Portals aren't a work of science fiction or fantasy. All
it takes to step through a portal is the press of a
button. But our portals don't just carry people, they
also share a much more potent resource: information.
A question often asked is whether technology connects or
divides us. There's no denying that it does both. But
perhaps more than creating new division, it shows us the
division that already exists.
War is a very instantaneous experience. While wars can
last months, the time it takes for a missile to hit is
measured in minutes or seconds. In our fast-paced world,
our perception of war is no exception. The explosion
from a shell is no longer heard miles away; it spans the
world.
As a result, we now must face the suffering of others
across the world. The only way to escape is to turn
away. Perhaps we are now more aware of what plagues the
world, but we may also have become desensitized. Our
brains are not equipped to handle constant violence, so
we choose to ignore it or grow used to it.
But neither is a solution; neither allows us to realize
what has gone wrong. So how can we still make change
when we are surrounded by information and surrounded by
choices for an issue to pursue? How can we remain
optimistic through the deluge of information?
Every individual has their own approach. First, we tend
to search for the negative and ignore the chance that is
already being made. It may feel like we are alone in
caring, but we are not. Second, every individual cannot
solve every problem, and that isn't a burden we can
place on ourselves.
Nevertheless, the world has been permanently
transformed. Our experience with any conflict, but
crucially war, is now as instant and reactionary as a
television drama. We can choose to push war away as far
as we desire or pull it too close for comfort.
Through these vignettes, I hope to explore this dynamic.
When we read about conflict, we often lack meaningful
context about the history of the fighters or even the
events of the last days. Throughout the war in Ukraine,
news stories have done what news stories do. They have
given us updates on every minute detail of the invasion.
However, within this model, something is lost. It's hard
to see the full picture. It's hard to see that Russian
invading forces have stormed into their neighboring
country unprompted. It's hard to see that Ukrainian
families have been torn apart and forced into hiding or
refuge. It's hard to see that despite the Ukrainian
forces' brave resistance, this war remains one-sided.
Portals suggest travel and complete immersion, but that
is not exactly what the internet has given us. Instead,
with the static photo, we only see what we are meant to
see. In fact, this very concept has been leveraged for
the sake of power, through harmful disinformation
campaigns throughout the world. It is easy to forget
that we are not fully immersed, but we never do see what
it outside the frame.
Likewise, as we scroll through a social media feed,
hopping from portal to portal, every new post is a new
world. We are not on a traveler's journey to discover
the truth, but we're only driven by algorithmic
recommendations. Algorithms know whether today is a day
one would prefer to see violent content, or if one only
needs to be cheered up.
This piece offers an observation on how our relationship
to war has changed, but not a suggestion on how to react
to that. It's not our responsibility to constantly
engage in conversations about war, as that is not
possible. However, recognizing how a perspective can be
warped can allow us to correct for it.
We don't see the full picture, we don't search for more
than we are shown, and we don't stop to slow down and
breathe and think. Nevertheless, we owe it to ourselves
and to the world to do this.
Thank you.
- Leah
