Flying Motorcyles (in terms of social change)

         I will be honest: I could have walked into the Honors lecture room, read the title, “Implications of Place, Mobility, and Technology in Economic Development: Impact of Motorcycle Access on Female Fertility in Indonesia,” and walked away completely satisfied. I do not believe that I have ever seen a title, including the well-named works of the late Tennessee Williams, which brought me so much joy. However, that title was followed by a fascinating lecture, and I had the opportunity to hear from Dr. Brown later that evening. Thursday was red-letter day for me in terms of intellectual stimulation.

            First, and this relates to the fore-mentioned title, I liked Dr. Brown’s premise. He explained that his research had allowed him to combine all of the things that interested him: poverty, cultural change, development, equity for women, and more, into one project. This project also involved travel, meeting new people, concepts, and making cultural comparisons. The realization that such wonderful careers exist is one reason that I enjoy Honors 292 so very much.

            Dr. Brown connected geography with mental state in a very interesting way. The Mississippi Delta was his first example. He believes that, as much as the area’s socioeconomic state, its “flatness” has contributed to the genius of the American authors who got their starts there. He believes that the unusual vastness and sense of space gives the people a different sense of the universe. He also explained the difference in opportunity between rural, bounded areas and larger ones. This eventually culminated with the idea that, when transportation (in this case, motorcycles) allows individuals to conquer their geographic limitations, massive socioeconomic changes can be effected.

The idea that mountains, valleys, or deltas can do so much to a person’s resume is incredible, yet his conclusion was backed up with sound research. On a personal note, I have always felt more comfortable when surrounded by mountains, and I am certainly feeling my horizons expand from what they were when I lived in a small town a hour’s drive from everywhere.

            The #1 indicator of a nation’s GDP: female fertility.He used this website's video. After getting over one’s shock, there is an attempt to rationalize it with population. However, Dr. Brown hardly mentioned this factor. No, he believes that motorcycles are a source of transportation, allowing people to conquer their geographic boundaries. This increases opportunities for women, which decreases a household’s economic incentive to send their daughters into marriage and childbearing at age 14. For this reason, women contribute directly to the economy, have fewer children to burden said economy, and are better able to take care of themselves and said children. And, of course, healthier people lead to a healthier economy. I am not saying that motorcycles are the answer to world hunger, but the idea of pulling people out of a vicious cycle with a logical step like that is impressive.