Information is the oxygen of the modern age. It seeps through the

In the age of the ancients, when great empires stood and fell, when kings and generals waged battles for glory and dominion, there was one force greater than all the weapons of war—knowledge. It was knowledge, in its many forms, that shaped the fates of nations. And now, in the age that follows, information has become the lifeblood of the world. As Ronald Reagan so powerfully declared, "Information is the oxygen of the modern age. It seeps through the walls topped by barbed wire, it wafts across the electrified borders." In these words, Reagan unveils the invisible force that, like the very air we breathe, sustains the movements of our time, transcending borders, breaking barriers, and changing the world as we know it.

The ancients understood that true power lies not in brute force alone, but in the ability to control knowledge. The great Alexander the Great, for instance, knew that the information about the lands he sought to conquer would determine his success. His spies, his envoys, and his scholars were as critical to his campaigns as his armies. The knowledge of his enemies' movements, strengths, and weaknesses was the true weapon that helped him build an empire that stretched across the known world. Information, much like air, flows unseen, but its power is undeniable.

And so it is today. Reagan’s words, though spoken in the modern age, reflect an ancient truth: that information is a powerful force that cannot be contained or suppressed forever. It is as essential as the very breath we take. He speaks of information seeping through walls topped by barbed wire—a powerful metaphor for how knowledge cannot be confined, no matter how oppressive the regime or how high the barriers. Throughout history, rulers have sought to control what their people know. From the book burnings of ancient emperors to the strict control of communication in modern totalitarian regimes, the fight has always been over the flow of information. But like air, it will always find its way in, no matter the obstacles.

Take, for example, the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, an event that was as much about the collapse of ideological barriers as it was about the free flow of information. For decades, the people of East Germany were surrounded by walls—both physical and ideological. The barbed wire and the electrified borders separated them from the ideas and information flowing freely in the West. But even in this most oppressive of environments, the winds of change could not be stopped. Information from the outside world—through radio broadcasts, underground pamphlets, and the stories of those who had escaped—seeped through the cracks, stirring the hearts and minds of the people. It was this underground current of knowledge, this invisible oxygen, that fueled the desire for freedom and ultimately led to the fall of the wall.

In Reagan’s vision, we see a profound truth about the resilience of human spirit and intellect. Information is not merely a tool—it is the very force that allows people to think, to question, to act. It is the spark that lights the fire of revolution, the bridge that connects minds across time and space, and the oxygen that breathes life into the very soul of progress. To suppress information is to suffocate the people; to let it flow freely is to empower them. In every corner of the world, where there is suppression, there is always an unstoppable yearning for truth, for knowledge, for the free flow of information.

The lesson to be taken from these words is clear: information is freedom. When we control the flow of knowledge, we control the course of history. But when we allow the free exchange of ideas, we open the gates to a future of innovation, justice, and equality. It is not enough to simply have access to information—we must seek it out, share it, and use it to inform our actions. The walls that divide us, the borders that separate us, cannot hold forever, for knowledge has always had a way of finding its way across, around, and through every obstacle. The power of information is like a river—strong, persistent, and capable of breaking through the hardest stone.

Practical action, then, demands that we embrace the power of information in our own lives. Seek out knowledge, question the narratives we are given, and share the wisdom we possess. The modern age offers us an abundance of information, but with this power comes great responsibility. Let us use information not to manipulate or control, but to enlighten, to connect, and to empower others. In the pursuit of truth, let us remember the words of Ronald Reagan, for the oxygen of the modern age—the flow of information—will continue to shape the world long after the barriers of today have crumbled. Let us ensure that we are the ones who breathe life into it, who share it with courage and integrity, so that the world may grow brighter with each passing generation.