Weapons of mass instruction

MANILA, Philippines - Mention heroes and conjure up images of Greek demigods, superhuman mutants, and a myriad of other do-gooders who fight for justice and liberty. These days, a “hero” may not be outfitted in the same manner, and the weapons that they wield are not quite the same as a wand, a lightsaber, or a sonic screwdriver. You could be sitting next to a modern-day hero and never even know it.

The most obvious, utilized weapon of heroes these days is the Internet. It has democratized the sharing of information, thoughts and ideas, allowing the average Juan to garner a potential audience in the millions. Like most weapons, the Internet can cause a lot of harm when in the wrong hands, but in the best and most ethical ones, it can deliver the truth at the click of a button.

Using the Internet, citizen journalists and bloggers often take a different approach to news coverage, telling stories in ways that news outfits with a broader audience won’t or can’t. With the availability of all sorts of mediums, the right story can be matched with the right way of telling it, too. Online, there are various causes available for and accessible to your support, even from thousands of miles away.

We have also been seeing the rise of social media, something often seen as an instrument of the vain and self-absorbed, which is being utilized fairly heroically during times of distress and calamity. There is a fine line between slacktivism and truly helping (and then there’s a whole other area reserved for trolls). After all, a mere share or like does not a hero make. But the correct information and its dissemination can be a powerful thing.

HELPING HAND

Recently, during relief efforts and rescue operations post-Haiyan, this was how everyone could lend a helping hand if they chose to. Those who could not give time to help were able to donate fairly easily through different avenues, and those who couldn’t give any money or goods were easily directed to the nearest relief centers in need of manpower by websites and Facebook posts.

The seemingly non-committal sharing of information may seem to be unimportant, but as the saying goes, “Knowledge is power.” Our national hero Jose Rizal said, “The pen is mightier than the sword,” and while he didn’t partake in the major revolutions that gained us our independence, his work and his words were catalysts for some of those who fought for our country. Writing a revolutionary piece on social justice is not the same as instigating a revolution, but it is no less important.

While social media, blogging, and even the Internet in general have critics, it is important to recognize that what they put forth — the spark of the truth — may be the trigger to a bigger good deed.

Perhaps all of the likers and sharers aren’t the real heroes in today’s story, but the weapons they wield, like the Internet, social media, and even freedom of speech, aid others, today’s potential heroes who seek to do the greater good.

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