February 1, 2003

Columbia

I have been critical lately about humans and our ideology, but times like these make our faith seem necessary: faith in ourselves, faith in our endeavors, and faith in our ambitions. In the 21st century, it seems that these aspects of humanity will be tied with our faith in technology. Well, sometimes that faith might be misplaced. We are not flawless; we can be hurt, but we can also recover.

Here’s a bit of Tennyson’s “Ulysses” for the crew of the Columbia and those of us who must persevere:

’T is not too late to seek a newer world.
Push off, and sitting well in order smite
The sounding furrows; for my purpose holds
To sail beyond the sunset, and the baths
Of all the western stars, until I die.
It may be that the gulfs will wash us down;
It may be we shall touch the Happy Isles,
And see the great Achilles, whom we knew.
Tho’ much is taken, much abides; and tho’
We are not now that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are,—
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.