Goals, and Defining Greatness

I was remiss in not mentioning the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11's historic moon landing, and Neil Armstrong's iconic first step, and accompanying phrase, "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind".  (Side note, Armstrong actually said, ...one small step for a man..., referring to any individual, but the "a" was not heard on the audio.  After a while, Armstrong began to doubt that he included the "a", as it was not evident when tapes were replayed.  Eventually, advanced sound technology and investigation revealed that he had included it.  Perhaps it is best that we assume he was referring to all mankind when he first stepped foot on the moon, regardless of the "a" being stated or not).

What reminded me, other than the many TV specials that were on last week to commemorate the event, is an article in the July National Geographic, which I am still reading.  It is an extensive summary of how the space race evolved, focusing on a few of the advancements in technology related to protective suits and the rockets themselves, a spectacularly detailed pictograph of our solar system with  every mission that has placed a ship (with or without a human) into orbit, a depressing look at where many thought our space program might be as compared to where it is, but then an equally exciting look into the future of space travel as imagined by those involved today, especially those in the private sector.

Many people forget that when JFK declared that America would reach the moon by the end of the decade, NASA had no definitive plan, no proven mathematics, and no certainty that it was even possible to accomplish such a feat.  Sure, America (and the Russians) had successfully placed a man in orbit around the earth, but traversing the 250,000 miles to the moon, landing a spacecraft with humans aboard, then successfully leaving the moon and docking with the "mother" ship to return to Earth, was theory at best, fantasy for many.

Yet, a mere 8 years later, at a cost of upwards of $25 billion, ($150 billion in today's money), and a number of American lives, this astounding goal was achieved.  It is certainly possible that future historians may rank it as the greatest accomplishment in mankind's history, as defined as setting such a far reaching goal and then actually bringing its completion to fruition.  Considering that it took mankind thousands of years to attain flight then only 66 years from that fateful day at Kitty Hawk until the moon landing, it is truly a remarkable triumph.     

And now, of course, we have a Make America Great Again philosophy as the winning phrase in the last presidential election, and perhaps the next one as well.  So what goals have been set for us to reach that will make our country great again?  (Side note: if America wasn't great before 2016, then why did President Trump not go back to where he came from, since he is a first generation American?  To the contrary, he successfully ran for president, and is now able to create the agenda for what will bring greatness back to our country.  I would appreciate it if he gave the same respect to those who are critical of those policies he touts, who have successfully won an election of their own, and who are verbalizing their beliefs in what will make America great, just as he did in his campaign).

But I digress.

So again, what goals have been set for our country to reach to become great again? 

Stricter immigration laws that keep undesirables out of America?

New trade agreements that favor our interests only?  (The Art of the Deal)

Less restrictions to allow business to prosper?

Lower taxes so all people have more money?

Access to quality health care, at a reasonable cost for all Americans, even the sickest ones?

Clean air and water?

National parks and monuments left undeveloped so Americans can enjoy them now, and into the future?

Educational opportunities for all, at a cost that does not create decades of debt?

A transportation infrastructure that provides safe roads, and ample and extensive mass transit? 

A modern energy grid that addresses the growing requirements of the planet's energy needs while balancing the effects that the source of gleaning that energy has on the environment?

Income distribution that provides a working class person the means to live in reasonable comfort, while also enabling them to afford opportunities for their children that they may not have had?

The ability for middle class Americans to save for retirement, and then live out their remaining years with choices as to where to live?

The freedom to choose whom to love, and whom to marry?

Guaranteed personal liberties that assume choices are made with the best intentions, even when those choices might conflict with the tenets of someone else's religion?

Yikes, that is quite a list!  (Not sure why I am using the word Yikes lately).  And I am sure there are many that I left out.

But isn't that the point?  To be truly great, don't we need to set the bar high?  To imagine a goal that we don't even know how to reach, and then to "Do the math" as Mark Watney says in "The Martian"?

Frankly, I feat that we are no where near daring enough to chase greatness, let alone achieve it, at present.  We are spending money like a drunk sailor on leave, with no concern for when the bill will come due, at a time when our economy is doing well.  Wouldn't a great country know that you reduce debt in boom times, knowing that you may need to increase it in bad times?

We have accepted a false narrative that claims we can't address climate change without harming our economy.  Wouldn't a great country be able to accept a slightly less growth rate now, to address the pitfalls that the changing climate will bring us in the future?  Or, even better, take on the challenge of climate change by accepting our role, then developing long term plans which generate a cleaner energy system, and the jobs needed to make it happen.

We are so in love with the idea of individualism, that we are willing to sacrifice millions of individuals that do not look, love or worship like us.  Wouldn't a great country recognize that today's downtrodden are tomorrow's innovators, and that there is no way to know what nationality the next Einstein or Lincoln might be?

We believe so much in American exceptionalism, that we embrace attitudes and policies that reveal us to be bullies and hypocrites.  Wouldn't a great country acknowledge that the people which are now Americans, are descendants of all the other countries of the world?  In other words, we are great through the combined contributions of the planet.  Is it too much to remember that it was German scientists, in large part, who created some of the technology that led us to the moon in the first place?
Is it too much to recognize that we will prosper or perish as a species?

We can certainly claim small victories and proclaim greatness in attaining those goals.  If you set the bar low enough, anyone, and any achievement, can be labelled as great.  Additionally, we can label anything as great that fulfills our needs, even when it does not fulfill the needs of a significant  proportion of the rest of the country.  Many Americans claim our health care system is the greatest in the world, yet millions of people don't have adequate insurance or access, so for them, it is just words.  Wouldn't a great country be able to provide health care access and affordability to all its citizens, regardless of health issues, or ability to pay?  Perhaps it is only obvious to the sickest among us that sickness in itself, reduces ones ability to earn a living.  I often say that hell may simply be an eternity of reaching for what one needs but falling inches short. 

We are in the beginnings of a new presidential election cycle.  We are facing 15 months of debate, and talk, talk, talk.  I am hoping a candidate with the guts to challenge Americans to envision lofty goals, perhaps even seemingly unreachable ones, will emerge.  Even more though, I am hoping that the American electorate will be able to recognize such a candidate, will be able to separate empty slogans from bold vision, and will have the courage to realize that greatness requires more than just being nice to those you like, and who like you.

True greatness, by its definition, is hard to achieve.  Impossible, if it is based on dehumanizing people from south of the border, or who love, dress or worship differently from you.  Whether it be nationalism or any of the other dangerous ..isms, we can no longer pretend that America can claim greatness, or become great again, with policies that pit the environment against business and human health against profit, or which uses country of birth as a yardstick in deciding who is human and who is vermin.