Dream Big Again America went to the moon in the 1960’s, during a time of war, a time that was so far behind in technology compared to now, but yet human beings went to the moon . Human beings are capable of many wonderful things and their potential has no limits, except for the limits that are placed by government and society. Neil deGrasse Tyson attempted to liberate NASA from the limits of low funding by giving a speech to the U.S Senate. Tyson used emotion and logical thinking to make the complexity of NASA as relatable to the audience as possible, and by doing so he wanted to convey to them how important NASA is in our society today and the future of the human kind. Tyson starts his speech in a very powerful way. He doesn’t waste any time in his attempt to inspire the senators. Tyson …show more content…
uses a quote by Antoine St. Exupery to make his first point. The quote reads “If you want to build a ship, don’t drum people to collect wood and don’t assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea.” This quote is important because Tyson believes that America stopped longing for the immensity of the universe. NASA is not important to politicians and the common people are being affected by that. Kids aren’t interested in the STEM courses of school so America can’t produce its own scientist and has to outsource for many jobs that in the past only American people were qualified for. From the late 1950’s to the early 1970’st the U.S lead the world in every aspect of science and technology. Though the country was at war with the Soviet Union and the streets were paved with hatred that sprouted among the different ethnic races, the country was also filled with optimism. There was extreme optimism for the world of “tomorrow” (paragraph 2.) Ordinary people dreamed about the future while the scientists and technologists worked tirelessly to make those dreams come true. Tyson believes that these dreams were only able to come true because of the funding and undeniable support that the U.S. government gave to NASA. Tyson states “what inspired them was America’s bold and visible investment on the space frontier” (paragraph 3) America allowed its citizens to dream big and also gave them the funds in order to realize those dreams. Tyson makes it clear to the senators that he realizes space exploration might not be everyone’s top priority. However, it is momentous that they acknowledge the importance of NASA and the power it can have on society. Tyson believes that “Audacious visions have the power to alter mind-states, to change the assumption of what is possible” (paragraph 4) what Tyson means by this is that trough allowing America to look at the impossible and say it is possible and make it possible can have an enormous impact on the country for the present and future. If we take a look at the Apollo era, humanity achieved many great things and humanity is still reaping in the benefits of everything that was developed during that time period.
Things like “accurate Lasik surgery, scratch resistant lenses, cordless power tools, Tempurfoam” and the list goes on and on (paragraph 8.) In the Apollo era the government didn’t need to fund any programs to encourage people to be interested in science. Everyone “embraced what those fields meant to the collective national future.” Not everyone needs to be a scientist or a technologist but it is important that all people acknowledge and embrace the importance of what science and technology can do for the future of humanity. Tyson states that “scientific and technological innovation is the engine of economic growth – a pattern that has been especially true since the industrial revolution” (Paragraph 5.) Humans live in a fast paste society that constantly requires innovation or else countries fall behind and start to suffer economically. Today the U.S faces many economic problems such as, jobs going overseas, having to outsource, importing more than its exporting, etc. however, this wasn’t always the
case. Tyson explains that during the age of space exploration jobs that went out of this country were jobs that the American people did not want. The jobs that stayed in this country were a result of the “persistent stream of innovation that could not be outsourced” (paragraph 6) and the only people who were qualified for these jobs were those who had received their education in the U.S. The rest of the world fell behind and they “stood awestruck” at what the U.S had accomplished. Tyson said to the senate “if all you do is coast, eventually you slow down, while others catch up and pass you by” (paragraph 9) which refers to how in today’s world the U.S is not number one anymore. The U.S. is number one in mass incarceration but that’s about it. Countries like India, China, and Japan are constantly moving forward. This is not only an educational problem, but a cultural problem. Today in the U.S. science and technology are embraced when it comes to our daily life usage but not as fields in which people show much interest in. Many people believe that space exploration has become unimportant because there is a lack of money. However, that is not true. Tyson assures the Senate that the only reason that human beings were able to step on the moon was because the U.S was at war with the Soviet Union. He explains that when the nation’s security is being threatened, “money flows like rivers to protect us” (paragraph 7.) The “Space Race” (Fig. 1) was a key component of all the advancements humanity has made. America is not at war with the Soviets anymore, so war can no longer be the drive for allocating more money into NASA’s budget. What is another drive that is as “potent” as war? (Paragraph 8) Tyson wants to convince the Senate that funding space exploration would give the U.S wealth. He states that giving full economic support to NASA