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Monday, September 06, 2010 |
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Houston, we have a problem! - 04/07/2006 7:56 PM December 7, 1941. JFK Assassination. Challenger space shuttle explosion. 9/11. Columbia space shuttle disaster. These events are remembered or well known by Americans. We remember these events because they were defining moments in American history. The beginning of a world war is understandable. The assassination of a beloved president is understandable. The destruction of an American icon and the death of 3,000 citizens is understandable. But why two space shuttles? Why is it that these two events are so significant to Americans? Why is it that the Hubble space telescope has so excited the country – and world – about astronomy and space exploration? The space shuttle program is a physical icon of America. It represents our vision, our grandeur, our abilities and drive for knowledge and peace. The Hubble space telescope has provided eye candy for the masses and more than that, stimulated the imagination and minds of millions. Yet NASA seems to completely miss the point. The International Space Station captures none of the imaginations of those I know. It is an international committee funded primarily by the US. While the space station has value, it, in my opinion, fails entirely to inspire and excite. NASA is chomping at the bit to retire Hubble and the shuttle fleet. Their replacement for Hubble will be grand, but is years away. The replacement for the shuttle is devastating. Part of the value of the shuttles was the support they enjoyed from everyday people around this country. Evidence of this is the pain we felt when two of them were destroyed. Icons are important to a people. They are instantly recognizable and represent something of value. This is why the World Trade Center was targeted, and why it hurt so much to see destroyed. The lack of courage and vision behind essentially not replacing the WTC smacks of the same stink that surrounds the International Space Station. The space shuttles, an icon of America will soon be mothballed and replaced with a scaled-down, rocket that lacks all imagination and will dull interest in the space program. The sad state of Europe is largely due to the melding of their societies. Cooperation and collaboration does not have to equal assimilation! America was never a melting pot, it has always been more of a tossed salad. Different and distinct ingredients that in their combination create something better than the individual parts. Europe and the expanding global society is more of a melting pot…the parts lose their distinctiveness and the taste of each is a dim memory in favor of a bland pap. America is joining this vision, leaving behind those values and beliefs that have always held us head-and-shoulders above the rest of the world. More concerned about the opinions of others instead of doing what we do best. America is one of the very few countries who’s citizens cannot be identified by their skin or features but instead are recognized by their spirit and attitude. We had no problem offending others – we didn’t set out to do it – and at the same time we were not so easily offended. But we’re becoming so politically correct and concerned about offending others that we’re surrendering our very soul. The retirement of the space shuttles is very tangible evidence that we, as a culture, are losing our spirit, our drive and imagination. Bigger! Better! Faster! Spectacular! Grand and imaginative! These ideals have served us well. Let’s see if the new adjectives do as well. Safer. Conservative. Politically correct. Cautious. Modest. Uncontroversial. Considerate. Ronald Reagan didn’t dismantle the Soviet Union with this second set of adjectives, instead he used a bold approach and bold vision. He used courage and conviction. But he was not alone, we – Americans – stood behind him. Today, Regan could not dismantle the Soviet Union, because we are not the same people. God help us kcuhC, chuck@kcuhc.com |