Boy Scout Troop 325
Scoutmaster Minute
Why I'm The Most Important Person In The Universe
(The Last Minute)
April 26, 2005
George Denise, Scoutmaster

As far as we know, space is infinite; there are billions and billions of stars making up our galaxy; billions and billions of galaxies making up the universe; billions and billions of planets and stars and galaxies going on forever in space, and back into time forever. The concept of infinity is almost beyond our comprehension. Imagine; everything that could ever happen is happening now and has been happening forever. Accordingly, if life evolved on other planets, it would have been doing so always. If it could evolve to the point of developing space travel and visiting other planets and solar systems and galaxies, it would have always been doing so. Visitors from all over the universe would have already been visiting us in a steller traffic jam of galactic proportions. But they haven't. I take that to mean that the Earth is the only planet in all of the vastness of space where life exists, and in that sense, it is the center of the universe.

There are approximately 258 countries on Earth. While many of these countries are quite successful, wealthy, strong, and productive, the United States is clearly the most successful. By most measures of a country's success, we are in the top five or ten. In many measures, we are number one. In terms of size (third largest), population (third greatest), age of government (ours is the oldest), wealth (greatest), per capita income (highest), military strength (strongest), personal freedom (in the top three), business freedom (in the top three), charitable giving (number one), Nobel prizes received (number one), Olympic Gold Medals received (number one). The United Nations "Quality of Life" Index ranks the US number one. And if you take a composite of all of these measures, the United States clearly outranks every other country in the world. The United States is the greatest nation on Earth!

Within our country, there are 50 states. Each state has its own unique features; however, one stands out above all the rest. California is the third largest, has the greatest population, is the wealthiest, has the most Fortune 500 companies headquartered here, and is generally known as the nation's leader in matters of business, law, health, the environment, diversity, and education. Were it a nation, California would be the fifth wealthiest in the world. And we have one of the most beautiful and environmentally diverse states in the union. California has the Redwood forests, the snow-capped Sierra Nevada mountains with Mount Whitney, the highest point in the contiguous 48 states, the Mohave Desert and Death Valley, the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere, the great Central Valley with it's agriculture and wetlands, the longest coastline of any state, with the most beautiful Southern California beaches, not to mention beautiful San Francisco Bay and Mission Bay in San Diego. California is clearly the greatest state in the Union.

Within California, there are 58 counties. As with the states, there are many that have their own special and unique features; however, the Santa Clara County (commonly referred to as Silicon Valley) is the engine that drives the State. Silicon Valley was the site of the first State Capital, San Jose. It was the site of the first city incorporated in the state, San Jose. Historically, because of its ideal climate, the plants that grew here, and the abundance of game they supported, it was a veritable Garden of Eden, with a greater density of Native Americans living here than anywhere else in North America. The Santa Clara Valley was described by world famous botanist Luther Burbank as having the most perfect climate and soil for agriculture on Earth. Because of this, San Jose was once known as the Garden City. Today, with its high tech industries in aerospace, silicon manufacturing, software development, and biotech advancements, fueled by one of the greatest densities of top universities anywhere in the world, Santa Clara County is one of the wealthiest counties in the state.

Within Santa Clara County, there are six Scout districts: Gavilan, Mene Oto, Mt. Hamilton, Pioneer, Polaris, and Sierra. They are all quality districts, but our own Pioneer District, in terms of total numbers of Scouts, Friends of Scouting contributions, popcorn sales, number of Eagle Scouts awarded, and support for council programs, Pioneer District is number one.

Within Pioneer District, there are about 50 troops. Of these, Troop 325 is one of the largest, it is one of several that typically collects the most funds for the district, it is one of the ones that sells the most popcorn, it typically sends the most scouts of any troop to summer camp, to International Rendezvous, to Bristlecone, to Bear Paw Winter Camping, to National Jamboree, and to World Jamboree. Clearly, Troop 325 is the top Boy Scout Troop in the Pioneer District.

And I'm the Scoutmaster for Troop 325; the Scoutmaster of the greatest troop, in the greatest district, in the greatest county, in the greatest state, in the greatest nation, in the greatest world in the center of the universe. So I guess that just about makes me the most important person in the universe!

Now I can retire!