We engineers are an integral part of global politics, political agendas, governmental policies, military prowess and any prospect for world peace. Whether we knew that fact or not when we chose to study engineering, whether we prefer to be involved or not as practicing professionals, we are.

Recently I read an essay, "Laughing and Crying" by Thomas L. Friedman, that I find damaging to the engineering community and the common purposes we may serve, as well as to higher educational opportunities for all, what I consider the greatest gift the United States has offered the world. In my discussions with others, including graduate students and engineering professors whom he impugns, I am most troubled by Friedman's apparent fear-mongering.

In his earlier works Tom Friedman, a Foreign Affairs columnist for The New York Times and winner of the 2002 Pulitzer Prize, provided valuable insight on contemporary issues. I enjoyed his book, "The World is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-First Century" and an abridged audio version of his "Longitudes and Attitudes: Exploring the World After September 11", a collection of his essays from 2001-2002.

I learned of Mr. Friedman's works when he was interviewed by Fareed Zakaria, Ph.D., host of Foreign Exchange, a production of Azimuth Media and available on the Public Broadcasting Service in the United States. They discussed issues of global economic growth with equal passion and seemingly similar perspectives; I now realize that I was correct about the passion and flat wrong about their perspectives.

In January, 2006, my college-age sons and I attended a DowMel Lecture Series presentation by Dr. Zakaria in Great Barrington, MA. During the lecture, Dr. Zakaria spoke about the growing number of engineering and science graduates in developing nations while graduation rates have stagnated in the United States and many European nations. As a political scientist, Mr. Zakaria addressed the potential repercussions of these trends; he commented that he believed the growth of the global engineering community was what democratic societies had sought (since WW II and through the Cold War) and achieved as a means of supporting economic growth and political stability. Bravo, Mr. Zakaria!

A thought for the CR4 community to consider: Neither Zakaria nor Friedman are engineers. Dr. Zakaria has a B.A. from Yale (with no field of study listed on several web sites) and a Ph.D. in political science; Mr. Friedman has a B.A. in Mediterranean Studies from Brandeis and an M.A. in Middle Eastern Studies. Albeit well educated and informed on worldly matters, neither individuals have the unique experience, expertise or perspective that engineers have.

Yes, there are many challenges ahead but there are even more opportunities. We engineers, the "doers", the practitioners know that better than the pundits. Let us make the most of those opportunities for all we serve.