8 Values of Free Expression

Freedom of Speech is not something in which we've always had the pleasure of being able to use. Up until the early 19th century, it was common for those to be censored if it went against popular opinion/ the government. It is because of this that the breakthroughs of Jefferson, Madison and others are so greatly recognized. Jefferson was one of the authors of the document that came before the First Amendment itself, serving as an early version before it became official. Madison was clearly pro-First Amendment, as he refused to silence the press about the war. Through the emergence of the First Amendment, we as a country have grown to appreciate the rights that we deserve. 

Of the 8 Expressions of Free Value, I feel that Individual Self Fulfillment, the idea by C. Edwin Baker, resonates most with me. It elaborates on freedom of speech stating that it allows us to express our own creative identities. Without this, we would not have the different types of creative writing styles we have all come to know and love. 

We can connect the modern-day use of social media to the idea of Individual Self Fulfillment. On these platforms, you can choose to display your own style/aesthetic, which allows others to gain insight on who you (want to) display yourself as. This takes us back to the idea of Individual Self Fulfillment as it was used to express identity before the days of sharing a photo on the internet. 

BLOG 4 EOTO: The Invention and History of Paper

We all know and love paper, for what would our daily lives be without it? No textbooks, no money, not even the coffee cups from your favorite cafe. Though you may not realize it, the world as we know it today may not have been the same if it were not for the discovery of this super important product.

The initial creation takes us back over 2,000 years ago, where a man in China by the name of Ts'ai Lun mixed rags, water, hemp, and mulberry bark to create a thick pulp. He would then lay it into thin sheets, where it would dry in the sun until it became a writeable surface. Its predominant use was for educational scripts and traditional scrolls. Before, silk and bamboo were the most popular vessels for writing but were eventually considered too expensive and heavy. Fast forward 300 years, Ts'ai Lun's discovery had been shared across Asia and the Middle East and became extremely popular. So much so that a BAN on printing was implemented in the 16^th century due to the worry of the spread of Islamic and other religious texts. Paper eventually made its way to Europe a mere 500 years later, however, was all the rage once discovered. In 1690, the United Stated received its

first paper mill, and we have watched it grow from there. 

Others such as the Egyptians were able to manipulate paper in such a way that they were able to create boats, sandals, and even forms of art. They adopted their own recipe for paper, or “papyrus” as they called it. They would cut the stem of a water plant, stamp it flat, then let it dry to create the writing surface. We can see plenty of fine examples of this in history museums throughout the world today, as the history of writing and paper itself is extremely important.  

Paper has resulted in the idea of mass-printing, which over time has become one of the largest sources for distributing information. Things such as newspapers, the bible, and other religious scriptures, textbooks, you name it, all comes back to paper.  

Without this imperative invention, literature and education would be nowhere near as advanced as they are today, for the ability to read and write has expanded the boundaries of our species greatly. We found a way to set up universities, public school systems, and even provide those students with the necessary texts to achieve what the government has considered a “base level education.” We take tests, quizzes, and notes on it every single day without even batting an eye or acknowledging its history.  

Overall, through great trial and error, we as people have been the driving force behind paper. What it is today is so much more than Ts’ai Lun ever could have imagined back in 100. His invention has influenced the entire world as we know it, and who knows- maybe we wouldn’t even be here without it! 

Post #2: Issues of the Digital Age

     We live in a world that is absolutely dominated by technology and the digitization of everything. Although we still hold great value in physical resources such as books and newspapers, the internet has predominantly taken over. 

        While this has benefitted us greatly in terms of new discoveries, easy access of information, etc., it has also brought turmoil to many. Over the past few years, it has become evident that both the internet, and the devices in which we use it on, may be used to monitor what we do, who we call, and what we say. 

    You might ask, how exactly does this affect me? The answer; though it may not directly affect you, does it not wrack your nerves that every single google search you make could be monitored? Every phone call you make recorded? It leaves us with these feelings of uncertainty and distrust, for our own government is spying on us.  

    Now that this information is out in the open, most feel that the government should be taking action to prevent this. In recent years, websites have begun allowing us to option to give them permission to use our locations, as well as any other data they may have collected without our consent. Aside from that, things have been relatively hush hush. 

    As citizens of the United States, we have the right to stand against this. Encryption services such as Telegram and Signal allow for communication via text without others being able to access it. Specific phones such as the Solarin from Sirkin Labs uses technology that only administers data research to those in which are granted access by the account owner. You could also establish a Virtual Private Network (VPN) in which is a service that encrypts all data that enters and exits your cellular device. 

    As scary is it is that our own government is doing this to us, we have the opportunity to take a stand against it.