only because i find it way cool

forthcoming intelligence

Recently, political broadcasters have been going back and forth over the number of wars in which this country is currently involved -- there's the war in Afghanistan, the one in Iraq, there's the elusive war on terror . . . all of which are decidedly complex, global predicaments that undoubtedly will need relief immediately.  

But there's another war that Obama's mere election to the presidency re-introduces to our country:  the war on brains, as discussed in a delightful op-ed in today's NYTimes. In the wake of a brutally long election where we saw low-blows and high moral stances taken on every issue (and, arguably, those stances shifting daily), there's an uncanny sense of relief in the air that our country will be in the two of the most intelligent hands.  Those hands, of course, both belong to Barack Obama.  As we progress through eduction in America, there is a universal value that is indirectly taught to us even despite differences in educational opportunities.  With any sort of learning, there is a valuing of becoming more intelligent.  More knowledgeable of how the world works.  More interested in real facts.  More interested in new ideas.  Regardless of differences seen in the valuation of education in a society, there is a personal value to intelligently understand things in our lives.  

I'm ecstatic for the forthcoming leadership of the President-Elect -- it's an exciting time for America, but it's even more exciting because of what it means to the unconscious valuation of intelligence within each person living in this country.  

A tangential thought, also, might be to consider how Brand America will ooze intelligence to other countries around the world.  The effect of this, I would claim, can already be seen  in the offering of congratulations from world leaders to the soon-to-be President.  

I'm giddy.  

reason #451

IDEO Global Chain Reaction from IDEO Labs on Vimeo.