would “reboot America’s capacity to innovate as no other force in society can” (paragraph 8) and the U.S would not have to spend thousands of dollars on programs to prove to people that Science is key. In Tyson’s opinion, it is important that the electorate change the way the view science and technology in our daily lives in order for this “cultural shift” to happen. The solution to these problems as Tyson states is “Fully funded space exploration.” This is because America has already reaped the benefits of it in the past. According to Tyson, “Epic Space adventure” will “plant seeds of economic growth.” It will inspire innovation and that will fuel the U.S to the top once more. Tyson beliefs that leading the world in innovation will allow America to keep jobs in the U.S, and the consternation of tariffs and trade imbalances will disappear. Tyson also states that “the call for this adventure would echo loudly across society and down the educational pipeline” (paragraph 11) meaning it would impact the way kids perceive the STEM courses causing a much bigger interest and development of these particular important parts of the education system in the U.S. One might think that what Tyson is calling for is far too expensive, but it isn’t. Today NASA’s budget is half a penny on the tax dollar. In fact Tyson states that “The 2008 bank bailout of $750 billion was more than all the money NASA has received in its… history” (paragraph 12) which is shameful because that ended up hurting the country more than it actually helped. Also what the U.S spends on the military in just 2 years exceeds all NASA’s historical funding as well. This only helps to prove his point that when it comes to protecting the country money flows like rivers, but not when humanity is genuinely attempting to make strives for a better tomorrow. It’s all about tomorrow, everything humans do, whether it is bad or good ultimately impacts the lives of others. Everything is a working process, but it is difficult to work, especially for NASA, without the funding and support of the U.S. government. In this speech Tyson makes it clear that NASA could be the key to solving many of the problems the U.S is facing but instead of funding them, the government chooses to cut their funding year after year which only pushes space exploration back and back down the priority line. He argues that if the government were just too support them, the impact on the country could be immeasurably great. Throughout this speech Tyson invokes the use of emotion by appealing to the audience’s great American pride. They’re U.S. senators of course they have pride in their country, however he realizes that everyone is aware of the fact the U.S is not number one anymore. He uses both of these aspects to argue for the allocating of more funds for NASA and eventually selling it as the solution to most of the problems the U.S faces. In order to sell NASA as the solution he uses logic and reasoning. He refers back to the exploration era, many times because it was the most exciting time, not only for America, but for all of humanity. Things that were fictitious became reality, dreams of tomorrow are now the reality in which humans live in. Tyson argues that America has coasted for far too long and it is time for them to claim their “20th century birthright to dream of tomorrow” and also uses facts to proof that the budget that is currently being allocated to space exploration hinders NASA’s ability to innovate and keep on pushing the boundaries of what is possible. Tyson wants the American government to give its citizens back the right to dream big again.
The tone during the whole plot of in Brave New World changes when advancing throughout the plot, but it often contains a dark and satiric aspect. Since the novel was originally planned to be written as a satire, the tone is ironic and sarcastic. Huxley's sarcastic tone is most noticeable in the conversations between characters. For instance, when the director was educating the students about the past history, he states that "most facts about the past do sound incredible (Huxley 45)." Through the exaggeration of words in the statement of the director, Huxley's sarcastic tone obviously is portrayed. As a result of this, the satirical tone puts the mood to be carefree.
Throughout the course of this novel, Ishmael Beah keeps the readers on the edge of their seat by incorporating interchanging tones. At the beginning of the novel, the tone can be depicted as naïve, for Beah was unaware to what was actually occurring with the rebels. Eventually, the tone shifts to being very cynical and dark when he depicts the fighting he has endured both physically and mentally. However, the most game changing tone is towards the end of the novel in chapters nineteen and twenty. His tone can be understood as independent or prevailing. It can be portrayed as independent because Beah learns how to survive on his own and to take care of himself. At the same time, it is perceived as prevailing and uplifting because Beah was able to demonstrate that there is hope. Later in the novel, Beah travels to
The Letter from Birmingham Jail was written by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in April of 1963. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was one of several civil rights activists who were arrested in Birmingham Alabama, after protesting against racial injustices in Alabama. Dr. King wrote this letter in response to a statement titled A Call for Unity, which was published on Good Friday by eight of his fellow clergymen from Alabama. Dr. King uses his letter to eloquently refute the article. In the letter dr. king uses many vivid logos, ethos, and pathos to get his point across. Dr. King writes things in his letter that if any other person even dared to write the people would consider them crazy.
