In Florida, we believe in science

Woke up this morning and reached for my first cup of coffee. I found myself deliberately grabbing a mug that a friend gave me to celebrate my ship's participation in the development of the Orion Multi-purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV) recovery procedures with NASA. 

Today, as a Floridian, it seems relevant because it reminds me of who we are at our best, most humble, curious, daring, persistent, creative, and resilient.

I grew up here (Central Florida, Space Coast). Where we literally watched our most cutting edge science projects take off and shoot into space from Kennedy Space Center on a routine basis. 

I joined the Navy. For those who do not know, warships are physics and chemistry projects on steroids! 

Nuclear power plants living in the belly of a steel ship with a "V" shaped hull that is designed to keep a flight deck level enough so aircraft can angle into the wind, gain lift and takeoff. 

Not to mention the reverse osmosis water plants, hydraulic elevators, advanced satellite telecommunications systems, RADARs, and electrical circuitry and varying forms of conduit to make sure it moves throughout the ship safely. Steam catapults. Magnetic catapults. Fixed Wing aircraft, rotary-wing aircraft, VSTOL, ... You get the point. From the Space Coast and into the Navy, I believe in science.

I was raised in Central Florida - Orlando and Clearwater St Petersburg area. We believe in diversity and inclusion. We believe in progress and innovation (EPCOT, literally in our backyard). 

However, ignorance and incivility are not welcome here. They're dangerous and they undermine everything we aspire to be and everything we hope for our children's futures. 

We need to choose leaders who hold the standard. Ignorance is beneath the standard. Undermining rule of law during a hurricane, wildfire, or pandemic are not acts of freedom, they're acts of ignorance that undermine public safety and the common good. 

We're heading into an election, we get to decide what our future looks like by choosing our leaders who are mirrors of our collective characters and convey the souls of our communities. 

Pay attention. Locally, nationally, globally.

Whom will we choose to build the world our children will inherit and will they embody the character and values we hold dear and wish to internalize collectively or project outwardly?