A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.
-Robert A. Heinlein
12 comments:
I can quote Sonnet 116... ;-)
I can walk and chew gum!!!
Dew
>>A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.
<<
Diaper Change - check
Plan an Invasion - of what?
Butcher a Hog - check (mmm, jalapeño sausage)
Conn a Ship - let me think about that
Design a Building - Do tool sheds count?
Write a Sonnet - Would you take a Haiku? Maybe a limerick?
Balance Accounts - Yup
Build a Wall - Will a fence do?
Set a Bone - A t-bone, where?
Comfort the Dying - I'd try
Take/Give Orders - Sure, call me the order broker
Cooperate/Act Alone - OK, I'm versatile
Solve Equations - Linear, quadratic, or calculus?
Analyze a New Problem - I can look at it for ya
Pitch Manure - Been there, done that
Program a Computer - Also been there with a bit o' BASIC and COBOL, but I'd rather pitch manure
Cook a Tasty Meal - Just call me Chef
Fight Efficiently - Like Indiana Jones shooting that ninja? No wasted effort.
Die Gallantly - If I must, but I like Patton's thought about making the other guy do it first...
Oh,and to Dewey: Can you prove it?
When I get on a plane to fly somewhere, I want the pilot to be specialized in flying that particular aircraft.
When I go into the operating room, I want the surgeon, and anesthesiologist, the nurses, and the others involved to be specialists in their task.
My wife could not design sensor fusion software for fighter jets, and I could not diagnose a heart rhythm from an EKG strip.
It is true that we can do more than one thing, but we do need people with specialized skills.
I understand about wanting a good pilot and stuff but I think the point is: do you want to be the person who is able to do more than one thing? If all a person can do is be the best pilot in the world then what good are they at any other situation in life?
I don't think that there's necessarily a mutual exclusivity here.
One can be extraordinarily talented and skilled at something and still be a "Renaissance Man", no?
Or "Renaissance Chick".
I don't want to leave out the ladies...
OK, here's my list.
I can:
Fly an airplane.
Cinch a saddle.
Field strip a Colt 1911 or Ruger P-series.
Lay tile.
Sweat a copper fitting.
Remove and replace a cylinder head.
Laminate a counter top.
Dig a post hole.
Build winning Pinewood derby cars.
Drain and replace the filter on an automatic transmission.
Develop film and operate an enlarger.
Reload metallic and shotgun cartridges.
Install a ceiling fan.
Remove a splinter.
Compliment a woman, sincerely.
Repair home appliances.
Pitch a tent in the dark.
Use a volt/ohm meter.
Install brake shoes/pads and replace drums/rotors.
Refill an ink cartridge.
Water & snow ski.
Research an issue and edit someone's writing.
Rappel a wall.
Build a gate.
Love God and try to follow His example.
I don't know about the rest of them but I can vouch for your editing of other peoples' writing! I guess we'll find out tomorrow if you can collect taxes, huh?
True that!
Oh, and by the way, it's "people's", not "peoples'", since "people" are already plural.
Just sayin'. ;-)
Post a Comment