Pollan’s article provides a solid base to the conversation, defining what to do in order to eat healthy. Holding this concept of eating healthy, Joe Pinsker in “Why So Many Rich Kids Come to Enjoy the Taste of Healthier Foods” enters into the conversation and questions the connection of difference in families’ income and how healthy children eat (129-132). He argues that how much families earn largely affect how healthy children eat — income is one of the most important factors preventing people from eating healthy (129-132). In his article, Pinsker utilizes a study done by Caitlin Daniel to illustrate that level of income does affect children’s diet (130). In Daniel’s research, among 75 Boston-area parents, those rich families value children’s healthy diet more than food wasted when children refused to accept those healthier but
Bill Nye, the “Science Guy,” asserts, “NASA is an engine of innovation and inspiration as well as the world's premier space exploration agency, and we are well served by politicians working to keep it that way, instead of turning it into a mere jobs program, or worse, cutting its budget.” The United States of America’s government is currently in an economic debt encompassing billions of US dollars. Unfortunately, the government has attempted to balance finances by cutting the funding for most programs, including NASA, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. NASA, in over half a century, has brought the most economic, technological, and social benefits than any other program held here in the USA, as well as any other extraterrestrial program in the world. The last thing this nation needs is the cutting of NASA finances. NASA should be receiving more funding because the Earth will not last forever and humans will need a place to live, there’s a curiosity within humans about the vast universe they live in, there is evidence to suggest life on other planets, the USA’s superpower status will be improved, and the economical income NASA brings is more efficient than any other governmental or educational program.
The moment astronauts set foot on Earth’s Moon, in July of 1969, the legacy of the United States’ space program changed forever. Countless Americans watched the launch and landing of Apollo 13 on their televisions with pride on that day, proud of their country for achieving such an insane goal as walking on the Moon. While NASA, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, struggled through obstacle after obstacle, invented new technologies and advanced old ones, placed the first man on the Moon, because the Soviet Union threatened to beat the U.S. to the space frontier, the nation greatly congratulated the feat that began the technological era. After forty-five years, however, the awe Americans held over NASA’s programs dwindled considerably. Although NASA no longer holds the nation in awe over their moon mission achievements, NASA programs remain vital to the United States because they advance everyday technologies, inspire creative visions, and discover greater knowledge for the entire public to benefit from.
America is long overdue for a series featuring Asian American characters. As New York Times writer Wesley Yang points out, ”Fresh Off the Boat would be the first network sitcom to star an Asian-American family in 20 years and only the third attempt by any major network in the history of the medium.” ABC is offering a slate of new programs deliberately focused on diversity. ““Its our job to reflect America,” ABC-TV head Paul Lee said…” “we didn’t pick up these shows because they were diverse, we picked them up because they were great” (Kang). ABC is taking on the job of reflecting the diverse culture and bringing minorities to the spotlight for the first time. ABC’s determination in bringing in diversity can be seen as programs
Jonathan Kozol revealed the early period’s situation of education in American schools in his article Savage Inequalities. It seems like during that period, the inequality existed everywhere and no one had the ability to change it; however, Kozol tried his best to turn around this situation and keep track of all he saw. In the article, he used rhetorical strategies effectively to describe what he saw in that situation, such as pathos, logos and ethos.
... works. This commercialized space program paves the path to understanding. People across the United States will rise in the global ranks, surpassing other nations in scientific literacy. Because of Armstrong’s visit to the Moon during the Apollo 11 mission, man knows that he is not limited to Earth. As technology advances and man’s understanding of the way that the universe behaves grows, people will be able to take an even larger step in reaching other planets in the vast expanses of space.
