“The Universe Doesn’t Care”

Report: Cape Canaveral announces successful launch of space probe that will pass around moon and return to Earth. Crew includes an African American, a woman, and a Canadian.

During the almost-disaster of Apollo 13, astronaut Jim Lovell hand calculated the course corrections needed to bring the ship safely home. It was thought he used calculus, but apparently it was arithmetic, algebra, and trigonometry – and common sense.

Radio host Vince Coglianese wisely made this comment (paraphrase):

The universe is non-discriminating. It doesn’t care if you are Black, female, or Canadian. All it cares about is if, like Jim Lovell, you can do some quick calculations and bring the crew home.

The same is true for all life-and-death situations.

– If you are a cop, all it cares about is if you can sense whether the situation can be defused, or whether the trigger must be pressed.

– If you are a fire chief, all it cares about is if, unlike Los Angeles, you take responsibility for assuring that water is in the hydrants.

– If you are a doctor, a nurse, or a paramedic, all it cares about is if you know what to do, and do it right now.

– If you are a parent, all it cares about is if you notice signs that your kid may be on drugs.

We can call this the Jim Lovell test. Can you avert serious trouble by knowing what is necessary, then doing it under difficult conditions?