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Unread 17-05-2004, 14:17
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Re: FIRST - Reason for existance

Is it only obvious to me that FIRST and Dean Kamen are not inextricably attached at the hip? They are autonomous, independent entities that can and will function without one another. Sometimes, though, it seems that Kamen forgets the same things that people around here forget -- when you open your mouth, you're not only representing yourself, but also the organizations that you are associated with. Like it or not.

FIRST's stated purpose has been unchanged for eight years, as Jessica has already pointed out in this thread. The name change announcement and subsequent descriptions of the purpose behind FIRST and its Robotics Competition are conspicuously lacking any sort of the America-centric sentiment and, undoubtedly, will continue to do so. If that were to change in any official capacity, I'd quickly figure out what constitutes a resignation and hand it in along with my nameplate, my reputation points and my stapler. That is not the organization I entered into six years ago and not an organization I wish to support in any capacity.

FIRST and its supporters are not, by any indication, against outsourcing of jobs to foreign countries -- whether they be Canada, Mexico, India or elsewhere. Companies like Microsoft, General Motors, Daimler-Chrysler and Boston Scientific have each outsourced jobs to international plants and production facilities.

I didn't have the benefit of being able to attend the Championship this season, so I did not hear Kamen's speech and cannot write about it with any accuracy. Given its topic, however, I can surmise that two things might have been happening.

First, Kamen may just be immensely hypocritical and playing the role of propagandist and recruiter for the corporations who back FIRST. It's all too easy to forget that, while the engineers, scientists and technology professionals we work with through the build season are often talented, engaging, inspiring people, the corporations and companies they work for are often engaged in some unsavory business practices, questionable political lobbying efforts and manufacturing processes that damage the environment -- among other things. It's important that Ford is inspiring students to pursue engineering, but do we really want those students to go on engineering sport-utility vehicles that travel only ten miles for each gallon of gas burned? Is that what we're inspiring students to do with this program?

The other possibility is that Kamen sought to apply pressure to these corporations to change their business practices; to become environmentally conscious, to end outsourcing of jobs, and to research and develop technologies that will benefit the entire world -- not just the United States. That is a goal I can stand behind and am hopeful that someone with a little less fervor about their American nationalism can assure me that this was the case.

The foreigners who are taking these outsourced jobs are doing so at a fraction of the salary that an American expects -- and they can do so often because they're simply grateful that their family can eat. Those people deserve such jobs far more than someone who wants ten times as much so their kids can wear Nike shoes and get driven to school in the family's Ford Excursion.

If Dean Kamen or any of the other CEO's represented through sponsorship of FIRST want to send a real message to this program's participants that says, unequivocally, their focus is on preserving jobs for Americans, the best thing they can do is to take a pay cut. When they can prove that they're motivated by something other than increased profit margins and shareholders returns, that sentiment will shift the paradigm of what it means to operate a business in this country.

Until I see that happen, I'm content in believing the stated purpose of the FIRST organization, not the remarks of Dean Kamen, and will continue to believe that FIRST is about inspiring the next generation to conduct business, value achievement, and support each other differently than the generations before it. Should it happen, I believe that it will also set an admirable example worthy of emulation and will be happy to remain involved in the program.

FIRST isn't about trying to end outsourcing -- it's about trying to inspire within the youth that participate an admiration and respect for the benefit of the work being done by engineers, scientists and technology professionals. It's about teaching them that the benefit in inventing the portable insulin pump isn't in the gobs of cash you can squeeze from the deal, but in the lives you save. It's not about harboring resentment towards people who do the same or better work for lower wages, it's about reawakening their spirit of accomplishment and pride in Americans. It's about rekindling a fire of discovery that illuminates how clearly the things we give to others are far greater than the things we earn for ourselves.
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