President Obama Laments Diversion the iPad, iPod & Xbox Causes, Strains on Democracy

During his commencement speech at Hampton University Sunday, President Barack Obama lamented that in the iPad, iPod, Playstation and Xbox era, information has become a diversion that has led to the imposition of new strains on democracy, another critique of the modern media. He told the graduating class that education was the key to progress. Of course, the right wing media, including the Drudge Report, took offense and are focusing on his dig against the iPad, iPod and Xbox. As a parent, I am inclined to agree with President Obama about the fact that many children are more consumed with playing video games, watching television and owning the latest electronic gadgets instead of getting a solid education.

President Obama said:

"You're coming of age in a 24/7 media environment that bombards us with all kinds of content and exposes us to all kinds of arguments, some of which don't always rank all that high on the truth meter."

"With iPods and iPads and Xboxes and PlayStations, -- none of which I know how to work -- information becomes a distraction, a diversion, a form of entertainment, rather than a tool of empowerment, rather than the means of emancipation."

He bemoaned the fact that "some of the craziest claims can quickly claim traction," in the clamor of certain blogs and talk radio outlets. "All of this is not only putting new pressures on you, it is putting new pressures on our country and on our democracy." Source: AFP

I grew up in an environment in which getting a solid education was paramount. As you can see, America's education system is close to the bottom of the list of other countries. We are no longer the model for excellence. There is also a huge disparity in education among African Americans, Latinos and whites in the United States and the world. It is absolutely paramount for our young people to learn about the lives of great civil rights leaders such as Dorothy Height, who he spoke about during his speech. He urged the graduates to take inspiration from her. He said, "A black woman, in 1929, refusing to be denied her dream of a college education.""Refusing to be denied her rights, refusing to be denied her dignity, refusing to be denied... her piece of America's promise." Lost on the Drudge Report is the fact that President Obama argued that from the days of the pioneer politicians who founded the United States, until the modern day, education and knowledge had been the key to progress and US democracy.