6 Opinion 3/12/10
Mirador
Corporations, Please Don’t Be Evil Google’s “Don’t Be Evil” corporate conscience struggles in Chinese affairs by Michael Roe
Google’s 2005 launch of “Google China” (google. cn) marked the beginning of the iconic company’s display of international power and unique foreign policy, both of which have developed in light of recent Chinese controversies. Adopting the informal motto “Don’t Be Evil,” Google has demonstrated a fresh and righteous identity for corporate government, as they take on global issues such as the Golden Shield Project, China’s “firewall” for internet censorship and surveillance. China’s censorship may be Google’s most challenging foreign issue, threatening to transcend Google’s “Don’t Be Evil” code of ethics. Obviously, Google China Cartoonist Michael Roe accurately portrays Google’s influence on the world. has struggled since 2005 with the demands of the Chinese firewall, having to largely evokes the image of vigilante justice typically associated conform to the Golden Shield Project over censoring comic book superheroes. Indeed, in recent events, when Internet results viewed through the medium of its search Chinese hackers accessed the gmail accounts of Chinese engine. human rights dissidents, Google displayed a superhero’s For example, Google China does not feature websites sense of boldness in its arm wrestle with the Chinese that include the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989 and government over censorship. websites pledging independence for Tibet and Taiwan. On Jan. 13 of this year, Google China announced With Google China’s censorship violating their “Don’t plans to completely cease any form of censorship for Be Evil” ethics, Google CEO Eric Schmidt released a search results on the Chinese website. This allowed for statement rationalizing Chinese censorship mentioning completlely unregulated web browsing and searching that the “Don’t Be Evil” motto needed to be replaced with over Google China: the main fear of the Golden Shield an evil balancing system instead, allowing some evils for Project. the greater good of the Chinese people. However, fearing interrogation, imprisonment and Google’s mention of balancing between good and evil perhaps complete removal of Google’s offices within
China, Google made compromises regarding its censorship policy. Currently, Google China continues to operate, still censoring Internet results on gambling and pornography, while allowing only few political forms of censorship. Although Google’s actions in China perhaps contradict their most fundamental motto, Google founder Sergey Brin feels optimistic about Google China’s future, managing to reduce web result censorship while working with “the Chinese system.” Google’s Chinese policy serves as a model for corporate justice and responsibility, especially after the recent affirmation of a corporation’s right to unlimited campaign spending Graphic: M. Roe in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. Essentially giving companies equal rights to free speech protected under the First Amendment, unlimited expenditures for political campaigns will amplify the voice of the corporation, a controversial concept of corporate personhood. Are corporations entitled to the same rights as the living, breathing American individual? No. But disregarding the appropriateness in the Supreme Court’s late decision, it wouldn’t be a bad time for our nation’s most powerful corporations to adopt superhero slogans of their own. Since money is essentially now a voice in the political system, Google shall serve as a reminder of corporate responsibility. Since with great power comes a greater responsibility, I’ve decided to endorse Google’s “Don’t be Evil” on the 2012 Presidential ticket.
Selective Service Act Violates Right to Life for Many
Unnecessary preparations for war contradict Constitution and discourage our young men by Caroline Golden
The Selective Service Act of 1917 demands that men between the ages of 18 and 25 sign up for the Selected Service, ultimately giving away their natural born right to a free life. Who has the right to force a man to risk his life fighting for a war he may not even support? The government does, apparently. Many Americans are unaware that as a U.S. citizen, all men are required to sign up for the Selective Service, which is an agency that uses a lottery system to implement a draft. Even foreign males must register as long as they hold a Green Card, are an illegal alien, or are a permanent resident of the United States. Not registering can put a man in jail for up to five years with a fine of $250,000 and also disqualifies him from certain government benefits. “The more immediate penalty is loss of eligibility for many benefits and privileges connected to the registration requirement, such as student financial aid, federal employment, and (for immigrants) citizenship,” said Dan Amon, public affairs specialist for the Selected Service System. Federal Student Aid, an office of the United States Department of Education, provides students with the necessary funds to pursue a college education. Many high school seniors are familiar with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which is the form to submit in order to be considered for federal
student aid. If any male not exempted from the Selected Service turns in his FAFSA before registering, his application is immediately denied. These punishments force our men to fight out of fear, rather than a strong sense of national duty. Courageous men do volunteer for the army and they deserve our support. But what about the people who are trapped by an obligation to their country that they don’t believe in? The choice to fight and risk life and limb is an individual right that should be equally granted to all Americans. The draft ended in 1973, so why must Americans continue to register with the Selected Service System? This will only create resentment among America’s male population. The 13th Amendment to the Constitution states that no “involuntary servitude...shall exist within the United States.” Requiring all able-bodied men to register for the Selected Service, or else suffer the consequences, violates our Constitution. In 1918 the Selected Service Act was challenged and brought to the Supreme Court for breaching the 13th Amendment. The Supreme Court ruled that a draft is not a violation of our Constitution, but after 92 years, it is about time we reanalyzed this issue. I propose an end to the Selected Service System. Each man is born bestowed with the right to a free life, and it is his right to preserve it.
Graphic: S. Zulch
Uncle Sam recruits young men through popular scare tactics.
This month on mhsmirador.com
Watch videos of people getting asked to Junior Prom and take the poll about the One Year Rule