Where are the Antiwar Voices?

In our daily lives, we are constantly being consumed with different opinions on the news and articles. In class, we were told to analyze two websites, Antiwar.com and The American Conservative, and ask why have we never heard of such sites in this time of war? 

Words from different people can 
have different meanings

Mainstream news like ABC, CBS, CNN, and FOX all have different opinions that can pollute the minds of young teenagers. As a college student, I don't know what's right and what's wrong because both sides always have something positive and negative points. However, we seem to blame the other sides negativity for what we, as a whole, have caused. 

Looking at Antriwar.com, it seems like an outlet for those willing to support military intrusion. It's focused heavily on war and countries overseas through perspectives that could be underrepresented in the mainstream coverage. 

One headline reads, "More US Troops Died in Iran Than Pentagon Said." Reading that made me feel shocked as I have never heard any mainstream stations report information like that before. If you scroll through the website, you can see different links under certain continents and countries that cover war news. This can attract readers from opposite viewpoints, taking opinions and perspectives from both conservative and liberal sides.

Many political leaders and mainstream
news like to point fingers at others
for the blame.

The American Conservative promotes the United States should avoid military intrusion that doesn't benefit us. There are magazine articles and blogs from first-hand publishers that argue for realism. 

This blog was founded during a debate over the Iraq War, giving conservatives a voice to oppose some policies that the U.S. military should be more cautious. 

This site wants to "embrace realism and restraint in foreign affairs based on America's vital national interests." Though other mainstream outlets strongly support the military role for the United States.

After taking the time to read the Antiwar.com and The American Conservative pages, I was surprised by how different their perspectives were from what I usually see on mainstream news. Both websites provide arguments against military intervention and question assumptions about U.S. foreign policy.

I do feel like we do not hear much about these viewpoints because they are outside sources that most people do not consume every day. Mainstream often focuses on government officials, military leaders, and major political figures while pointing fingers at the other people. Publications like these emphasize skepticism of war and intervention.  

Although I do not agree with everything being publish, exploring these websites showed me the importance of reading different viewpoints and thinking critically about information I receive. Hearing a wider range of voices can lead to a better understanding of complex issues such as war, foreign policy, and the role of the United States in the world.

EOTO: The History and Impact of the Printing Press

Imagine living in a world where getting a book was almost impossible. Before the printing press, every book had to be copied by hand. Monks and scribes spent countless hours reproducing texts one page at a time. 

Books were expensive, rare, and usually available only to wealthy people, churches, or universities. For most people, access to information was limited. Learning often depended on what could be taught in person because written materials were difficult to obtain.

That changed in the mid-1400s when Johannes Gutenberg introduced his movable-type printing press in Mainz, Germany. Around 1440, Gutenberg combined several existing technologies into a single machine that could print pages quickly and consistently. His system used metal movable type, oil-based ink, and a screw press that applied pressure evenly across a page. 

These innovations made printing faster, more reliable, and far less expensive than handwritten copying.

Bi Sheng created the movable type
with individual characters

Although Gutenberg often receives most of the credit, the history of printing started earlier. In China, printed books existed centuries before Gutenberg. Around 1040, Bi Sheng developed a movable type printing press using individual clay characters. 

These earlier innovations showed that printing was possible, but Gutenberg's design made large-scale book production practical in Europe. His system was more durable and efficient, allowing printers to create hundreds of copies of a book in the time it once took to make a single handwritten manuscript.

Gutenberg's printing press transformed the spread
of knowledge by allowing printed materials
to be reproduced on a large scale for the first time.

One of Gutenberg's most famous accomplishments was printing the Gutenberg Bible around 1455. The book demonstrated that printed materials could be produced with impressive accuracy and quality. 

More importantly, it proved that knowledge could be reproduced much faster than handwritten copies. The Gutenberg Bible became a symbol of a new age in communication and information sharing.

The printing press solved several major problems. First, it dramatically reduced the time needed to produce books. What once took months or years could now be completed much faster. Second, it lowered costs, allowing more people to own books. Third, it made information easier to preserve and distribute. 

Ideas were no longer limited to small groups of scholars or religious leaders. For the first time, books and printed materials could reach ordinary citizens on a much larger scale.

The impact on communication was enormous. Printed books, pamphlets, and papers allowed information to travel across countries and continents. Literacy increased as reading materials became more available. 

Knowledge spread to people who previously had little or no access to education. Historians often connect the printing press to major events such as the Renaissance, the Protestant Reformation, and the Scientific Revolution because it helped new ideas reach larger audiences. Scientists, religious reformers, and political thinkers could now share their work with thousands of people instead of a small local audience.

The printing press also helped shape modern society. It encouraged the standardization of languages, improved education, and made it easier for people to learn about science, politics, and religion. 

In many ways, it became the foundation of mass communication long before radio, television, or the internet existed.

However, the invention was not entirely positive. The same technology that spreads knowledge also spreads misinformation. Political propaganda, rumors, and extremist ideas could be printed and distributed quickly. 

Authorities and governments sometimes used printed materials to influence public opinion. These challenges remind us that every communication technology creates both opportunities and risks.

The printing press remains one of the most influential inventions in history. By making information easier to produce and share, it transformed education, communication, religion, science, and politics. The world became more connected because ideas could travel farther and faster than ever before. 

Even in today's digital age, the impact of Gutenberg's invention can still be seen everywhere, from books and newspapers to websites and social media platforms.

