The Final Frontier

I watched this morning as Blue Horizon shot into space with Jeff Bezos and his band of future trivia answers.

While I could make jokes about his endeavor (nothing says “newly divorced guy” like riding a giant phallic symbol), I will instead choose to celebrate the benefits the research, engineering, and results should provide to the human race. The more that indulgent rich people advance our ability to leave Earth’s boundaries—and expand our collective knowledge—the better. Next thing you know, we’ll have Teslas in space (oh wait).

Joking aside, while today’s event was a reminder of the achievements we’ve lost by decreasing NASA’s funding over the years, it was a reflection of the American spirit—which got me thinking about greatness. No, I’m not saying the book-reaper is great. I mean “greatness” in terms of an individual who walked a path that could elevate society on a grand level as a result of their achievements, words, insight, etc. While there are some who currently struggle and sacrifice every day to improve the lives of others, whether it be religious figures or those fighting various injustices, it seems few have truly reached the level of what collectively becomes known as “greatness”. I get it. It not only takes a level of brilliance and insight few have, it’s also damn hard taking that leap, going somewhere no one else can see—and doing it to such a degree that it elevates all of us.

Some do have the ability, resources, and tenacity right now, and a few have shown the potential of reaching the next level, but even if someone did, would we follow? Would we even know what we’re seeing, or will it take generations to realize the person who currently walks among us belongs in the same category as Einstein, Shakespeare, and others?

While I can’t think of anyone over the past thirty years (other than possibly Stephen Hawking) who future generations will deem “great”, look at how much this world has improved during that time period. We did that together, the result of billions of tiny improvements in thousands of different ways. Which is my point. For every billionaire with a dream, there are billions of us doing our damnest to make every day better.

We still have far to go, not only in terms of fixing the damage we’ve done to the planet but to each other.

Yet we don’t need “great” people to get there.

I do believe there will be great people in humanity’s future. They may already be among us and will improve us all in some meaningful way. But Jeff Bezos is not one of them.