The writer--memoirist, novelist, poet--so it turns out, is the strongest defense of the brain against the invasiveness of the Net and the effect of wired technology upon our memory. Writing is something we do naturally, but I am surprised at the absolute necessity for it, the crucial role it plays in keeping the tradition of human civilization alive.


We might look at present problems like so: Obama versus Republicans, played out at different levels in different ways, regulatory matters, etc. But, no. The main thing is, as other 'countries' have experienced is the issue of memory.

The material working economy, that which, as far we can tell, generates money, is based on the handling of our collective memory. Google, etc., is such a big hit for telling us, 'eh, you don't need memory; we'll do it for you.' Okay, click away.

And we all do it. Like a drug.

Can you outsmart it? Use the Net to find something to relax, without stupification? Can you find music lessons, for instance, on the Net? Well, yes, you can, so it's not all bad.

However, it's a habit, the quick click, good or bad.

And it's hard not to reach a conclusion, after all the busy voices have said their derivative pieces about what's best: People would be much better off getting back to that core of the spirit of education, which is sitting down and reading a book. The book: a complicated but pure and truthful device that keeps us from forgetting, keeps us from distortions of history, distortions of thought.

Humanity has done such a great job laying the ground work. Look and find, and give credit. But now we could, oddly, despite the promise, become forgetful, even as we might congratulate ourselves for the sophistication we have obtained.