Humanities Information


Babel vs. the PC


Imagine a time when mankind was young. Migration led many to the land of Shinar. It was during that time, that man came together and decided to build not only a city but a tower that would reach the heavens. Seeing the structure, the Lord was not very pleased. In fact, He knew what trouble this could lead to, so He confused mankind with different languages and scattered them across the face of the earth. Thus, is the story of Babel. (Babylon, the remains of an ancient city, is now located in Iraq.)

Eerily, times of a rich, historical past parallel today's society. The familiarity to modern civilization is uncanny. In the biblical tale of the tower of Babel, men came together with one language and one common goal: the desire to control the land and all that lay beneath the tower. Making the impossible - possible to Human nature.

The construction of the tower of Babel tells a story of man and its amorous lust for greed and power. To build such a massive structure that led directly to the heavens, what a marvel it must have been. Though the tale is simple, its meaning is vast. Herein lies the virtue of society itself. With the industrialized world at its peak and infinite computerized technological advances, we have reached the brink of Babel. In this day and age, mankind has the means to communicate to the far outreaches of all the earth. With mere strokes upon a keyboard, we can speak with persons of different languages, cultures, race, religion and region. There are no boundaries to the human initiative.

What began as an oversized "brain" made of wires, metal and countless conductor boards, has evolved into the modern PC. We have at last designed the perfect mechanism to do our bidding. It thinks for us, supplies and stores information, and now with more and more technology, we can even speak to other peoples by means of a computer translator. The small screen that sits atop our office counters, our workbenches and our personal desks at home has become the brainchild of society's modernization, and has revolutionized the way we do and encounter most things.

Although it is just a machine, it has served a wonderful purpose. Through the use of computer equipment, time is no longer a challenge. Messages, tests and reports can come back to us in a matter of seconds. Physicians, technologists, mechanics, archeologists, biologists, and so many other career paths have endless uses for this manmade tool. It has rewarded us richly with its knowledge, as we have enriched it with ours.

But, the question still remains: At what point does the tower of Babel (figuratively speaking) collapse? When has humankind reached its boundaries and at what interval will all be lost because of modern technology? The world is our oyster - but what we must never forget is that the pearl of an oyster is created by disease. Just a thought to ponder.

06/2003

C. Bailey-Lloyd
aka. LadyCamelot
Public Relations' Director & Staff Writer for Holistic Junction - Your Source for information on Healing Arts Schools


MORE RESOURCES:

Guam Humanities Council Grant Cycle 2012 - Call for Proposals
Pacific News Center
Guam - The Guam Humanities Council is pleased to announce the opening of the organization's Community Grant Cycle for 2012. Working in partnership with the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Guam Humanities Council provides financial support to ...

and more »


Trine to host Humanities Symposia
KPCnews.com
ANGOLA — The Humanities Symposia, sponsored by the Trine University Department of Language and Humanities, will begin Feb. 28 and continue through April 17. Each session is free, open to the public and will run from 3:30 to 4:30 pm in Wells Theater in ...



Humanities class explores unconventional topic
The Globe
When humanities professor Channa Newman set out to design and implement a course aimed at exposing the real minorities in America more than 10 years ago, she said she wanted to shed light on a group that flies carefully under the radar.



Lexington Herald Leader

Wendell Berry Named 41st Jefferson Lecturer in the Humanities
WFPL
by Erica Peterson on February 7, 2012 A Kentucky author, farmer and environmental activist has been recognized by the federal government for his achievements in the humanities. Wendell Berry was named the 41st Jefferson Lecturer in the Humanities by ...
Wendell Berry, poet and conservationist, selected to give 2012 Jefferson LectureWashington Post (blog)
Wendell Berry to Give 2012 Jefferson LectureNew York Times (blog)
Kentucky News Review: Hal Rogers earmarks $7 million for his neighborhoodLexington Herald Leader
Chronicle of Higher Education (subscription) (blog) -FOX19 -First Things (blog)
all 11 news articles »


Dust Bowl exhibit includes films, show
Windsor Beacon
It is sponsored by the Windsor Museum and was organized by the Nebraska Council for the Humanities in collaboration with Humanities Texas, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. The exhibit examines the story of the Dust Bowl ...

and more »


Guam- The Guam Humanities Council (GHC) just started its grant cycle for 2012 ...
Pacific News Center
Executive Director Kimberly Kihleng says they offer small grants up to $10 thousand dollars to groups doing projects related to the humanities. She mentions it's all about empowering different projects within the local community.



Virginia Tech Collegiate Times

Employment out of college a matter of degree
U-T San Diego
That's the conclusion of a study that shows recent graduates with degrees in nontechnical fields such as the arts and humanities are more likely to be unemployed than their counterparts who specialize in education, health care, most kinds of ...
Study shows architecture majors are hurt most by economyVirginia Tech Collegiate Times

all 2 news articles »


Langley Principal Talks Honors Classes With Parents
Patch.com
Patch Langley High School Principal Matt Ragone met with more than 100 parents on Tuesday morning about the school board's recent decision to implement more honors level humanities classes in Fairfax County high schools.

and more »


COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER: UW-Parkside celebrates 'The Rita,' Black History Month ...
Journal Times
On a recent Saturday in January, UW-Parkside officially opened the beautiful new Rita Tallent Picken Regional Center for Arts and Humanities, also known as “The Rita,” to the public. More than a thousand visitors to the Jan. 28 grand opening enjoyed ...

and more »


The Commercial Dispatch

Mississippi Humanities Council taps local volunteer for award
The Commercial Dispatch
When the Jackson-based Mississippi Humanities Council announced recipients of its 2012 Public Humanities Awards Thursday, Beverly Norris of Columbus, and the Columbus Arts Council, were named to receive the Humanities Partner Award.

and more »

Google News

home | site map
© 2007