In the 1960s Star Trek offered us a clearer vision by projecting into the future. In 2017 Hidden figures affords us that same clarity retrospectively, even importing Sheldon from The Big Bang theory to remind us that the real challenges and opportunities are in fact right here and now.
It is easy to look behind us and shake our heads in shame and disbelief at attitudes that seem unimaginable now. But I hope to live long enough to see all my current assumptions and beliefs proven wrong and my judgement poor, because the future will, inevitably and thankfully, prove my vision limited and my choices unfitted to the world our children will inherit. We do not yet know the extent to which history will decry our actions, but with grace, one day we may.
Both Star Trek and Hidden figures point towards an honouring of universal human dignity and a belief in ideals higher than ourselves as the path towards synergistic change. If I am truly lucky, I will live long enough and have sufficient humility to see myself proven wrong so that I may cheer on the higher values that await us all as we boldly go where no one has gone before.
It is easy to look behind us and shake our heads in shame and disbelief at attitudes that seem unimaginable now. But I hope to live long enough to see all my current assumptions and beliefs proven wrong and my judgement poor, because the future will, inevitably and thankfully, prove my vision limited and my choices unfitted to the world our children will inherit. We do not yet know the extent to which history will decry our actions, but with grace, one day we may.
Both Star Trek and Hidden figures point towards an honouring of universal human dignity and a belief in ideals higher than ourselves as the path towards synergistic change. If I am truly lucky, I will live long enough and have sufficient humility to see myself proven wrong so that I may cheer on the higher values that await us all as we boldly go where no one has gone before.