September 8, 2017 — Think back to those times when we could do big things. When nothing was outside our grasp. When that young president asked us to do something for our country. When he inspired us with science. When science was a wonderful thing that brought the moon within reach.
Boy, could we use a president like that now. One not concerned about crowd size, but with the empathy to see and respond to the apprehensive and anxious victims in the crowd. One who understands the science behind the large storms and floods that now threaten our nation, and with the vision to be on the forefront of a new worldwide green economy rooted in science. One who can inspire us with a future of hope and aspiration.
There is an opportunity right now, in the teeth of the storm, for real leadership to do and inspire us to do great things.
Leaders can call the American people to do great things, but they have to ask. They have to describe the challenge and why it is important. They have to inspire confidence that, to borrow from FDR, “We will gain the inevitable victory.” And, importantly, they have to ask for our personal participation. Yes, you have to join in. You have to be in the arena helping out, just as so many of the people of Texas are doing right now. You have to be willing to work for it. As JFK said, “because it is hard.” No guts, no glory.
We celebrated science and technology when they were used to predict the eclipse. We love science and technology when they cure disease. We are grateful to science and technology when they are used by NOAA to forecast the path Harvey or Irma will take and how much rain will fall. Why, when scientists predict what will happen with climate change, does everyone get all political and talk about their “beliefs”? It’s not about what you believe. It’s natural laws. Like gravity. Nature doesn’t care what any of us “believes.” Nature just works. If we keep putting more CO2 in the atmosphere, we can expect more Houstons.
Our hearts go out to the people of Texas, and now those in the path of Irma. In the state of Texas, which produces more wind energy than the next three states combined, does it really have to be that way? Or, with real leadership from the top, could the American people show us once again that we can “make this effort, to solve these mysteries, to solve them for the good of all men”?
Read the full opinion piece at the Boston Globe