[Rich Kressly]

Wow Ken, lots to discuss here. You're certainly a uniquely gifted person who does not need to allow doubt to slow you down. I only wish all of the students I teach would entertain these important thoughts. Without being redundant, I'll throw you a few ideas your way in reference to your big questions. Again, therse are my humble opinions, not answers.

"Who am I to say I am qualified to decide what’s good for the future?"
If you are brave enough to take risks for the betterment of others, don't let fear and doubt stop you. Unchartered water is supposed to feel uncomfortable. Anyone who has met you or read your thoughts here knows that you exhibit that kind of bravery.

"How do I know I am doing the right thing?"
You never "know", but you feel it intuitively. You learn to trust your instincts. As you move forward you realize the ONLY person who never feels this kind of discomfort is the person who never makes a decision. I recommend reading Celestine Prophecy, closely examining western philosophy, and reading anything that has to do with understanding self or enlightenment.

And for that matter, how can anyone say they are qualified to decide what’s good for the future?
Well trained, well intentioned, well informed people with courage are necessary for the advancement of mankind.

If we make that decision based on the values we learned when we were growing up, and if all values in a society are all cultural relative, who can say what is the absolute right or wrong decision?

Ahhhh, science meets humanity. Scientific disciplines have some absolutes. For instance, we all love it when Al Skierkiewicz shares his knowledge and we take "absolute answers" back to our teams about motor performance, programming, etc. However, you'll never have that "absolute certainty" about things that have yet to be done or attempted. When there is no white paper, spec sheet, or someone there to say, "Yes. That's right." you need a diferent kind of guide. While cultural relativity certainly exists, I do believe all people everywhere share common ground as humans. When I'm faced with unchartered water, I frequently look to Theodore Roosevelt's Man in the Arena (AKA Dare Mighty Things which happens to be Team 357's motto) for strength and guidance:

"In the battle of life, it is not the critic who counts; nor the one who points out how the strong person stumbled, or where the doer of a deed could have done better.

The credit belongs to the person who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; who does actually strive to do deeds; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotion, spends oneself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement; and who at worst, if he or she fails, at least fails while daring greatly.

Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs even though checkered by failure, than to rank with those timid spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat."

Keep asking good questions Ken. They are far more valuable than the quest for absolute answers.