Too Much Laughing

In the last paragraph, Postman is discussing how people are beginning to laugh more and think less.  This distinction is very important because it relates to the main point that he has been trying to get across the whole book.  People are thinking less which means that they are becoming less intelligent. They are laughing more and foucusing on technology as pure entertainment.  This will lead to a dramatic change in our society today and even more in the future.

Technology Today

Postman was able to compare similar ideas and beliefs between his book and his speech at Calvin College.  He was even able to bring the Bible into one of his examples. Postman discussed how " thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, any likeness that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water beneath the earth." He took this quote from the Bible discussing how clonging or trying to recreate what only God can create is wrong. Postman was able to make a parallel in his speech about the cloning of animals and people.  He disussed how this was against what Jesus said and even what the buddah had stood for. Postman in his speech described the invention of clonging as a "21st century problem."


Postman also discussed in his speech how people are able to accustom themselves to changing situations and technology. In his speech he quoted the book "Being Digital" and said that generations have changed beause of the technology that we have and we will all continue to change and adapt. We will get used to talking to objects like a doorknob as easily as we talk to an answering machine. In his book he makes the same compasrison by stating that we today may not understand the impact that written word has on us today, but people in the past would view it as strange and magical. The comparison between these two ideas states that we continue to advance just as our technology advances. We also take for granted and do not understand what an impact technology today continually has on us.

Freedom of Speech?

"Civility in public discourse is important"  Chavez is trying to stress the importance of the public remaining dignified during the speeches and discussions that we being held.  The people who are in the audience listening to these conversations that are taking place need to be able to control themselves despite differing opinions so that order is kept and no one is hurt.

"Bellicose" is used to describe eagerness to fight or someone who is aggressively hostile.  These phrases and words are used in the article because they discuss how some people believe that using these certain words and phrases gives people ideas about taking them literally.  It is controversial that these phrases have caused many problems and given people ideas to take the phrases literally.  But, using bellicose metaphors gives a speech more emotion and helps people to better relate and understand what is being discussed.  

Chavez wants to persuade the reader to believe that the politicians of America need to be able to hold on to the freedom to use certain words that relate to their speeches. Some of these words help them to portray a understanding to their audience.  Too many people get offended by the use of certain words because they have a hidden meaning.  Politicians may sometimes use bellicose words, but more importantly, they are getting their point across.

 “ Mayor Anthony Williams forced the resignation a decade ago of a white staffer who used the word "niggardly" in a private staff meeting.” This word, which meant “miserly or parsimonious” was the reason that a staffer lost his job. By letting this happen people are losing their freedom of speech, and some people are looking too hard to find negative meanings.

I agree with Chavez’s point. Politicians and people in general need to be able to get their point across while they are speaking. In a way, this right is being taken away from them. There are those who are getting offended over some of the phrases, words, and metaphors that are being used.  They are being taken too literally, and people are concentrating on finding other misused meanings for the words.  While people need to be respectful and considerate of other people’s feelings, I do not think that drastic measures need to be taken to fix this problem. Certain terms and phrases should be avoided when possible, as to not cause any hurt feelings or issues with the public. But, many of the words being spoken have more than one meaning so taking offense to that is not always justified.