Divided or Undecided?

"Commandment Number One of any truly civilized society is this: Let people be different."

  - David Grayson, English business leader & lecturer

Jeff Jarvis on his weblog, BuzzMachine, has written one of the best posts I've read in quite awhile. He cites part of a N.Y. Times story promoting the view that the Internet creates divisiveness among its users.

Jarvis links to the blog, Balkinization, where Jack Balkin refutes the Times article, then adds some comments of his own:

"...if these fearful critics read citizens' media (blogs), they would understand that it is incredibly open: You have to link to that with which you disagree so you can argue with it and by doing so, you send people to your opposition and absorb that opposition's viewpoint in what you write."

Mr. Jarvis then talks about the incredible array of choices we have in almost every aspect of our lives...except elected officials. "For we can't all have the President--or senator, or congressman, or mayor--we want...Somebody has to win...if we are to be a nation united, we have to end up selecting and supporting the winners."

Jeff thinks when all is said and done, and elections are over, we do tend to come together for the common good of our nation. He's convinced that the Internet helps us do this by being a source of information. Once informed, he believes, we reach our own conclusions, in our own sweet time. "No, the Internet is not dividing us. Politicians are. Media dinosaurs are."

I can't do his argument justice in the short space I have here, so go read it yourself, and be sure to check out his links. Well said, Jeff.