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Internet as empowerment tool

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Contributed by: Jason Kandel on 7/27/2006

The following was contributed by Glendale City Clerk Ardashes Kassakhian. He can be reached at AKassakhian@ci.glendale.ca.us

President Harry Truman once wrote that "You can never get all the facts from just one newspaper, and unless you have all the facts, you cannot make proper judgments about what is going on."

Newspapers have changed quite a bit since the days when President Truman was gathering all of the facts but his advice still holds true. Each day brings on new ideas and new ways of informing the public about the facts.

The most significant tool in advancing this process has been the Internet. The Internet has revolutionized how we get our news and more importantly, has empowered everyday citizens to become a part of this process.

Everyday-people can now report on what is taking place in their own communities through personal websites and "blogs" and do so at lightning speed.

This won't replace reporters or their role in society, but it brings back an interesting dynamic to our communities which was lost after news found a home on the television set.

During the early days of the founding of this nation, throngs of people gathered in common areas or town squares to discuss and debate the issues affecting their lives.

The town square provided a forum for the free flow and exchange of ideas. The internet has inherited this tradition and it's up to us to use it to its full potential. We should use this opportunity to gather facts, post our own, exchange ideas and broaden our horizons.

By doing so, you'll better understand our neighbors, our city and ourselves.

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