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2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumNow is the Greatest Time to be Alive
When WIRED asked me to guest-edit the November issue, I didnt hesitate. I know its the height of election season, and I happen to have a day job that keeps me pretty busy. But given the chance to immerse myself in the possibility of interplanetary travel or join a deep-dive conversation on artificial intelligence, Im going to say yes. I love this stuff. Always have. Its why my favorite movie of last year was The Martian. Of course, Im predisposed to love any movie where Americans defy the odds and inspire the world. But what really grabbed me about the film is that it shows how humansthrough our ingenuity, our commitment to fact and reason, and ultimately our faith in each othercan science the heck out of just about any problem.Im a guy who grew up watching Star Trekand Id be lying if I said that show didnt have at least some small influence on my worldview. What I loved about it was its optimism, the fundamental belief at its core that the people on this planet, for all our varied backgrounds and outward differences, could come together to build a better tomorrow.
I still believe that. I believe we can work together to do big things that raise the fortunes of people here at home and all over the world. And even if weve got some work left to do on faster-than-light travel, I still believe science and technology is the warp drive that accelerates that kind of change for everybody.
Heres another thing I believe: We are far better equipped to take on the challenges we face than ever before. I know that might sound at odds with what we see and hear these days in the cacophony of cable news and social media. But the next time youre bombarded with over-the-top claims about how our country is doomed or the world is coming apart at the seams, brush off the cynics and fearmongers. Because the truth is, if you had to choose any time in the course of human history to be alive, youd choose this one. Right here in America, right now.
by Barack Obama, 10/2016
full article is in the November issue,
https://www.wired.com/2016/10/president-obama-guest-edits-wired-essay?mbid=social_twitter
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Now is the Greatest Time to be Alive (Original Post)
Sunlei
Oct 2016
OP
niyad
(113,323 posts)1. k and r
Qutzupalotl
(14,313 posts)2. Now that you mention it, he does kind of remind me of Spock.
The voice if not the ears.
LongTomH
(8,636 posts)3. K&R for the President's Optimism!