What's Our Sputnik

“What’s Our Sputnik?” by Thomas Friedman

In 1957 Sputnik was launched from Russia.  This changed the way America saw our future. We did not want anyone to get ahead of us so we put science at the top of the list.  Next, thing we knew America had the first man on the moon.  But what has happened to our country since the age of science.  Have we forgotten how important science is and can be?  What will be our Sputnik?

According to Friedman we would be letting countries such as Afghanistan figure out their own problems (Friedman, 2010).  They would be fighting for their own country and we would not be over in foreign countries fright for everyone but ourselves. 

What are we doing as American’s?  We are more worried about what is going on in other countries, but not our own.  What do we need to do to change this?  As Friedman stated, do we need to follow China, do keep fighting Al Qaeda (Friedman, 2010)? 

I feel like we need to do both, but how do we do this?  First, our government needs to put more money into STEM program as well as any science program. We need to remember what is most important to our country.  I personally feel like we need to get out of everyone else business and take care of ourselves.

In conclusion, many countries are by passing us on technology and science.  What are we to do; I know get to work and put STEM at the front of the list.  We need to like other countries take care of themselves.

Reference

Friedman, T. (2010, January 17). What's our Sputnik. The New York Times, p. 8.