While reading A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, I really was troubled with the idea of time travel. I have seen different shows and movies that involve time travel, but I never really thought about where I would go and the type of person I would. Would I use my knowledge of the developed world I came from and take advantage of people? When Hank Morgan traveled back to the time of King Arthur, he used his knowledge to manipulate the people into somewhat worshiping him. At this time, the people were very superstitious and believed in higher powers. He used this knowledge and purposely fooled the people, while also getting pretty lucky with a scientific phenomenon. While Hank was not intentionally harming people, his manipulation makes me question if anyone would be able to act ethically in the situation that Hank was dealt. It is so easy to get caught up in the world and people around you, that you sometimes might lose sight of the person you would want to be. In class we had to chose a time period that we would dread going back to. I would dread going back to the Holocaust, slavery and segregation. In thinking of the type of person I would be, I realized that it would be extremely hard to emulate this person if I actually had to live in that time. The ultimate reason why I would dread going back to these times is because I am scared that I would get caught up in the fears and assumptions of the time, and not speak up for those that were persecuted. As much as I would want to be the leader of the civil rights movement, would I actually have the courage at the time to be the first voice in a silent crowd.
In class today, we also talked about whether we think our society is pessimistic or optimistic. I agree with many of my classmates in the idea that the younger generation is optimistic in that we tend to believe there is nothing we can’t do. We are taught to “reach for the stars” and that education and technology will enlighten us. While these beliefs are powerful, they are also our downfall. We have become a society that can never live in the present and appreciate our current state. We constantly are looking for the next best thing, and trying to beat the next person in a brilliant discovery or invention. This attitude is not always bad, as it has helped us tremendously in our current technological advancements like communication, transportation, production, and medicine. I do however think that our advanced technology has made our society greedy and selfish as a whole. For example, there a medicines, treatments, and surgeries available that can preform miracles and saves so many lives everyday. However, these procedures are costing huge amounts of money; money that almost no one can afford. What is the point of having the technological advancements if not everyone has the capability of using it. And isn’t it even worse that as a society, we chose to not let these advancements reach people who might need them? No matter the time period you travel to, the value of life is of utmost importance. People do not want to see their loved ones go, and for the most part, people will do anything to survive. It is our human nature. I have noticed that is has become the trend that people are beginning to manipulate our value of life. For example lets think about someone who is in desperate need of a kidney. They only have one left and it is quickly failing. Medical advancements created a safe procedure where one person can donate one healthy kidney to someone in need. It just so happens that you are the one and only match for their kidney transplant. Would you give your kidney for free knowing that it would safe their life? How much do you think you could charge this family for the “donation” of this kidney? The answer is simple. Love and life trumps everything and the person who needs the kidney, along with their friends and family would give up everything for life. While I understand donating a kidney can be a life change, I also think that it should be a no brainer to give up something you need, to save a life. And if you take advantage of the medical advancements, and our value o of human life, then our society is in deep trouble. While this scenario is pretty dramatic, similar smaller scenarios are happening across the globe. Why are african children starving, when the United States grows more thane enough food to feed them and more? Why do millions of Indian babies die a year, if we have the medicine and means to help them live? If someone found the cure for cancer, would we all band together to help cure all cancer patients, or would we rob their bank accounts dry. Our advancements have become exclusive to the upper class of society. If you want to be a part of the advancements someone makes, you have to be prepared to give them something in return. I am totally an optimist in our capability as human beings to discover amazing things, but I am a pessimist on society’s willingness to share these advancements with EVERYONE.