What Will They Say We Built for Them?

As America approaches her 250th As America approaches her 250th birthday, [music] birthday, [music] birthday, [music] I find myself wondering about something. I find myself wondering about something. I find myself wondering about something. What would George Washington think of an What would George Washington think of an What would George Washington think of an iPhone? Seriously. Not politics, not iPhone? Seriously. Not politics, not iPhone? Seriously. Not politics, not cable news, not social media, just an cable news, not social media, just an cable news, not social media, just an iPhone. Imagine handing this little iPhone. Imagine handing this little iPhone. Imagine handing this little piece of glass and metal to a man who piece of glass and metal to a man who piece of glass and metal to a man who spent days on horseback traveling from spent days on horseback traveling from spent days on horseback traveling from one town to another. one town to another. one town to another. Can you Can you imagine explaining that Can you Can you imagine explaining that Can you Can you imagine explaining that you can talk to somebody in California you can talk to somebody in California you can talk to somebody in California while you're standing [music] while you're standing [music] while you're standing [music] in Virginia? in Virginia? in Virginia? Of course, at that point he would Of course, at that point he would Of course, at that point he would probably say, "What is California?" But probably say, "What is California?" But probably say, "What is California?" But you you could watch your granddaughter's you you could watch your granddaughter's you you could watch your granddaughter's piano recital from 500 miles away, or piano recital from 500 miles away, or piano recital from 500 miles away, or look [music] at a photograph taken on look [music] at a photograph taken on look [music] at a photograph taken on the other side of the world less than 10 the other side of the world less than 10 the other side of the world less than 10 seconds ago. seconds ago. seconds ago. The truth is, George Washington would The truth is, George Washington would The truth is, George Washington would probably [music] think he'd been probably [music] think he'd been probably [music] think he'd been transported into some science fiction transported into some science fiction transported into some science fiction novel. novel. novel. Then again, maybe not. Because while he Then again, maybe not. Because while he Then again, maybe not. Because while he couldn't have imagined the technology, I couldn't have imagined the technology, I couldn't have imagined the technology, I suspect he understood something many of suspect he understood something many of suspect he understood something many of us forget. The future is built by people us forget. The future is built by people us forget. The future is built by people who are willing to sacrifice [music] for who are willing to sacrifice [music] for who are willing to sacrifice [music] for things they'll never personally enjoy.

things they'll never personally enjoy. things they'll never personally enjoy. That's what our founders did. That's what our founders did. That's what our founders did. They didn't know what America would They didn't know what America would They didn't know what America would become. They couldn't have known. They become. They couldn't have known. They become. They couldn't have known. They simply believed the next generation simply believed the next generation simply believed the next generation [music] ought to have a better chance [music] ought to have a better chance [music] ought to have a better chance than they had. And the next generation than they had. And the next generation than they had. And the next generation did [music] the same, and the next, and did [music] the same, and the next, and did [music] the same, and the next, and the next. the next. the next. Which brings us to an uncomfortable Which brings us to an uncomfortable Which brings us to an uncomfortable question. question. question. 250 years from now, [music] 250 years from now, [music] 250 years from now, [music] if someone is looking back at us, if someone is looking back at us, if someone is looking back at us, what will they say we built for them?