Sunday, January 18, 2009

Discussion 18 - 1/20/09

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Let's get deep this week.

I want to talk about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his thoughts on technology.

In 1964 Dr. King delivered a lecture the day after winning the Nobel Peace Prize in which he told his audience at the University of Oslo that "material advancement was meaningless without an accompanying moral structure." In other words, the growing abundance of technology is undermining the human spirit. My favorite quote from the article is: "The richer we have become materially, the poorer we become morally and spiritually," he said. "We have learned to fly in the air like birds and swim in the sea like fish, but we have not learned the simple art of living together as brothers."

This week I'm asking you to think, REALLY THINK about Dr. King's words. He is telling us that technology advancement needs to go hand in hand with spiritual advancement, or it's all for nothing. THINK. Do you agree with Dr. King? Disagree? WHY? You will answer both of those questions to receive credit this week.

http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2008/12/dayintech_1211

62 comments:

Rigsby,D-1 said...

Yes i do. The reason is simple you cant make anyone better unless you make your self better. This is what King is saying just in another way.

Calderon,A-1 said...

i agree with DR. KING because if the man can fly with an airplain one of this days we will have something else i don't know like a robot fixing everything in your home or a half robot half human we don't know yet but one day we might have it.

Tri-Edge said...
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mcgown,a-1 said...
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Tri-Edge said...

I agree with Dr. King. Modern technology is morally bankrupting America. We need to, as a country, remind ourselves that without moralls we will only travel down the toilet of failure instead of climbing the ladder of success.

Gilbreath,J-1 said...

I was gonna crack about agree, disagree, and why being 3 questions, but Mrs. L might deep fry and serve me for dinner.

Dr. King was a good man, sure. And I'm glad he fought, peacefully, to have the U.S. make it ok for blacks and whites to have such freedoms together, without separation.

As for my agreement question, I'd have to say that the Doc is right. Mankind creates machines to help himself, usually, in a physical way. But man also needs technology in order to achieve spiritual enlightenment...I have no idea how man is supposed to do that, though...How does spiritual enlightenment come from technology, something that is physical.

murillo, j - 1 said...

He argues that progress in science and technology has not been equaled by moral progress instead mankind suffers from a moral and spiritual lag. In his oslo lecture king acknowledged the advances made by science and technology but said that growing abundance was undermining the human spirit.

mcgown,a-1 said...

Of course I agree. To really understand what Dr. King was saying we must put ourselves in the position of those living in that era. Honestly material advancements should have been the least of people’s worries seeing that people could not even thoroughly unite as one body. No, I am not saying that material/technological advancements are not important, but in the America that Dr. King as well as other Civil Rights activist lived in living United as ONE country was the most important feat to be accomplished. "We have learned to fly in the air like birds and swim in the sea like fish, but we have not learned the simple art of living together as brothers." The message Dr. King was trying to get across is very evident in this quotation.

martines,j-1 said...

i agree with dr.king,all the technology that has been created to this point is to help yourself.
there is not much technology to help others spiritually only to make life easier.

rodriguez,stephen-1 said...

i agree with dr.king. ITs like today's kids would rather stay inside and play on their new computer(myspace)/wii/ps3/xbox 360 than play outside...its sad. like also when mrs.L told us about how they used to talk and plan by using the home phone than on myspace and cell phones like we have now, thats just what i think Dr.King meant.

rodriguez,stephen-1 said...

i agree with dr.king. ITs like today's kids would rather stay inside and play on their new computer(myspace)/wii/ps3/xbox 360 than play outside...its sad. like also when mrs.L told us about how they used to talk and plan by using the home phone than on myspace and cell phones like we have now, thats just what i think Dr.King meant.

Liles, T-1 said...

Im not completely sure on how much of it i buy into, it almost sounds to me that he is saying that without morale advancement and continued technological advancement society will fall apart. This part i dont agree with, i believe society will find its end sure enough no matter the morale/technological ratio. Also no matter how great our technology is man will always have problems with working together, so i just try to avoid the subject all together due to lack of understanding his full message.

Broadway,M-1 said...

Martin Luther King Jr. was a great oratory. He was very in the
instrument of change the U.S. However I but agree with his idea
that The richer we have become materially, the poorer we become
morally and spiritually. I believe you need to balance these
things.

brittain,w-2 said...

i do agree because most people will never change, there are people who wont change and people who try to change. the majority of people will always stay the same.

reed, k - 2 said...

I agree with the quote Dr. King made. He was speaking the truth that still happens today.Most people that become rich forget about themselves spiritually and morally they get too caught up that they get into bad things.

Cole,R-1 said...

I agree with Dr. King's statement, the fact that we as a people are advancing faster in technological means then in a moral shift is a disturbing thought. That's why I agree with Dr. King

Hollingsworth,C-1 said...

I wouldn’t say that if the masses don’t advance spiritually at the same rate that technology is advancing it is for nothing. If purpose of technology is to make our lives easier, then technology is doing its job. But these advances seem to be changing people; 50 years ago you wouldn’t hear half the stuff as you do now in a casual conversation. The way technology has open doors in communication and the way news presents things has made people more open about their lives and opinions.

