The following editorial was originally published in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser on Sunday, February 7, 2021 as part of the "Raise Your Hand" column in the Insights section.
The conversation about the power of big technology companies, or “Big Tech,” is a long and important one, but there is a simple answer to whether Big Techs’ recent actions against Donald Trump are an infringement on free speech. No, they are not. Not legally, or even intuitively.
- Karli Young
“If freedom of speech is taken away, then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter.” In 1783, five years before the American Constitution, and eight years before the Bill of Rights, George Washington spoke of a freedom of speech that did not rely on law or legal right. Freedom of speech, Washington knew, depended on a society that valued open dialogue and embraced differing perspectives, a society that has become increasingly threatened in recent years.
- Elijah Lee
Today marks the 10th anniversary of RAISE YOUR HAND, a student column we built
around that very idea. Center for Tomorrow’s Leaders, the nonprofit that facilitates this
column, has worked tirelessly to bring diverse, young voices into the editorial pages of
the Star Advertiser. We’ve welcomed writers from every island and 32 high schools.
The American Dream — the idea that anyone can achieve success through hard work — has drawn millions throughout the nation’s 250-year history. While immigration is central to our national identity, it is also important to examine illegal immigration, a key focus of the Trump administration. Although previous presidents have carried out mass deportations, the Trump administration’s immigration policies have gone too far, as shown by the inhumanity of arrests, human rights concerns, and the violence tied to enforcement.
Across the globe, countries have acted to address the crisis of cellphone use in schools. From school districts in California to nations such as South Korea, many school systems recognize the harm that unchecked screen use poses to student engagement and learning. In contrast, Hawaiʻi doesn't have a consistent statewide phone policy.
When people talk about the dangers of artificial intelligence, many imagine their jobs and decisions taken fromthem by machines. But the more immediate danger looks very different — that we are instead willingly surrendering to AI. The danger of artificial intelligence is not that machines may become conscious, but that people may gradually surrender skills that require independence, patience, soul and critical thinking.