Inclusion

Neil deGrasse Tyson ~ communicator, scientist, science educator, PBS celebrity ~ is a man rooted in understanding the universe. He forms the questions of ‘why’, ‘how’ and when’. And then he sets out to find the answers. Along the way he shares his findings with others. Lots of others.

Tyson is Director of the Hayden Planetarium at the Rose Center for Earth and Space. He lives in Manhattan (NY) and counts Harvard, University of Texas at Austin, and Columbia University as alma maters. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Harvard, a Master of Arts degree at UT-Austin, and both a Masters of Philosophy and a PhD from Columbia.

A man of many talents and a vibrant intellect, Neil deGrasse Tyson shares this simple observation of one of our primary institutions of governance – Congress:

            “What profession do all of these senators and congressmen have?

             Law, law, law, law, business man, law, law, law…

             Where are the scientists? Where are the engineers? Where’s the rest of…life?”

Indeed. Where are all the other professions and disciplines?

Ideas do not come from law. Law requires conformity. Law requires process. Law asks for application. It is not the answer nor the exploratory tool. It is a discipline, but not one that brings forth the ideas that matter.

The economist wonders why and how of financial cycles and behaviors. The agronomist studies growing conditions of crops and their worth and utility to mankind. The astronomer seeks answers to the riddles of space universe. Philosophers and ethicists work to discover life values. And so go the other professions – educators, doctors, mechanics, etc. – all working at understanding needs, actions, solutions and life in general.  But congress? Filled mostly lawyers and people of wealth from businesses they did not create.

These are people who might better be the staff of senators and congressmen; they would simply codify the decisions made by others who have thought through the ideas that matter. But first we have to get to those ideas.

Observing elected representatives to Congress over the years I am struck by how narrow minded they are and how focused they are on public opinion and the power they think emanates from that opinion. Rather than dealing with the realities of known problems and their effects, they slather attention on the noisy opinion makers. They seek power. For what reason other than money and ego I cannot contrive in my mind!

It is important for each of us to consider inclusion of diverse points of view. Not just opinion. But of fact and science and art and process. Mankind exists in a huge pool of diversity. It is healthy to mind it. It is even more healthy to use it in all we do. So all ideas are at least given a chance to be heard and included in our thinking. And the people and their cultures nurtured along the way.

It is a liberal or conservative point of view? I don’t think so. It is a practical stance. It is a value position. Inclusion.

Be counted on. Be counted in. Be a part of the solution. Now that will build a powerful future for mankind!

May 30, 2013