Good old American know-how. Yankee ingenuity. Can-do spirit.
You know the phrases, you know the attitude and values they represent, it’s something deep in the core of the American character. But, is it possible that this American character trait can be lost over time?
This question was prompted by two things. First, as you know, space shuttle Atlantis returned to Earth today for the last time, drawing to a close this chapter in American history. The space shuttle program saw the U.S. build a truly international space station and ferry astronauts from many countries to that orbital platform to conduct science experiments that advanced the frontiers of human knowledge. I’ve commented on the end of the shuttle program previously, but I wanted to return to the subject to point out that the U.S. role was not only symbolic, as the world leader in space technology, but also a role that fostered international cooperation and collaboration. That role ended today.
Second, as this BBC News report suggests, the U.S. role as an innovator is under threat not only from competition, which is healthy, but also our own neglect of education. We are a nation that says we value education, but we don’t really want to pay for it. And even if we did, we are not creating a popular culture that offers appealing role models in the sciences and engineering. This will likely have a profound impact on our national competitiveness for years to come.
As we celebrate the safe return of shuttle Atlantis today, we should also ask if a new generation of kids will ever want to grow up to be astronauts? If the answer is no, have we lost something?
Image Credit: CNN