“Space, the final frontier….” These are the words that stirred the imaginations of millions of men, women and children with the debut of “Star Trek” in 1966. The show has arguably one of the most loyal followings of any production, and has inspired scores of people to consider the stars and wonder if we as a people will ever travel outside of our own solar system. The idea of space travel and exploration was not new when “Star Trek” hit the airwaves though. The United States was at odds with the Soviet Union, and both powers were locked in a battle that would come to be known as “The Space Race” during the height of the cold war. It was in 1961 that President John Kennedy made his famous appeal to the American people, challenging us as a nation to put a man on the moon before the decade was out. On July 20, 1969, that challenge was achieved when the astronauts of Apollo 11 made the first manned landing on the moon, and returned safely to earth. This, the highest achievement in the United States space program, will turn 45 years old this year. After 45 years, and a technological explosion over the past 25 years, the greatest achievement in the space program has been a manned lunar landing. Countless billions of American tax payer dollars have been spent on the space program over the decades, and there have been no achievements to match that of the moon landings. Though the budget for NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) is but a tiny fraction of the entire annual budget for the country, many of those billions that are allotted in the NASA budget for space exploration would better serve the country if they were re-directed to other areas. De-funding the space exploration portion of the NASA programs could create a “...
Having sent the first man to the moon, the country enjoys great pride and improved the nation’s heritage. The Apollo missions that followed ascertained that the country was indeed a leader in space exploration in the quest to understand extraterrestrial life forms. With this milestone, the next step in space exploration would be to send manned flights to other planets. This culminated in the exploration of Mars to investigate the possibility of existence in the planet. Though the explorations are still ongoing, many of the pundits opposed to continued funding of NASA claim that the explorations are a waste of money, which would otherwise be channeled to other ‘more important sectors.’ This has sparked a debate on the importance of NASA’s mandate and elicited mixed feelings from proponents and
Since the day of NASA’s greatest triumph on July 20, 1969, there has been a sense among many American people and politicians that the once-unimaginable goal of conquering space has been accomplished, and that much of what NASA has done since are simply unnecessary frills of the federal budget. In order to attempt to justify its own existence, NASA has felt the need to engage in projects that can thrill the public and thus keep people interested in space exploration. In doing so, a significant portion of their budget, which has been cut over the years, is spent on public relations, decreasing the budget for actual space-related activities. By using its resources to “bring public and political support to the program”1, NASA has been looking at the problem backwards. By operating more efficiently and spending less on making their projects “sexy” they could actually accomplish their goals, which would implicitly grab the public’s attention. It is time for NASA to move into a new era, where the goal is to pick those projects that will actually succeed instead of those that sensationalize space, those that appeal to the scientist instead of the average American.
“That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” It was July 20 1969, the day that reshaped our nation and gave us unparalleled dreams for the future. The impact of the day goes far beyond our pride and nationalism; that day would change space exploration and technology forever. Just like a shooting star, that day would give us a glimpse of hope. A chance to see an event so breathtaking and defying, it would be man’s greatest accomplishment in the 20th century. As millions of people watched from their TV sets, a rush of euphoria came over the nation as Neil Armstrong stepped foot on the surface of the moon. It was the first time in the history of mankind that we would step on the surface of another celestial body. John F. Kennedy dared us to dream, he inspired the nation to reach for the moon, to set ourselves apart from the rest of the world. The Space Race was symbolic of many things. Our future as the technically dominate nation was secured in place; just as secure as Old Glory would be, when she was driven down into the soil of the moon. We not only reached the moon, we conquered it as a nation; united.
Over the course of this great country’s history there have been grotesque wars, groundbreaking discoveries, and ultimately new standards set. As a nation, the United States was built on the grounds of exploration. Testing the boundaries and reaching new heights is how the U.S. became what it is today, and is what distinguishes the U.S. from other countries. Now, of course, not every person is a scientist, astronaut, or great explorer. This is nearly impossible simply due to the fact that society branches off into countless different people with varying interests, jobs, and focuses. However, this is the time for the United States to provide its space program with the funding it needs to pave the way for a brighter future for all of mankind.
Curiosity and exploration are hardwired into our basic human nature. We strive to understand and explore the environment around us. From individuals climbing Mt. Everest, to those journeying deep into the Amazon Rainforest, it is our innate desire to discover and be adventurous. It is natural that this desire would eventually turn to areas beyond our planet. In the late 1950’s the escalation of the Cold War led to the space race. It started with the launch of the satellite Sputnik I by Russia, and produced amazing feats such as the United States putting a man on the moon. During the height of the space race, NASA was receiving 4.31 % of the national budget (Office of Management and Budget), and it took only eight years for NASA to reach the