Jacinda Ardern’s Commencement Speech At Harvard University & Her View On Trade & Gun Control
Dear Friends & Neighbors,
Jacinda Ardern, 2018, Prime Minister of New Zealand (Attribution: General Governor of New Zealand, Presented at: WindermereSun.com)
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During time of confusion and frustration, one may seek clarity through wisdom of others. Today, allow me to share Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s address toward 8000 graduates at the Harvard commencement speech attacking online disinformation and receiving a standing ovation for her comments on gun reform, in the video published on May 26, 2022, “In full: Jacinda Ardern delivers Harvard University Commencement speech |nzzherald.co.nzz” below:
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said, “..but we also knew that if we wanted genuine solutions to the issue of violent extremism online, it would take government, civil society, and the tech companies to come together and change the landscape. And the result was the Christchurch call to action. And while much has changed as a result, important things haven’t. The time has come for social media companies and other online providers to recognize their power and to act on it. That means upholding their own basic terms of service. That means recognizing the role they play in constantly curating and shaping the online environments that we’re in. That algorithmic processes make choices and decisions for us. What we see and where we are directed. And at best that means that the user experience is personalized, but at worst, it means the user experience can be radicalized. It means that there is a pressing and urgent need for responsible algorithm development and deployment. Now we have the forums for online providers and social media companies to work on these issues alongside civil society and governments. And we have every reason to do it. Let’s start with transparency and how algorithmic processes work in the outcomes they deliver. But let’s finish with a shared approach to responsible algorithms because the time has come. But the tech companies they are only part of the answer. What we do as individuals in these spaces matters too. Our willingness to recognize our own preconceived ideas the level of critique we apply to, what we engage with, and how we uphold our basic sense of humanity when interacting with others. There’s a term that gets thrown around a lot: keyboard warrior. It’s used to refer to some one who makes aggressive or abusive posts online, often anonymously. Now, I like the name and my mind when I read something especially horrific on my feed, I imagine it’s written by a lone person unacquainted with personal hygiene practices, dressed in a poorly fitted super hero costume, one that is baggy in all the wrong places. Now keyboard warrior or not though, it’s still something that has been written by a human. And it’s something that’s been read by one too. Now I do my own social media. I always have. After all it has been described as the new town square. But we all know that it’s more than just news and information being shared these days. Recently I had the privilege of joining ex-German Chancellor Angela Merkel on a panel. Now I have long been in awe of her leadership, not least for her endurance. She was in power for 16 years. I once asked her how she managed it. Her response was “Things have changed a lot.” In the panel discussion, she reflected on some of that change by commenting, “in the old days we had certain events that happened in societies and television reported it the next day. Every one talked about it. Today even that simple actors change. What we consider to be the mainstream media outlets have proliferated, but ownership structures have not. Mainstream media have layers of accountabilities and journalistic expectations that others who also present information to us don’t. There is competition in advertising revenue with subscription services and paywalls, all to aid in the survival of the fittest, with fittest now defined by how easy it is to monetize your content and in amongst all of that lies effect we’re not talking about how we access information to inform debate but whether you can call it information at all. Now there are those who are far more lunar than I who will argue where the source of the scourge of disinformation lies. Within your own campus who will argue that the current problems of disinformation are not the result of algorithms or trolls but of “asymmetric media structures, decades in the making”. I’m not here to argue either way because at its heart, what we’re in the middle of is not really a new problem. Thomas Ridd argues that the modern era of disinformation began in the early 1920s during the great depression, in an era of journalism transformed by radio, newly cut throat and “fast paced”. He goes on to argue that it’s since come in waves, including in the mid 2010 with disinformation reborn and reshaped by new technologies and internet culture. Others point to the acceleration of the information and disinformation flow that comes with each new technology that enables mass duplication and distribution, from photocopiers to cassette tapes. The only thing that has changed is speed. But as Ridd concludes either way the stakes are “enormous” for disinformation it corrodes foundation of our liberal democracy. Our ability to assess facts on their merits and into a just course accordingly. I accept the picture I’m painting may seem overwhelming and insurmountable and a little bit grim, but I’m an optimist at heart. And while we cannot change everything about the environment we are in, we can change ourselves to build greater strength and resilience in spite of the headwinds around us. And I see examples of that every day. Leah Bell and why Marama Anderson were two young students from a public school in New Zealand called Otorohanga College. Now they couldn’t understand why every young New Zealander didn’t learn at school about New Zealand history, including the New Zealand Wars, conflicts between British and colonial troops and Maori in the 19th century. Now these two students pushed for change presenting a petition to parliament. And they succeeded. Next year, for the first time, our young people are universally learning about their past, their culture, and their history. But what is important here is just not what our young people learn but how. In a disinformation age, we need to learn how to analyze and critique information. Now that doesn’t mean teaching mistrust but rather, as my old history teacher, Mr. Fountain, extolled “to understand the limitations of a single piece of information and that there is always a range of perspectives on events and decisions. Our history shows us the importance of this. But so too does our presence. You are and will always be surrounded by bias. You will continue to be exposed to disinformation. And over time, the noises you are surrounded up by will probably only get worse. And perhaps that is why when your own constitution was adopted, Benjamin Franklin was asked what had been created and he replied, “a Republic if you can keep it.” If you can keep it. Yes, diversity of voice in mainstream media matters. The responsibility of social media matters. Teaching our kids to deal with disinformation the role we play as leaders, it all matters. But so do you. How you choose to engage with information, deal with conflict, how you confront debate, how you choose to address being baited or hated, it all matters. And the overwhelming challenges that lay in front of us and our constant efforts to reach into the systems, the structures, the power. Don’t overlook the simple act that are right in front of you. The impact that we each have as individuals. To make a choice, to treat difference with empathy and with kindness. Those values that exist in the space, between difference and division, the very things we teach our children, but then view as weakness in our leaders. The issues we navigate as a society, after all, will only intensify. The disinformation will only increase. The pull into the comfort of our tribes will be magnified, but we have it within us to ensure that that doesn’t mean we fracture. We are richer for our difference, and poorer for our division. Through genuine debate and dialogue, through rebuilding trust and information and one another, through empathy, let us reclaim the space in between. After all, there are some things in this life that make the word feel small and connected. Let kindness be one of them…”
PM Jacinda Ardern confirmed to media after her Harvard Commencement speech that the meeting with US President Biden would take place on Tuesday at the White House. She would also be meeting with Vice President Kamala Harris, in the video published on May 26, 2022, “PM addresses media after Harvard Commencement speech| nzzherald.co.nz“, below:
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern outlines what her country’s government did to enact sensible gun control after a terrible mass shooting in Christchurch. Stick around for two more segments with friend of the show, PM Jacinda Ardern! In the video published on May 25, 2022, ““We Will Buy Them Back And We Will Destroy Them” – PM Jacinda Ardern On Gun Control In New Zealand“, below:
You may also be interested in reading these articles below:
- Let Democracy Dollars (aka Democracy Voucher) Stop The Killings Of Innocent American People
- House Committee Considers Legislation To Raise Age Limit For Buying Certain Firearms/What America Can Learn From Other Countries With Regard To Gun Control/Introduce Democracy Dollars So To Stop Killings Of American People
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