The American Scholar--21st Century Emerson

  After finishing the reading by Emerson I have developed a better understanding of the character that Emerson is attempting to describe.  Emerson is discussing an individual that thinks for himself, yet is connected to the rest of the world through a basic similarity.  He discusses how each individual can pave their path for the future based on the knowledge that they obtain.  When thinking about how the twenty-first century Emerson would react to society today I have mixed thoughts. 
  One passage that stood out to me that would prove Emerson disagreeing with society today reads; "I learn immediately from any speaker how much he has already lived, through the poverty or the splendor of his speech. Life lies behind us as the quarry from whence we get tiles and copestones for the masonry of to-day. This is the way to learn grammar. Colleges and books only copy the language which the field and the work-yard made."  Many people in society today have begun to interact with social media at a younger age that their grammer and language has developed similarly.  For example, I have witnessed many individuals write an essay and use the language, "bc, wud, lol, omg, etc.." This is absolutely disgusting to think that despite these advances in technology, the people today are becoming dumber.  I believe that Emerson would be disappointed in this part of society today as well.
  Something that I believe Emerson would be proud of in society today is the social acceptance the world has begun to develop for those who seek different interests in society.  Emerson claims that he is bothered by the old and the new standing side by side, and that there is minimal social acceptance for eccentric minds.  "If there is any period one would desire to be born in,-- is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the new stand side by side, and admit of being compared; when the energies of all men are searched by fear and by hope; when the historic glories of the old, can be compensated by the rich possibilities of the new era?"  I understand that this passage may mean advances in technology, but when relating it to the twenty-first century, I take it as accepting those who are different.  The world has become less discriminatory towards certain races, classes, genders, sexual preferences and other interests and I believe that Emerson would approve of this.