The world's tallest building has opened in Dubai- and because it's Dubai, the thing is downright insane- and out of this world! The Sears (now Willis, but I refuse on principle to call it that) Tower has been bumped down yet another notch in the rankings and you have to wonder whether or not it's a symptom of something larger.
There is, I think, a national phobia about skyscrapers now- in the aftermath of September the 11th, who can blame us? But an increasing problem for America is that in this age of security, we've tightened our borders- in this age of economic prosperity with India and China growing, fewer and fewer students want to come to America. We are losing the race for innovation in this country by degrees- and maybe white elephants like the Burj Dubai are useless status symbols, but it seems as if our greatest engineering feats belong to the past.
I've said it before and I'll say it again: if we can't attract the best and brightest from around the world, we need to grow 'em here at home. Let's go to Mars and spark the imaginations of a whole new generation- let's build things the world has never seen before and make passionate engineers...
I don't know. But if we are to be 'America The Exceptional' then I feel like the world's tallest building should be here- and not in Dubai.
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