In a Universe of Uncertainty, Our ‘Pale Blue Dot’ Will Shine On
April 25, 2020 I’ve often been struck by how fast we are to react and comment on the poor state of affairs here and abroad. And it is so easy to do these days in our digitally connected world. When I see complaints about this or that, I believe folks who lived and fought through WWII probably would think our troubles would pale in comparison.
But, COVID-19 is different. It is a real, world-changing challenge. But like in past times of global threat, agriculture will be on the front lines seeing us through. And this virus will remind us how important those of you who grow our food really are. It will put into perspective the things that really matter. Hopefully, it also will encourage us to put petty political, societal, and cultural differences aside and work together to get through the hard days ahead.
I am reminded of the image taken of earth on Feb. 14, 1990 as Voyager 1 looked back on us from nearly 4 billion miles away as it neared the edge of our solar system. The famed Astronomer Carl Sagan famously coined it a “pale blue dot,” and here’s what he said of it:
“Look again at that dot. That’s here. That’s home. That’s us. On it everyone you love, everyone you know, everyone you ever heard of, every human being who ever was, lived out their lives. The aggregate of our joy and suffering, thousands of confident religions, ideologies, and economic doctrines, every hunter and forager, every hero and coward, every creator and destroyer of civilization, every king and peasant, every young couple in love, every mother and father, hopeful child, inventor and explorer, every teacher of morals, every corrupt politician, every superstar, every supreme leader, every saint and sinner in the history of our species lived there — on a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam.”
In short and much less poetically, he was saying: “Hey gang. We are all in this together.” Whatever your faith informs, while we are here, we all can do things that make this pale blue dot a better place. Be kind; help your neighbor; be healthy and productive; be grateful and avoid creating division; and love on your family and friends (virtually if necessary). And, when we get past this (and we will), we can never take for granted and must always support the sustainability of all of those who feed and clothe us. Thank you again, farmers!
