Do Some Good

Last week, I joined the Order of the Engineer. This is in no way
comparable to Albus Dumbledore’s secret society, The Order of the
Phoenix, but I can attest to the fact that both of these orders were
established with good intentions.

Below is an excerpt of the obligation to the Order of the Engineer;

“Since the Stone Age, human progress has been spurred by the
engineering genius. Engineers have made usable nature’s vast resources
of material and energy for Humanity’s [Mankind’s] benefit. Engineers
have vitalized and turned to practical use the principles of science
and the means of technology. As an Engineer, one pledges to practice
integrity and fair dealing, tolerance and respect, and to uphold
devotion to the standards and the dignity of one’s profession,
conscious always that one’s skill carries with it the obligation to
serve humanity by making the best use of Earth’s precious wealth…One
shall participate in none but honest enterprises. When needed, one’s
skill and knowledge shall be given without reservation for the public
good. In the performance of duty and in fidelity to my profession, I
shall give the utmost.”

Since high school, people have asked me why I chose to pursue a career
in engineering and my response has varied over the years. One aspect
of my answer has always remained constant. Engineers have the ability
to make the world a better place. Unfortunately, they also have the
ability to make the world a more dangerous place with nuclear weapons,
toxins, and other merchants of death.

From a positive standpoint, the one example always comes to mind is
the automobile industry. When Karl Benz produced the first automobiles
in 1888, they were death traps with solid components, glass
windshields, no seat belts, etc. Over the last century, automakers
have been continuously working towards making cars more safe using
padded dashboards, mirrors, seat belts, laminated windshields, lights,
reflectors, air bags, side curtain air bags, crumple zones, anti-lock
braking systems (ABS), traction control, On-Star… and the list goes
on. The point is, these advances are all a result of engineers keeping
up their efforts to make automobiles as safe as possible.

Now I’m not being biased and saying that ONLY engineers have the
ability to make the world a better place, we all do. Whether it's
teachers, local law enforcement, doctors, nurses, everyone and anyone
can contribute. You don’t need to pledge to an order, take an oath, or
sign a document stating you will always promise to do what is right.
You can make like Nike and “just do it”!

In March of 2010, I was driving down Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood. I
came to a red light just past the Chinese Theater and I saw this:

Even though it’s just a Pepsi ad and to you may not
seem to carry any significance, it did for me. I think it’s a simple,
but important reminder that we can all “Do Some Good” in this world.

“A span of life is nothing. But the man who lives that span, he is
something. He can fill that tiny span with meaning, so its quality is
immeasurable though its quantity may be insignificant.” -The Chosen