in the United States would consider normal. It’s just that children have been orphaned because of HIV and AIDS--or their lives are being impacted by those things. If there isn’t anything done about something like HIV/AIDS...then millions of children will continue to not have this equal opportunity--because a key to social mobility is education, and if a child's parents are affected by HIV/AIDS--when will they have the chance to learn? How will they have that chance to learn? Its sad to think about it; but there is no way that those kids will have equal opportunity until something is done to ensure that they will be able to live healthy lives--and their parents are healthy enough to support them. In a way, what’s more sad is that most of HIV/AIDS affected people live in Africa... and Africa is enriched with so much valuable jewels...so there has to be some kind of profit being made from that...no? So, where is that money going? Are all those people being deprived of proper health care for corrupt government officials and businessmen?

Of course, all of the blame cannot be put on the government, the reason Africa has been left in such a chaotic position is because of a series of misfortunate events; European Imperialism and "The White Man's Burden" is mostly to blame because they did take control of most African nations for such a long time that when they were freed they were incapable of maintaining proper governments. Of course, by now there may have been improvements--but apparently they are not such major improvements, nor are they keeping Africa in a safe zone--considering the fact that there is genocide going on in Darfur.

Now, back to the flat and unflat world, nature and world always tries to reach equilibrium--so maybe we should do the same. So maybe, the flat world, should share their knowledge to make the unflat world become more flat. I guess--that is what many people are trying to do, and as Friedman pointed out--Bill Gates is doing that by making so many donations. So maybe everyone should pitch in, because everyone should be grateful for what they have--and that is why they should take into consideration that many people are not as privileged. So maybe we should work harder to appreciate what we have, and try to give something to those who don’t have as much as we do--because social mobility is possible and we, in this society, do not exactly believe in fixed castes; thus, everyone should have equal opportunities to things--because that is what is just, and it is a step we need to take to achieve peace. Maybe, we the people that live in the flat world, should act as the heavy rolls that flatten the aluminum--and be the factor that helps flatten the unflat world by first solving the problems that are going on there that hinder them from becoming a part of the flat world.