The re-introduction of slavery
All the countries, big or small, rich or poor, democracies or the totalitarians, are proud to celebrate the Abolition of Slavery. All the people make new pledges and refresh the old ‘pledges’ to purge the society from the ills of slavery, to ensure the liberties and to safeguard the human rights. It’s a good omen that at least people across the globe are aware of what is a slavery and what is meant by liberty?
Is the mankind free from the shackles of slavery in 21st century in real sense?
the new name of slavery is once more BlackBerry
BlackBerry’s name originates in the times of slavery in America. When there was slavery in the United States, a black iron ball were put the slaves on the feet for to prevent escape. It was not a perfect ball, very irregular and pockmarked, with a chain and shackle at the bottom, so they could not escape running from the cotton fields. This iron ball was called “BlackBerry” (blackberry, black cherry) because it resembled that fruit. That was the ancient symbol of slavery, saying that he would be forced to leave his life to perish without escape of these plantations.
In modern times, new employees can not be tied to an iron ball, however, are given a phone, “BlackBerry” and are wirelessly tethered to the shackle, which like slaves, can not set aside and that is bound to work all the time. It is the modern symbol of slavery.
Currently, most executives and government officials are chained through one of these mobile devices, they are glued to the happy little machine all the time, as addiction, in the bathroom, in the car, at the movies, dinner, falling asleep and there is no escape when the boss call them or when send them emails. There is no way of saying that the message not arrived or not hear the bell, because the gossip phone alerts if they did not answer, if there are messages to read, or if they read the opened emails.
Appointments, schedules, wake up,…. every day more things are controlled and dominated by these electronical decives. Companies invading what used to be their employees private moments with a “play or else mentality”. Nights, mornings, weekends, holidays and vacations are now fair game in an increasing number of companies. A manager who owns a Blackberry is expected to respond to email within the hour, executives sending messages back and forth at 5 am, or 20 hour games of “email ping-pong”. Sending an email entitled “URGENT” has turned into the new way of delivering urgent messages, replacing the telephone. To read emails of phone calls on designated days off is normaly, professionals chain themselves to their smartphones, checking and re-checking their email, just in case they received an urgent email in the last five minutes.
And the best of all: …. modern executives are proud about their importance because “the boss” gave them their “BlackBerry“, … to prevent escape …
They would not have thought a better name,… is it not so?
o
