SOCIAL IMPRESSIONS

Last week, I finished reading Dan Brown’s debut thriller “Digital Fortress” which discussed a virtual attack against the National Security Agency’s (NSA) secret computer, TRANSLTR. This computer monitors and decodes e-mails exchanged by terrorists and intercepts messages sent by private citizens. While Brown’s book was fiction, a similar organization with an analogous function exists. It was recently disclosed that NSA collects phone call records of millions of Americans through telecommunication companies like AT&T, Verizon and BellSouth. Are people entitled to privacy or should their respective government have the ability to access their private information?

I have received mixed responses from my friends when I asked them that question. Some are not concerned because they feel they have nothing to hide. Others said that they are willing to sacrifice some of their privacy for the benefit of their country. Much like John Stuart Mill’s utilitarian philosophy, they believe that by relinquishing their privacy, they are providing the greatest amount of good to the greatest number of people. So what if someone is eavesdropping on their calls, or in “Digital Fortress’” case, reading their personal e-mails? At the end of the day, lives will be saved and peace will be maintained.

The last set of opinions was much like the protagonist from “Digital Fortress“, Ensei Tankado. This former NSA programmer paralyzes TRANSLTR with his unbreakable code to force NSA to admit that this machine exists. His favorite saying was, “Who will guard the guards?” This is an ethical dilemma not only for Tankado, but for many people who realize that their privacy and freedom is a sacred necessity. Moreover, how does one know that the information they gather is really used for good?

From what I gathered from my discussions, the ?Let ?em listen? attitude prevailed, especially since the 9/11 attacks. People no longer feel safe and depend on their government to protect and defend them. Invasion of their privacy is a small price to pay to ensure the safety of themselves, their families, and friends.

In the 1940’s, my grandmother was married off at the age of 13 to a man twice her age. In the span of a few short years, she gave birth to her first daughter and was pregnant with a boy. She remained with my grandfather until he passed away in the mid-1980’s. To this day, my grandmother has not remarried. My question is what is better: arranged marriages or love marriages?

Although a pragmatic marriage, otherwise known as an arranged marriage, does not give much control over the selection of one’s future spouse, both parties do, in fact, consent to the union. In some cultures, families choose one another based on a mutual interest in property, land or the aim of securing social status. In this way, the arranged marriage can be considered a business merger or even an alliance between two families.

Relying on family to select a potential spouse can be considered an advantage as they have years of wisdom and experience. The family wants to provide their children with protection, security and happiness. However, does this system guarantee their children a happily-ever-after? It is a fact that women remain in abusive relationships to maintain their family pride and respect. On the other hand, my mother and father married under this tradition and have been happily married for 26 years.

Love marriages are ideally based on friendship, respect, familiarity and understanding, unlike arranged marriages in which you marry a stranger with whom you have no history or bond with. In the beginning of every dynamic relationship, there is the “getting-to-know-you” phase where people feel out their boundaries and discover the other’s pet peeves, quirks, and overall personality. Although love alone does not keep the ship afloat, it gives way to wanting to learn more about the significant other and wanting to invest in a relationship during the inevitable trials and tribulations. However, the time and privacy that is necessary for two people to learn more about one another is not afforded in certain cultures. Conservative countries frown upon males and females courting, unless they are officially engaged.

In my opinion, a successful unity between two people requires willingness, compromise, love and dedication. These aspects can be found in either type of marriage. Although my parents’ marriage was arranged, they would never dream of arranging mine. My parents began as friends, and then they developed a deep love for one another. However, they actually fell in love only ten years ago.

I recall asking my mother if that was her intention for me. She responded, “Who is going to marry him, you or me?”

Why are we so engrossed in the lives of celebrities? We buy gossip magazines, watch the gossip television shows and read online updates about their lives, their choices and scandalous affairs. Many consider it entertainment, but it’s intrusive to the lives of the celebrities. I understand that they are paid millions upon millions to perform and then publicize those performances. However, that does not give us the right to follow their every move and then pass judgment. For example, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s affair has caused much controversy where Jolie was labeled as a “home-wrecker” and Pitt as a “good-for-nothing cheat.” First and foremost, how do we know we are getting the whole story about that particular situation? Secondly, who are we to judge? Thirdly, why are we so involved in their lives to feel justified in commenting about their decisions? They are entitled to make their own decisions without being publicly condemned.

However, I also understand why people follow the salacious celebrity gossip. It seems that either the viewers/readers’ lives are somewhat boring, or the celebrities are more relatable because it is shown that they aren’t perfect. For example, a woman who lost her husband to another woman may follow the story because she feels sorry for “poor Jennifer Aniston.”

Celebrities are looked to as role models and we feel the need to copy their style, choices, eating habits and fitness regiments. Many magazines have capitalized on our intrigue, and thereby plaster the face of an A-list star on the cover to guarantee sales of their publication. The magazine staff knows we want to know Jennifer Lopez’s beauty rituals and Jessica Alba’s work out plan so we can mimic them to hopefully look just as “beautiful.” The thing is, these celebrities have a team of make-up artists, hair professionals, fitness coaches and beauty experts in tow to ensure they look the way they do. Also, airbrushing works wonders. Have you ever seen a picture of what they looked like before?

Many of us find time to pass judgments on these people, but they’re just that, people. If nothing else, maybe we should think twice before evaluating their lives as if we know them.