I thought it was intriguing in the reading and in class when we explored the reasoning behind Hank Morgans secrecy of certain technologies he was trying to implement. These technologies included the telegraph, newspapers, and schools. Although, initially it might seem like a strange concept for why he wanted to conceal these advancements; it eventually became evident that it was to avoid backlash from the church and shock from the citizens. It isn’t far from how our society operates in todays world. There is a countless amount of intelligence, advancement, and secrecy that is withheld by governments from us in todays world.
It is my impression, that as citizens of the United States, we know roughly 25% of what is actually happening in our country. Even the information that is perceived as known is likely doctored or not entirely true. For example, the whole reasoning for going to war against Iraq is still uncertain. The government told us that it was to find and destroy weapons of mass destruction although it has been, for the most part, confirmed false. Other instances where citizens are left in the dark include UFO encounters, area 51, which is sticktly confidential. Unauthorized and explained payments to foreign governments, and black sites where the CIA collects evidence. Just as in Hank Morgan’s thought process, it is for the greater good that citizens are left in the dark for certain developments. In most circumstances regular citizens are not equipped to understand the full scheme or purpose of advanced knowledge or technologies. Also, it may leave it in the hands of people that could use it for the wrong purposes.
While initially I was shocked by the notion of Hank Morgan hiding certain advancements, it increasingly became evident to me how hypocritical it is for me to think so. In our society advancement is masked just as much if not more than in the Connecticut Yankee in King Arthurs Court.