Ashley Manis said...

I'm not a spiritual person.
I think we're just fine with progressing in technology and not "spiritually."
The only obligation with this is that we do need morals, but those can come without being spiritual.

Thompson,O-1 said...

If Dr. King was here today he wold be fine, he would be happy that we somewhat get along. so he isnt talking about technology in a sence thaat tech makes us not moral.

chanelectronic said...

I think MLK2 is trying to say that technological advancement needs to go hand in hand with spiritual advancement. Furthermore I agree with him because the more and more materialistic people get the less.. shallow.. we get. I guess its like the sterotype of large businessmen who have all the money in the world, the big jobs, every time in the world to make their money, and money to buy whatever lexus, mansion and time spot at Singapore - but no time for god, or money to give back to church.

arriola,brett-1 said...

i agree with Dr.King that we depend more on technolgy to do day to day things. and if we dont have spirtual enlightment we can not succeed

McCorvey,T-1 said...

I agree with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,because it's true once you believe in yourself, and get the simple fact "can't" cannot exist in your mind you can accomplish anything in life.We as people shouldn't have any excuses, of why we can't be successful.

mayfield,s-1 said...

I agree with Dr. King, what he said was true and people shouldnt like other people just because of their skin color. Some people today are still like that.

allensworth, z-2 said...

i agree with Dr. king's view on this subject the more indulged we are in computers and gadgets, the less we talk, and bond and what not my mother has the opinin that in just a few short years noone will even know how to properly talk to anothre human being we'll be reduced to texting or some other form of instant messaging which lacks the emotional attachment that people need to have true friends and good relationships when we hug our technology too tight we leave no room for the ones we care about

villanueva, manuel, N. 1 said...

I agree with Dr.King because everything about tecnology doesnt help us spiritualy, its made just to make are lives easier.

Davis,J-2 said...
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packard,a-2 said...

I completely agree with Dr.King, I think that he is saying that people loose the personal connection with one another that allows us to grow spiritually among each other in our society. With the growth of technology we grow apart making things less personal and meaningful. People do not do anything that requires personal interaction anymore, they date online, they break up online, they talk online, they shop online, they text or e-mail instead of calling. With technology today we dont get the interaction we need to grow togeter because technology is more conveinient. Teens today do not no how to communicate anymore because they use all of these technologies to talk with others and they feel akward talking one on one with another person. In this we become consumed and stuck in our ways without growth. People are becoming more materialistic and shallow with furter advancement in technology and smashing morals and all they care about is the new computer or phone or whatever, instead of how we act and grow. So, i think MLK is a genius!!

Johnson,O-2 said...

I agree with Dr. King. He's saying that as technology advances we start having a social disadvantage. That technology can make us careless and lazy. We are letting technology do the simplest thing like something we could have done ourselves. We need to have morals to go along with everything we do. It's just some awesome ability that can change the world for the good but could take many innocence lives if it should ever fall into the wrong hands i.e. someone without morals.

Davis,J-2 said...

I agree with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. because in the world today about 90 percent of the population use the technology. The technology company get richer and the people get poorer.

Adams,B-2 said...

I agree with Dr.King because people do get caught up on being rich...and then forget about other things

Dietrich,R-3 said...

I agree with him kinda. this is because when you use technology you kinda loosing a bit of moral value but i would like to see what technology will become like... i bet in 100 years Dr. King would dislike the world we live in...

Hernandez, Ruben 3rd said...

what Dr. King is trying to say is that we should keep technology at a cost that we can afford. I agree with him....

robles,l-3 said...

i agree with DR.King that technology is in many peoples lives. more that 50% in america use technology and this is one of the main things that makes poeple waste money to get new technology. this makes us poor and the companies even more richer. so i strongly agree with him.

Gonzalez, C-1 said...

I actually have to agree with Dr.King. For one, people are putting more value in materialistic needs and items than they are spending genuine time with family and so forth, trying to develop beneficial tech for mankind and so forth. As I've said before, we put so much effort and time into such a small piece metal and plastic. Warping, molding, and minimizing and yet, we ourselves are having so much trouble with family. Teenagers getting into arguments with parents and teachers just because they were using there cell or the computer for too long for example. I feel that this is what Dr. King is trying to convey, if I'm wrong correct me but thats what I get from his lecture. On another note, I also agree with T.Liles quote on this lecture as well.

anderson,p-3 said...

i agree with what Dr. King said because we use technology to help ourselves. spirtually we should be trying to help everyone but that is not always the case. we dont always think to help everybody. if our technology advancement and our spiritual advance me go hand in hand it would solve a lot of the problems with ethic problems in the word. if you think about it, technology advances quickly while we spiritual take baby steps. just think of where we would be if we could spiritually advance then way we do with technology

otis,j-3 said...

