Recently I watched a movie called Hidden Figures.
This is a true story highlighting the accomplishments of a group of
women. These women had an enormous impact on the outcome of the space
program and the success of NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration.)
This group of women are smart, hardworking individuals who solved
problems in NASA that others could not. The remarkable thing about these
women is most had LESS education than the men who worked at NASA and could
perform twice the work. The women were dedicated to being successful
while at the same time understanding their limitations that government and
society placed on their community.
One of the themes in the
movie is how other people in the movie were always underestimating these women.
From the outside looking in people always have a different perspective.
One point of view can drastically change your ideas or opinions on any
situation. This movie highlights how we look at other people.
This story is set in the
heart of the 1960's. Tension in this great nation was at its peak with
the civil rights debates. People were protesting, hosting sit ins, and
demonstrating in rallies to help bring an end to segregation once and for all.
This was a time our country where people of color were not allowed to
eat, sit, drink with other races or even enter certain locations. Dr.
Martin Luther King Jr was arguably the most influential person during this time
in U.S. History. He was a man, flawed himself, who preached for peace
while standing on the correct side of the civil rights debate and fighting for
equality.
Growing up I have always
found movies set in this time to be very interesting. This is one of the
periods in our history which has a profound impact on our society. The results
of this period, as others, may not be seen immediately. Events like
the Civil War, American Revolution or even the Battle of the Alamo have impacts
on our country that are not seen for years and decades after their conclusion.
These are all very important periods in our country's history. They
should always be taught in school’s history classes.
Our country has come a
long way since the 1960’s. We have seen people of color rise to the
top leadership positions in the government, CEOs of companies, and start from
nothing to create wonderful lives. This should say a lot for a
country that just 50 years ago, wouldn’t let black people use the restroom in
the same place as a white person.
Even though I really
enjoyed the movie Hidden Figures and I believe it had a great
message. We should always be careful when taking too much that comes
from the movies as the truths or to heart. Hollywood tends to slant the
position to one side for the sack of their own "beliefs." The
nice thing about this movie is there is a lot of truth to it and these people
really exist and perform great acts to save the space program in America.
Hidden Chances seems
like a very fitting title for life in general. Each day there are hidden
chances all around us and we make a consensus effort to either take those
chances or live life like we have always known. Many people in this
country work in high stressful jobs. They require a lot of mental focus
and physical exertion. They are jobs that are held in the highest esteem from
all walks of life. These people will probably never take too many chances
and that is fine. There is nothing wrong with that philosophy in
life. The people that do see these chances and decide to take them on are the
ones that intrigue me the most.
One of the greatest
feelings about living in the United States is having our country respected on
so many levels throughout the world. We have states in our country
that are literally larger then Western Europe. The United States is
special in the opportunities available. The U.S. has been a shining
example of achieving the impossible dream and what you could become for
centuries. People want to live the American dream.
As each of us go through
our daily lives, we might be oblivious to the hidden chances that are in our
world. We might go through each day like drones and never change our
routine. Then there are those people that live each day the
fullest. They take chances, live in the moment, and have a care free
life. I like to believe that true happiness is somewhere in the
middle. We should always treat everyone with respect. The janitor deserves
as much respect as the CEO. They both clean up
messes. Some are just dirtier than others.
Recently there has been
a lot of media attention about kneeling during our national
anthem. I tend to be of the school of thought that believes you can
do whatever you want during the national anthem. Personally, I am
going to stand, remove my cover, and place my hand over my
heart. You see I went to a college that goes above and beyond
showing respect for our military and those that serve our country. I
grew up believing that you love your country because it is the greatest country
in the world.
I believe that the
thousands of men and women who fought, died and sacrificed for our freedoms
would want people to stand. I believe that the men who served in the
civil war fighting for freedom of slaves would want people to
stand. I believe that the women who saved the United States Space
Program stand for the national anthem and loves their country as much as most
Americans.
The men and women in our
country that find hidden chances are very thankful that they live in a country
that allows them to be successful. Whether you are the creator of a pizza
empire, perform the first successful open-heart surgery, or perform the first
surgery to separate conjoined twins. Our men and women who give
their lives for our freedom deserve the respect that we stand for our national
anthem.
The differentiator in
our country compared to all others are the basic rights we have been given by
our Constitution. We can stand for the national anthem out of pure
respect for those that have gone before us and for those that gave the ultimate
sacrifice. We also have the right to sit or kneel for the anthem out of
an oppression we might feel is happening in our country. The next
words we speak can be of how we do not like our government leaders, how we
think the police profile people of color or anything else we desire to
speak. We are guaranteed our rights to be complete morons when it
comes to any issue. All our country asks of us is that we don’t lie,
cheat, steal, or destroy. All our service men and women ask is that
we stand and show them some respect.
Hidden in our lives are
chances to always do good. Hidden in our souls are the workings to
do right by our fellow man. Hidden are chances that we can choose to
take and make this a better world. There are many people in this
world that chose to do evil. That will never change. What
I hope does change, are the amount of people that choose to do
good. That we see a rise in people step up and do more for their
fellow man.
The women in the movie
Hidden Figures took chances. They saw the chance to get ahead, keep
their jobs and do what was right. They stood up for themselves while
showing respect for those around them and still held true to their
values.
So, as we move through
life we will always be faced with chances, choices and decisions to make. As
humans, we are capable of great achievements. As Americans the
possibility of great achievements are endless. There is an instinct
built into each of us to be successful. There is a sense of getting
ahead and being on top that we all strive for in this great
country. This is all part of the American Spirit. This is
all part of our national anthem. We will overcome and always come
out on top or with a better outlook on life. We see the hidden
chances in our lives. The choice we must make is do we become one of
those great hidden figures and change the world. Or do we sit back
and let others take those chances.
We are the key holders
to the success or failure of our own destiny. You can literally
become whoever you want in life in this country. You can start out
from years in prison, and if you have learned from your
mistakes. You find those hidden chances and become one of the most
successful people in this country. Likewise, if you start off with
all the chances in the world. Come from a wealthy family with all
the privileges you can imagine. You could end up lonely, penniless,
destitute and never having done anything successful in your
life. The choice is yours.
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