WATCHMEN. What Will it Imply?

HBO's new hit series WATCHMEN has entered the scene (and I will admit, I love the show) and it is nothing less than political. "If it weren't political, it wouldn't be WATCHMEN" states producer Damen Lindelof, and I could not agree more; yet in an era in American history where political views are highly susceptible and sensitive, how can viewers react?

The show is based upon the rise of a new terrorist group called the Seventh Cavalry, which is a modern time cult of the Klu Klux Klan. The basis of this group is to continue white supremacy and aim to accomplish their goals through the slaughtering of all policemen. Later through watching the show, it is revealed that the Chief Sheriff was a part of the Seventh Cavalry, including the senator and other high caliber members in the group, even hinting towards the president. 

This is a brilliant plot for a show and I am all for it, but also with the conflict of current media coverage and attempts and claims of certain biases in not only the political scene but in the public as well, will the use of the term 'white supremacy' be thrown around more frequently. 

My only notion is to make the true understanding of the term 'white supremacy' and that it should not be thrown around lightly or used to blame for victimization. Rather understand that it is the act and belief that one race is dominant and all others are seen as a threat and to be terminated. We should also act to use the law if there is ever a true threat of this supremacy, because we are all created beautifully in God's image, and no one is placed higher than another.

Are Our Political Leaders Safe From Cyber Threats?

Russian cyber-attacks have been the dominant issue facing our government since the major attacks since the 2016 elections. The anonymous Russian group responsible for the attacks upon the Clinton foundation have returned and currently conducting attacks upon two conservative thinktanks. 

According to Microsoft, The Hudson Institute and the International Republican Institute are the two major thinktanks under assault; both organizations are republican sided and linked to an anti-Trump belief system. According to accounts from The New Yorker, the goal the International Republican Institute aims to create opportunities to spread democracy worldwide, and the Hudson Institute’s political agenda focuses upon eradicating the existence of kleptocracy in the world. Due to their known corrupt history of leadership, Russia remains the largest concern to the Hudson Institute. 

Leaders at Microsoft proclaim that the goals of these attacks remain unclear, but both organizations are large enough to cause a threat to Russian leadership through spreading their belief system, and therefore Russian operatives may attempt to seek information regarding our government through covert hacking sequences. A proactive federal judge took a stand by appointing Microsoft a “special master,” authorizing the company to seize artificial websites once they are published to the web in attempt to halt assaults upon thinktanks and government sites.

The New Yorker inquires that “Microsoft has grown increasingly aggressive to counter these attacks.” In attempt to enhance defense software, Microsoft releases “Account Guard” for the availability of political candidates and including all local, state, and federal operations. Currently, the fear of the Russian hackers meddling with the near future 2020 election is an imminent threat to security. As read from NPR, Eric Rosenbach, who leads the cybersecurity division from the white house, proclaims that “campaigns are the most vulnerable aspect of US elections because they often don’t have the time or money to develop long-term cybersecurity plans.” Though difficult to enforce, Microsoft and the senate plan on developing a two-way authentication; the difficulty in this simple plan refines in people willing to use this technique.

In this cyber net chase, the president of the International Republican Institute states his concerns upon the ongoing issue. “It is clearly designed to sow confusion, conflict and fear among those who criticize Mr. Putin’s authoritarian regime.” The way current campaign organizations are running, the fear of infiltration hinders campaign progress and secrecy. When one fake site is caught, the fear of a more prestigious hack already in the roots of national security runs rampant in the leaders of our democracy. The existence of a breach in our government’s online data may prove to be a probable issue. What continues to be discovered can lead to a more severe and complex issue.

The threat of anonymous Russian hackers afflicting with our government and political organizations could lead to drastic outcomes for the United States and upon future campaigns. But motions are currently being made by authorized Microsoft security software, and our nation may stand united and free from forthcoming threats from online predators. A united nation is needed to stand up against the bullies of Russia, and all sources stand firm on the belief that action is needed to defend our privacy and to climb to the top where the United States stood once before, superior in freedom.

Marketplace of Ideas

The freedom of America is held in the beauty of our rights to free expression. The marketplace of ideas was a construct philosophically developed by John Milton in 1644, and was reinvented by John Stuart Mill in his book On Liberty in 1859. The marketplace of ideas was a belief that anyone can present creations, beliefs, and constructs that is challenged by one another as individuals or as groups, and not monitored or censored by government or other authority. The philosophy and practice of this idea has managed well in the past, yet I challenge that this system in modern day America in some aspects can be deemed invalid.

The one major point I would like to assess is the freedom and expression of belief. Belief is a fragile topic in current America; we all have the freedom to pursue our passions, dreams, desires and beliefs, yet with the media so easily accessible we find ourselves conforming to what the media and the government want us to believe, think and feel. Political agendas thrive through the media. With the access to the whole country at their fingertips, every major political scheme, which can be from either party, will use incidences, unfortunate situations and tragedies to filter through the media in a manor that promotes their schemes. I will only focus on one subject in the belief category, and this is the right to bare arms. After hearing this disturbing message delivered from a Charlottesville, VA radio station (which the state is heavily pushing for anti gun laws), it leaves a shocking image in you mind. In the background, you can hear the faint laughter of babies and the joy they are having, the message suddenly cuts in to a woman proposing that you should "make the right choices, especially with all the children you love. In a world full of conflict and war, and mass killing and hate crimes ... choose peace this holiday." The message takes this sudden twist, for it appears peaceful and fun, but what the government of Virginia is (brilliantly) doing is wiring your mind and children's minds to recognize the threat that guns have to the safety of America; this places the blame of tragedy on the machine and not the man. So by choosing to have the belief to carry and own guns, we are viewed as criminals and life-takers who have no compassion or sympathy for the well-being of others. This can be no farther from the truth.

I believe that we have a damaged system for belief, for we are no longer welcomed by choosing our own ideologies. Those who stand against the grain of what propaganda is being promoted are a threat to society. The only solution that we can find as a nation is for individuals to somehow manage to stop being conformed by the monitored media and choose to live a life separate from such influences - yet, that will never happen.