Harold Feld’s speech at the National Community Wireless Summit organized by Sascha Meinrath last March 31-April 2 says it all:Harold Feld’s speech at the National Community Wireless Summit organized by Sascha Meinrath last March 31-April 2 says it all:
We must always remember that wireless is a tool, not a goal in itself. What we do has value because it changes peoples lives for the better. Wireless doesn’t create jobs or educational opportunities on its own. It gives people a new way to get information, to create new kinds of speech or applications, and share these applications with others. We can’t just “unwire” neighborhoods or throw up nodes or write code. We need to reach out to the communities around us, show them what they can do, give them what they need, then let go when they take it in completely different directions.
In his speech, he debunks the artificial separation behind pragmatism and idealism, talks about what they did to set up emergency communications after Katrina, and asks us all to think about how each of us can make a big difference.
Remember, I started Muniwireless.com three years ago and posted all of those articles in my pajamas. I still do, from time to time, although now I travel a lot and organize conferences too so I have to get out of my pajamas. I started alone, but over time, gathered around me, those who wanted to make a serious difference in the way we all live and work. One person can make a difference.
I think Harold’s speech is perfect for this Easter/Passover holiday. He says:
A last thought. I have a deep and abiding love for the book of Ecclesiastes. Many people find it depressing, because it warns us that our all we have is what God gives us here and now. I find that inspiring myself, because it reminds me to make the absolute most of every minute that God sends. Ecclesiastes tells us “better are two than one, for if one stumbles, the other shall help him rise. And a threefold cord, it shall not be broken.
To read the entire speech, click here.
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