A great revolution
The Wright Brothers National Memorial, Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina, 2006
“The greatest revolution of our generation is the discovery that human beings, by changing the inner attitudes of their minds, can change the outer aspects of their lives.” —William James
Despite the controversies that linger over who deserves the credit for the birth of aviation, the Wright Brothers exhibited a persistence and dedication that changed the world forever. Psychology may not have been around to document the crucial role of personal resolve and resilience throughout human history, but countless wonders, conveniences and masterpieces testify that the curious and determined mind can bring about changes undreamed of by those who give up easily.
- Posted in: Uncategorized
- Tagged: determination, flight, imagination, overcoming failure, tenacity
Defeat Despair 
Take, for example, the statues shown in the 2006 photo – they simply weren’t there 20 years prior. Someone’s determination must have gotten that tribute completed by the 100th anniversary of the flight.
If you haven’t seen the statues, I highly recommend you go back. However, to a pilot, it might have been more appealing to stand and gaze across the empty dunes and imagine the real scenario that took place there a century ago. Sometimes a blank canvas is more conducive to re-visiting history than an artist’s re-creation of the event. In any case, we really enjoyed the entire area (museum, markers, monuments and especially just walking around — at a time when it was uncrowded — and pondering).