AI Disclaimer: AI was not used in the research and information for this blog post. All information came from the information posted in the prompt from our class blogger and my own research. I then prompted Claude AI Chatbot to help me shape my notes into a blog post of between 500-700 words, written in a smooth and professional style with short paragraphs. Finally, I added appropriate images and captions to help break up the type and give the blog post a professional look. 

Privacy Online & Off

Privacy isn't always private when you don't look deeper into it.

Before watching these TED Talks, I did not think much about how my personal information could be collected and stored. Taking a deeper dive into these videos, I learned more about privacy online and offline and how technology can reveal details about our lives in ways many people may not notice.

The videos focused on privacy and how technology is changing the way information about people is collected and stored. After watching them, I was left wondering how much information about ordinary people is being gathered every day.

Flock cameras
have been wrongfully 
used by police.

In the first TED Talk, Catherine Crump discussed how technology originally designed for the military is making its way into local communities. She explained how police departments use license plate readers, now called Flock cameras, are mounted on roads and police cars to capture images of passing vehicles and turn them into readable text.

What stood out to me was how people, even those we believe who protect us, use this technology in terrible ways. They also collect massive amounts of data from people who have done nothing wrong. 

According to the talk, local police departments can keep records for long periods of time, resulting in massive amounts of stored information, but how do we know that the information that is kept is truly kept from individuals who wish to harm us.

The talk also described how the federal government can pull individual data into one large database. Crump questioned why information should be kept when a person has not committed a crime.

People should understand
how to protect their
data and information.

The talk also mentioned cell tower dumps and StingRay technology, which can send tracking signals to identify cell phones inside homes. Other examples were just as concerning. The NYPD reportedly drove police vehicles past mosques to identify who attended. 

This made me think about how these tools, which are used to help people, can be misused. The speaker suggested that information collected about people could potentially be used for blackmail or political advantage.

The second TED Talk, presented by Juan Enriquez, explored the idea that “without words, tattoos really do shout.” He argued that tattoos tell stories and introduced the concept of electronic tattoos.

One idea that stayed with me was that these electronic tattoos could outlive us. He connected this idea to Greek stories such as Sisyphus, Orpheus and Eurydice, Atalanta and Hippomenes, and Narcissus. 

Each story carried a message about consequences, distraction, reflection, or eternity. The reference that struck me most was the warning not to threaten someone with immortality.

I also think about my friends and family. Many of us use technology every day without considering how much information is being recorded and made me realize that information shared online can last much longer than we expect, creating a permanent digital record.

AI Disclaimer: AI was not used in the research and information for this blog post. All information came from notes that I took while watching two TED talk videos about Privacy online and government surveillance. I then prompted Microsoft Copilot Pro to help me shape my notes into a blog post of between 300 and 350 words written in a smooth professional style. I then added links to online sources that the reader could pursue for more information. Finally, I added appropriate images and captions to gelp break up the type and give the post a more professional look.

My Most Valued Freedom of Expression

In our recent class, we learned about the Eight Values of Free Expression in the community. Out of those eight, I have decided to pick out one of which I think is the most important to me and to our society as a whole. 

The value that I think is the most important is eighth one, Protect Dissent. This value states that you have a strongly protected right to criticize and disagree with the government and everyone. In fact it is our patriotic duty to criticize the government as our system is not to be one of mob rule. 

Steve Shiffrin, author of the book Dissent, Injustice, and the Meanings of America, had the idea that we should all actively encourage dissent, (to hold or express an opinion that disagrees with the majority), rather than tolerate it due to dissent being the heart of free speech.

Steve Shiffrin

As people grow in the world with different opinions and views ranging from social to political, it is only fair to engage kindly with one another while views might not align. Due to America being a nation of many and all cultures, it holds meaning towards groups that are protected though the government might be flawed. 

In today's world, with disagreements all around us, I have seen many people on both sides criticize what each other are doing but not so much what the government is doing. Shiffrin argues that the government will always prioritize the powerful unless the people force them to look at inequality. Social media is a massive playground of free expression to everyone and all but it is also a flawed program that favors the powerful and wealthy. 

Robert Reich

Many former and current government officials are actively criticizing the government and what they have been doing. One such as Robert Reich, former U.S. Secretary of Labor for Bill Clinton, on his social media on Instagram. 

Though I am not into politics, I have done my research to know that he uses his platform in order to dissent against the injustice the government abuses.

Another person who uses their social media, which could be controversial, is our current president, Donald Trump. If you compare how Trump criticizes other people in the government to Shiffrin's value, people believe it is a very violated topic. 

Trump also uses his platforms on social media to respond people that criticize or disagree with him. Reich has publicly criticized Trump and his administration. This creates dissent between former and current government leaders.   

In March of 2025, Robert Reich wrote an opinion article in The Guardian, about the opposition of dissent, stating: "He does not invite dissent. In fact, he wants only to hear what he wants to hear." Reich's claim could relate back to the idea of the "chilling effect," where people can be less willing to express an opinion due to the government making people afraid of possible consequences.

President Donald Trump and journalist Kristen Welker
shown having an interview. 

In 2026, Kristen Welker, a NBC journalist, described Trump's endorsement record as "mixed results" on live TV which angered the president. 

This prompted him to post in August a description saying it  "purposeful inaccuracy." As well as saying that she would be reported to the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) for punishment.

This can relate back to college students as they start to grow in a future where people might not always agree with each other or the government. As a college student, the value of "Protect Dissent" relates to me as I am constantly being surrounded by people with different opinions and perspectives. Though I am not forced to agree with everyone around me, I should be able to express my own ideas without being scared of consequences that may follow.