I don’t believe in American exceptionalism, that we are or could ever be a “city on the hill,” or that we had a “greatest generation.” But since we’re only 250 once, here are 25 awesome things that America has done for itself and the rest of the world.
It's a lovely country, and I'm very proud to have called it home.
You can debate why so many new ideas took shape in America. A lot of it is economic. There was a market, and then you could build things and expect to sell them. But I think it's a lot more than that. Actually, I think probably the most important thing on the list was public education. Not because it grew scholars alll over the place, but it gave a huge base of thinking people from which grew great innovation. And it just doesn't really exist in a lot of other countries.
I think a lot of it is also just the American spirit of, you know, the idea of defying authority, that bleeds into intellectual thought, defying standard technology and standard practices. I think that's one thing that Americans are good at, is saying, well, I can do this a better.
A shout out to our classmate Seung Kim, who just had a breakthrough last year..using three-way transplant, he completely reversed diabetes in mice.
On the why, agreed about public education. Also, IMO, american capitalism provided a substrate in which good ideas could make it to the market. I think that USSR scientists had a lot of good ideas, but their best contribution to the world economy was Tetris.
Also, makes me think of the Ramanujan story. Obviously that cuts more explicitly between England and India, but I think he might have gotten more bites if he had written some American mathematicians.
I thought about consolidating Jazz and Rock into a single Steely Dan bullet point, and maybe I should have done so. It would have left room for soft serve ice cream:).
It's a lovely country, and I'm very proud to have called it home.
You can debate why so many new ideas took shape in America. A lot of it is economic. There was a market, and then you could build things and expect to sell them. But I think it's a lot more than that. Actually, I think probably the most important thing on the list was public education. Not because it grew scholars alll over the place, but it gave a huge base of thinking people from which grew great innovation. And it just doesn't really exist in a lot of other countries.
I think a lot of it is also just the American spirit of, you know, the idea of defying authority, that bleeds into intellectual thought, defying standard technology and standard practices. I think that's one thing that Americans are good at, is saying, well, I can do this a better.
A shout out to our classmate Seung Kim, who just had a breakthrough last year..using three-way transplant, he completely reversed diabetes in mice.
Finally, let's remember
Making out in cars
Gong show
Kool aid
Cocktails
And best of all,
Pet rock
Excellent additions:).
Did not know that about Seung...cool!
On the why, agreed about public education. Also, IMO, american capitalism provided a substrate in which good ideas could make it to the market. I think that USSR scientists had a lot of good ideas, but their best contribution to the world economy was Tetris.
Also, makes me think of the Ramanujan story. Obviously that cuts more explicitly between England and India, but I think he might have gotten more bites if he had written some American mathematicians.
Agree. And if dey est. free education here, may be more Ramanujans.
Agree that economics was huge. Not to mention American golden period 45 to 75. I even recall my dad with martini about 5pm.
Re tetris
Haha! But what a contribution it was!
And a word from American Mouse Union: "Hiw bout just stop making us sick in first place!"
Happy birthday to America!!!
Assume Steely Dan is #26? 😎. Another great piece Will and one well worth re-reading every Fourth. Thanks.
I thought about consolidating Jazz and Rock into a single Steely Dan bullet point, and maybe I should have done so. It would have left room for soft serve ice cream:).
My last comment was tasteless, apologies. I realize diabetes is a managed condition like my ocd.
No worries, Bob. All love.