While many believe that technology was created to bring people closer together with things such as the internet and modern phones does it really bring us closer or bring us apart? In order to ask this question we need to look at the driving force behind the creation of new technology and things such as social media. According to a Business Insider article a quote is taken from Jonathan Kay stating “Displaced time” which is the new term for when you use your phone in order to waste time. Though this doesn’t mean you are addicted to your phone, displaced time just refers to doing something to waste time which used to be things such as watching tv or reading a newspaper while today we have all of that in a cellular device. To furthermore, with the breakthrough of apps such as Tik Tok, Instagram, and Twitter there is a constant competition of being able to stay relevant. In addition, apps are constantly coming out with new features that try to lure you in whether it be a simple color change to the app itself or a new feature to stay ahead in this competition. So with this in mind is it really the technology that makes us more alone or is it the companies that are using the technology making us more alone? This can be answered if you look at the true reasons why people created technology and apps or for instance, why was the internet created? Well the internet was intentionally created for military purposes during the cold war and was then adopted by scientists as a means of communicating with other scientists but then transformed into the web which is what we know today. In conclusion, technology does not make us alone nor was it intended to but the way we use technology and of apps has brought us further apart in a world where technology is everywhere.

Work Cited:

Hartmans, Avery. “These Are the Sneaky Ways Apps like Instagram, Facebook, Tinder Lure You in and Get You 'Addicted'.” Business Insider, Business Insider, 17 Feb. 2018, www.businessinsider.com/how-app-developers-keep-us-addicted-to-our-smartphones-2018-1. 

The Internet, a Very Complex and Revolutionary Invention of 1965, Has Changed Our World, sites.cs.ucsb.edu/~almeroth/classes/F04.176A/homework1_good_papers/Alaa-Gharbawi.html. 

Work Cited:

Wallis, Lucy. “Is 25 the New Cut-off Point for Adulthood?” BBC News, BBC, 23 Sept. 2013, www.bbc.com/news/magazine-24173194. 

The magazine cover that best illustrates this year was the July cover “Distant Summer”, by Kadir Nelson. With 2020 seeing an up rise in political and social debate and action this cover illustrates a very major event that is happening in America. To furthermore, America has had to ask itself a very serious question “Is America systematically racist?”, whether you believe it or not it has been shown from the killings of people such as Breonna Taylor, Ahmuad Arbery, and George Floyd. Going back to the illustration the artist Kadir Nelson seems to try and use an American theme for the July article due to the use of the colors red, white, and blue but what stands out the most is the fact that the child who is black portrays a concerning look. The child seems to be looking in the distance which could represent his future and with everything that is happening many people of color believe they’re future is up for debate and believe it may change drastically for the worse or better if there is or isn’t change. So with this, the artist is trying to indicate that with the events going on in July it might be chilling to a young black man who sees these things growing up and may have to consider, is he truly safe or does he have a future in the US? Additionally, it may be hard to think that you are judged by the color of your skin and along with being treated unfairly your life might not even be safe with those who are meant to protect you.

With 2020 now coming to an end it is important to look back at all of the events that have occurred because it is now a piece of history. This artwork shows insight into a small piece of what happened portraying a bigger message than the artwork itself, and with this 2020 will be a year to remember.

     With Pritzker’s decision, an order to stop restaurants from allowing dine-in eating, now in full swing many people within the Chicago land area disagree. One of the most prominent figures who seems to have concerns with this new ban is Chicago’s Mayor Lori Lightfoot. Within the same article furthermore, it states “Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot in conflict about whether to keep restaurant dining rooms open.”(1), which shows that mayor Lightfoot doesn’t believe that the rise of cases is due to dining. The author uses expert testimonial by introducing the mayor of Chicago’s opinion within the text showing a contrast to the governors. The author establishes that the purpose of using the mayor's opinion in contrast to the governors is to create a moral dilemma.

      One of the drawbacks to banning dining within restaurants is the jobs that will be lost due to it. The authors introduce Pete Bournas, of Psistaria Greek Taverna, a restaurant owner who describes the turmoil that COVID-19 has caused. In addition Pete says “I worry about the restaurant. I worry about my employees,” as well as “I have 40 people on staff that I’m going to have to juggle days and make sure they can put food on their own table. I’m extremely worried, but I try not to show it,"(3). The authors of the article use personal experience and anecdotal text to try and persuade others to show that the dine in ban affects more than just the restaurant but the people as well. The purpose of this is to convey an emotion towards the audience as well as looking at it from a logical standpoint that with this ban a loss of jobs and income will be seen in large amounts.

     With several examples of how the dine ban will affect the lives of thousands of “Chicago-ins”, many are pleading that the ban be lifted and more safety precautions be added to allow dining to continue. The authors of this article show a great despise towards the decision of Governor Pritzker as well as introducing several others who are against the ban including Chicago’s mayor Lightfoot. To conclude, COVID-19 shows no signs of slowing down unless we start taking more precautions but as a city we should also consider the effects of what we do because it could ruin the future of others and several independent businesses that help bring money and people to the city.

Within the speech, Malcom X uses juxtaposition to express the main idea within his speech. An example of this is as X states “This is why I say it’s the ballot or the bullet. It’s the liberty or it’s death. It’s freedom for everybody or freedom for nobody.”, (1). Analyzing this quote shows how X uses contrast in his speech to convey a crucial point across showing the two sides that applies to all. In addition, by including both sides he can create a feeling of guilt through his words solidifying his point that if you have freedom why shouldn’t I?

Another strategy that Malcolm X uses is paradoxical language and it can be seen when he states “we haven’t had sense enough to set up stores and control the businesses of our community,” (1). He purposefully uses this statement to support his argument about why their communities struggle and to acknowledge that they have put themselves into the situation they are in. In addition, he reiterates the quote by telling a story of “the man” and how he uses their money but doesn’t even live within their community showing the use of the strategy stated.

Malcolm X’s speech “The Ballot or the Bullet” is a great example of what life in the 1960’s was like during the civil rights movement. The speech utilizes multiple strategies within which candidly shows the intelligence of Malcolm X and how he was able to express his thoughts and ideas of issues. Not only where his ideas heard but many people still use Malcolm X as inspiration which can be seen especially through protests or even politics today.