Personal Statement: In Celebration of My Beliefs and Commitments

 

I am an American citizen—by choice, not by accident, nor by birth—and I have been so for the past 35 years. My allegiance is not to transient political figures but to enduring principles: liberty, dignity, justice, opportunity, and a global commitment to peace and prosperity. Above all to the true concept of Freedom. These are the ideals that first drew me to this country and that continue to shape the way I live, work, and speak. No I am not perfect. Nor am I without sin. I do believe in the fundamental truths particularly around social justices as espoused by the Catholic Church and the Jesuits who helped me to formulate those beliefs,

I believe deeply in the promise and power of America’s soft power, a concept most clearly articulated by Joseph Nye. True leadership on the global stage does not stem from fear or coercion—it emerges through example. Through culture, innovation, moral authority, and alliances grounded in mutual respect, America once stood as a beacon for the world. We must reclaim that role—not by imposition, but through inspiration.

I believe in social justice—not as an ideological posture, but as a moral necessity as exemplified by FDR. All people deserve a fair chance. Where barriers exist—whether inherited through centuries of racial inequality or imposed by present-day economic hardship—those of us with privilege must act to level the field. This is not about guilt; it is about responsibility.

Domestically, justice means ensuring that every citizen has a meaningful shot at success. Internationally, where I devote most of my intellectual and commercial energy, it means leading with empathy, fairness, and the kind of collaborative spirit that characterized the best of the postwar Pax Americana.

I also believe in the transformative power of capitalist opportunity, as eloquently championed by Ronald Reagan. Economic freedom, entrepreneurship, and open markets can be engines of human potential when paired with ethical governance and opportunity for all. The dynamism of American capitalism—when it works for people, not just for profit—has created jobs, lifted lives, and extended freedom further than any force in modern history. I believe in capitalism not as an ideology, but as a pragmatic system that, when guided by decency and regulation, unlocks human capability.

Yet none of this is possible without education. A society that fails to educate its people cannot remain free. Education—universal, accessible, and rigorous—is the foundation of a kind, inclusive, and just civilization. It is the antidote to ignorance, the engine of mobility, and the quiet force that sustains democracy itself. I believe in education not only as a tool for personal advancement, but as the cornerstone of a world governed by reason, tolerance, and mutual respect.

I detest authoritarianism in all its forms—especially when it comes cloaked in nationalism, resentment, and false strength. Donald Trump has stoked some of the darkest impulses in American life, appealing to fear and division while mocking the very institutions that protect freedom. But he is not the only one responsible. I am most critical of those who empowered him—and even more so of those who now cower in silence, afraid of retribution or political inconvenience.

I reject that silence.

I believe in the vision of Kennedy’s Camelot: a nation led by intellect, inspired by service, and guided by idealism. I believe we must return to a world where America leads not with brute force, but by shining example. That belief is not naïve. It is rooted in history, reinforced by experience, and ignited by hope.

Should I ever be challenged for expressing these convictions, let this statement be clear:

I speak as a citizen. I speak as a believer in the ideals of the U.S. Constitution, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the guiding promise that freedom, justice, and human dignity must always prevail over fear, division, and authoritarianism.

I do not write these words in bitterness, but with unshaken faith in what America can still become. There is nothing inevitable about decline. There is no statute of limitations on redemption. I will stand—peacefully, firmly, and without apology—for a future that honors freedom, fairness, truth, and courage.

I intend to be one of the brave.

 

Thank you for reading.  I hope you will join me in this journey.

It wont be the roaring 20's rather the rigid ones.

Get prepared for the loss of freedom of travel

Restrictions coming our way in the 2020s

I would like to make five predictions for this decade. I will try to cover the areas I am passionate about - namely aviation, travel and technology. Let's get rid of the nasty one first. The others include one that will be a disappointment and some that should give us some hope. I hope you will see a common thread running through these thoughts.

Travel will no longer be unfettered and an expression of freedom. As our planet gets more crowded joy will be replaced by drudgery. How could this happen? Three reasons.
1. Political divisions will be enhanced as the world moves to a series of jockeying for position. The isolationism of the current US Administration will sadly pay off in the coming decade.
2. Emancipation of so many countries of wealth and maturity that feel they have just as much right to travel will result and fare greater masses wanting to see the major tourist sites. Venice, London etc.
3. Global Climate Change Acceleration. Call it what it is; human powered will start to get in the way of the freedom of travel.
One interesting side product will be the emergence of tourism focused on remote and quiet. Yes get-away-from-it-all will become a much sought-after niche product.

Startups and innovation will give way to SWEW. Software Everywhere. We will have very few forms of mega hit startups. So, think unicorns will go the way of Purple Squirrels. Machine Learning and AI will give way to Realtime Software Systems. IE Systems that provide capability for any activity to be automated and humans become less and less important to the management of technology.

Electric powered flight will become not just a reality but a norm. There will be 2 forms of this manifested in the next decade.
Product 1 - short haul autonomous controlled aircraft up to 50 passengers will replace the need for short haul hops on routs of less than 300 miles or 500 kilometers.
Product 2 - assisted mode electrically powered flight for all forms of aviation will become the norm. Allowing the migration away from pure fossil powered flight.

The end of the phone in your pocket. By the mid-decade we will have communicator systems that are driven by our biological presence with accuracy that is unthinkable today. The phone will cease to be the vehicle of choice for communication, replaced by Ambient Computing. Sensors all around us will detect and response. Leading to my last prediction...

Explicit interaction moves to implicit and assumed background systems. As someone who has been involved in innovation, startups and pushing the boundaries of technology for over 3 decades - I will see the last of the development of explicit behaviour on behalf of the consumer and the developers of today will become increasingly redundant.

And my prediction for myself? I hope that I will be able to teach and help those to will be the generation that powers these changes to do so for good.

Thank you for reading and may I wish you and your families all, a Happy New Year and a great decade ahead.

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