Comeuppance
I gave this speech to my class yesterday.
Later today, at 3:51 pm, exactly, America will rise out the ashes of tragedy with tenacity, proving once again that we are worthy heirs of the generations before us that shone so brightly, that we too are made of grit, resolve, and a desire for victory. At 3:51, the Space Shuttle discovery will rise past the prisons of our atmosphere and once again pierce the veil between earth and space, the veil that shrouds us in the grim present and hides the possibilities of a glorious future. In a few short minutes of fire and smoke, humanity will again ascend into the heavens, and transcend our meager, mortal limitations.
Yet we will do so at great cost.
On February 1, 2003 the 7 astronauts of the space shuttle Columbia gave to the United States their most precious gift—they sacrificed their lives for the sake of discovery. Many people will agree with me that their deaths are tragic. When Columbia became a streak of flame against the morning sky over Texas there was an almost national cry ofgrief, and regret, that their lives were lost. But not everyone will agree with me that they are heroes, heroes to parallel the exploits of any soldier in Iraq or Afghanistan.
In the months following the event there was an investigation into what caused the accident that led to their deaths and the conclusion was simple—a bit of foam that had broken off during take off had damaged the wing, making their return from space doomed to tragedy from the very beginning of their voyage.
This conclusion shocked me. It seemed so obvious that nasa and all the other government officials were wrong—how could a piece of foam have killed heroes so noble? How could their deaths be explained in such a common way? It couldn’t, and they can’t be. Today I would like to tell you what actually led to the demise of Columbia and her crew, and why we should pay them tribute on today of all days. They died, not merely for knowledge, but for the continued existence of our nation.
America, at its heart, is no more or less than an idea. It is a concept of freedom and human rights that lives in each of her citizens. We are held together by our common belief in that creed, and our common agreement that we should work to continue the project started by our Founders. But that idea itself was an experiment. Never before in the world had people come together and said, “No more! No more tyranny, no more oppression, no more hiding in the shadows in fear!” Never before had people grabbed the reins of government and MADE something of their own. This spirit led us on through the next years of our growth, and served us well. It led the pioneers to see what was behind the next mountain, and stretch the limits of physical endurance to prove themselves. It led us to industrialize, and to become a world power first, not in military might, but in innovation. It led us, eventually, to face the evil powers of the world and find in ourselves the will to stare them down.
And when this spirit dies, America will die. When we stop expanding, physically, mentally, and spiritually, we will collapse, and be nothing more than a fading dream. It is for this spirit, and for this expansion, that the pilots of Columbia perished as well.
It is particularly apt that today’s shuttle is named Discovery, for that is the very spirit on which America stands, and for which they sacrificed themselves. Columbia has an interesting meaning as well—Dove. At 3:51 America commits itself again to Discovery, an everlasting testimony to the Dove of Hope that went before. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is why they died…so that the children who look at the night sky and hope to just go there, can one day be elders who look back on us from a pinpoint of light they were the first to claim, the first to discover.
It went very well, even the corny bits about the dove and what not. At least until one of my students pointed out that the launch never happened. I'm not really one for vulgarity, but....
motherfucker.
Then I had to lecture on how it was important to make sure all your facts were accurate before you spoke. Ahh, hubris.
But I really feel that way, and hope that in some strange way, it can be a tribute to Columbia anyway.
Watch y'alls sixes,
Brian
Later today, at 3:51 pm, exactly, America will rise out the ashes of tragedy with tenacity, proving once again that we are worthy heirs of the generations before us that shone so brightly, that we too are made of grit, resolve, and a desire for victory. At 3:51, the Space Shuttle discovery will rise past the prisons of our atmosphere and once again pierce the veil between earth and space, the veil that shrouds us in the grim present and hides the possibilities of a glorious future. In a few short minutes of fire and smoke, humanity will again ascend into the heavens, and transcend our meager, mortal limitations.
Yet we will do so at great cost.
On February 1, 2003 the 7 astronauts of the space shuttle Columbia gave to the United States their most precious gift—they sacrificed their lives for the sake of discovery. Many people will agree with me that their deaths are tragic. When Columbia became a streak of flame against the morning sky over Texas there was an almost national cry ofgrief, and regret, that their lives were lost. But not everyone will agree with me that they are heroes, heroes to parallel the exploits of any soldier in Iraq or Afghanistan.
In the months following the event there was an investigation into what caused the accident that led to their deaths and the conclusion was simple—a bit of foam that had broken off during take off had damaged the wing, making their return from space doomed to tragedy from the very beginning of their voyage.
This conclusion shocked me. It seemed so obvious that nasa and all the other government officials were wrong—how could a piece of foam have killed heroes so noble? How could their deaths be explained in such a common way? It couldn’t, and they can’t be. Today I would like to tell you what actually led to the demise of Columbia and her crew, and why we should pay them tribute on today of all days. They died, not merely for knowledge, but for the continued existence of our nation.
America, at its heart, is no more or less than an idea. It is a concept of freedom and human rights that lives in each of her citizens. We are held together by our common belief in that creed, and our common agreement that we should work to continue the project started by our Founders. But that idea itself was an experiment. Never before in the world had people come together and said, “No more! No more tyranny, no more oppression, no more hiding in the shadows in fear!” Never before had people grabbed the reins of government and MADE something of their own. This spirit led us on through the next years of our growth, and served us well. It led the pioneers to see what was behind the next mountain, and stretch the limits of physical endurance to prove themselves. It led us to industrialize, and to become a world power first, not in military might, but in innovation. It led us, eventually, to face the evil powers of the world and find in ourselves the will to stare them down.
And when this spirit dies, America will die. When we stop expanding, physically, mentally, and spiritually, we will collapse, and be nothing more than a fading dream. It is for this spirit, and for this expansion, that the pilots of Columbia perished as well.
It is particularly apt that today’s shuttle is named Discovery, for that is the very spirit on which America stands, and for which they sacrificed themselves. Columbia has an interesting meaning as well—Dove. At 3:51 America commits itself again to Discovery, an everlasting testimony to the Dove of Hope that went before. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is why they died…so that the children who look at the night sky and hope to just go there, can one day be elders who look back on us from a pinpoint of light they were the first to claim, the first to discover.
It went very well, even the corny bits about the dove and what not. At least until one of my students pointed out that the launch never happened. I'm not really one for vulgarity, but....
motherfucker.
Then I had to lecture on how it was important to make sure all your facts were accurate before you spoke. Ahh, hubris.
But I really feel that way, and hope that in some strange way, it can be a tribute to Columbia anyway.
Watch y'alls sixes,
Brian
posted by Brian Wilkins at 8:46 AM
3 Comments:
Who knew that Manifest Destiny could be so beautifully portrayed...are you running for Congress?
Wow, an anonymous sniping comment! That's great, I know I'm really moving up in the world when people put anonymous posts on a site that allows ANYONE to say what they want. So Bravo for courage.
As for Congress, I don't have time at the moment, thanks.
As for Manifest destiny, I never mentioned killing an Indian, dot or feather. Killing a Martian hasn't come up yet, but there's probably plenty of room for reservations near the ice caps.
In all seriousness to an non-serious criticism, discovery is not manifest destiny, nor is expansion. It does not need to come at the cost of other. An expansion of innovation, an expansion of the mind, is simply an expansion of freedom for all.
I just think we should be a part of it.
Haha, YHBT. Look that one up in your dictionary. :)
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