I believe that we must apreciate new technology as it advances. I agree with Dr. King that we should be just as morally advanced as technology is. If not, the new advancements will serve a lesser, and most likely fatal, purpose. Our discovery of nuclear fission and fusion are just some examples of technology thats far ahead of our morals.

edlin said...

I agree with Dr.King. The reason is because I do think that all this technology is making all people become a part and people prefer staying inside to play videogames etc. instead of going outside and interact more with people.

Patton,A-1 said...

I totally agree with Dr.King. i feel that the growth in science should go hand in hand with our growth spiritually. we cant expect to build things to make things better for others if we arent altogether ourselves.

borerw-4 said...

i agree with dr. king on this. the more someone gains materially the more they lose moraly becase money might be fun for a while but it gets old and then what do you have. who are you?

allensworth, d4 said...

i agree 100% with that....as technology advances all humanity looks at is the capability of what what we can do other than the morality of what we should do....we dont stop to think about the consequences of what we can do

Brice, R-4 said...

If i am reading his message right then i am thinking he is saying that human morals are worse now because of technology. If that is the case then i completely disagree with him. I am tired of people blaming somthing else, technology or anything else, for the faults in mankind. Technology is not a bad thing, without it we couldn't be where we are today. Don't blame techonolgy for your own faults thats just pathetic and stupid. Now if anyone can tell me that i have misread Dr. King's message let me know

edwards, a - 4 said...

MLK's right. I think technology and spirituality should both be connected. Without them together, there would be no hope and our world would be in complete chaos.

och,s-4 said...

I agree with Dr. King because I feel that as we advance in technology we forget everything that is spiritual behind our advancements. None of what we have accomplished could have been possible without God and I believe that we take that for granted when we advance technologically as fast as we are. People aren't thinking of their spirituality (idk if I spelled that right) when they are getting bombarded with the latest technology and such. The speech and issue that we are discussing reminds me of the song "American Dream" by Casting Crowns...you should listen to it if you haven't heard it yet...it's good!

Bixler,T-6 said...

I agree with Dr. Martin Luther Jr., technology is progressing to far a head and nobody is able to understand what it is really use is. If technoloy progresses with spiritual the people will understand its use a lot easier than if not.

Cuarenta,A-6 said...

i strongly agree with Dr. King because... people now days are more concentrated with their material possessions... we have created all these new advancements in techonology but for what? if we still take them all for granted... we are loosing our morals in the process.

Sauceda, Maria=]- 6 said...

Its hard to disagree with Mr. King because his point is clear and it reflects todays society. This world today has become so materialistic that we are willing to exchange our morals for money or power. I think by having more technology we are doing more harm to each other such in wars instead of using peaceful methods like strikes.=]

Meredith,B-6 said...

I do agree with him because you can't set out to better anyone else until you better yourself first. I believe that was his message in short.

Sauceda, Maria=]- 6 said...

oh yeah i agree...=D

Sauceda, Maria=]- 6 said...
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taylor, Q - 6 said...

Yes i agree.I believe in any advancements it should be hand and hand with spiritual advancements.Especially technology because it has made get off focus wit somethings

Abdul-786 said...

i do agree with dr king i think what he said is right because technology is kinda messing up the world!!

Copeland, Juston7 said...

i agree with his quotes i dont know why we cant live together in peace or as brother i think that it is sad that we cant live that way

Maness, J-6 said...

King is right. as technology advances, there are those that become infatuated with technology such as video games or internet, and become more detached from the world. and we as a whole are becoming more detached as well, just not nearly as rapidly. it is important for us to make sure that we advance as people as fast as we do technologically, or else the detachment cause by a far superior technology will overcome us.

lee, s - 7 said...

I agree what Mr. KING said in 1963. If man can fly with an airplain one of this days who will have something in the past.

cano,ruben-7 said...

I agree with Dr.King we should keep technology at the level that we can afford!!! i also agree with his quots spiritually everyone should get along!!!

Lopez, M-1~☺ said...

Dr. Kings words do mean the actual truth. Technology makes us possesive towards our material possesions. Plus with that, we don't trust anyone anymore with our valubales. Our time is now is nothing like it used to be; plain and simple. Too much much technology will be our downfall.

arnold,t.7 said...

I agree with dr. king i think that we should keep the technology at level and keep it the same way as user.

Trikosko, M-1 said...

I agree with Dr. King, we have not advanced as much spiritualy as we have technology. Even though I am not that spiritual I can still tell that the spiritual influence today is not as large as it used to be.

lathan,l-1 said...

Dr.king was a great romdel from all people. he left so many memoreis, that we shall over come some day. we all have challenges in life. He wanted every one just to get along and get all of the hatrade and everything else behind.

GARRETT,K-4 said...

yes i do agree with King. sure technology is important and helps in everyday life. but becoming too dependent on technology isnt good. it does make us poorer morally.

Byrd,N-6 said...

I agree with Dr. King that as technology grows we grow farther apart

tutt,matthew said...

I ,like many, agree with Dr. King you can have everything but have nothing at all by havinng no moral to your technological advancement.