NOT TRIVIAL TWITTER

Likely, when Edison first revealed the light bulb to the world or Marconi demonstrated the wireless to amazed audiences in the early part of the 20^th century, no one, or at least very few, could see that such a technological invention could and would change lifestyles throughout the entire globe.

How life changed when the people of the frontier lit their living space with something other than a waxed candle. How dramatic was the influx of national identities flowing into the small homes across the entire continent when families huddled around those big wooden radios.

In America, innovation has occurred side-by-side with our lifestyle changes, national personality, group thinking and acceptance of norm.

Tonight, I saw a news report on the conditions in Iran following the contested elections this past week. Young people in Iran were protesting what clearly was a fixed election. The government cut off internet access, twitter, email and other internet devices that connect their citizens. In China, I am regularly screened out from certain web sites that might reveal options to the Chinese people.

I have always interpreted events in the world as being a steady march toward unity. Most of what I read in the Old Testament I’ve viewed as allegory, yet one bit of biblical truth that seems to make a lot of sense to me is that God plans to end the world when all peoples of the earth are one. From the tribal disputes, to nationalistic purges of Europe to the level playing field of the Internet – history on this earth is littered with seemingly simply occurrences that shift the entire world.

There is no doubt in my mind that the Internet and all of its connected features is bringing the world together both on an individual level (Facebook) and a global level (Google). I was struck by the young people in the streets of Tehran protesting the elimination of their ability to talk to each other. I am amazed that I can call my Chinese partner’s cell phone from Chicago to a small eatery on the streets of Beijing using SKYPE.

Young people inspire me and it is the youth that tore down the Berlin Wall, stood in front of Tanks at Tiananmen Square and talk to each other 24 hours a day around the world with SKYPE, Facebook, My Space, Twitter and many others. The conversations will get more serious as they get older but the technology has been embraced and has moved the world closer once again.