When Galileo stepped to the top of the leaning tower of Pisa, it was cold.  An ice breeze blew through his hair.  He had a sniffle – achoo.  Another gust, and two objects were pulled from his pockets – one weighing ten pounds and another weighing only one.  He let them drop.  This was not insignificant:  If they did what he thought they would do, two thousand years of history would have to be rewritten.

Galileo challenged Aristotle’s assertion that heavy objects fall faster than light ones.  Centuries and centuries of knowledge, things people knew were true.  I mean, c’mon, everyone knows heavy objects fall faster than light ones, duh! they said; well, something to that effect.  And as sure as I’m typing this, people told Galileo that his efforts would be fruitless and that to challenge one of the greatest minds in history was folly.  Because not only that, Mr. Galileo Galilei, if you please, but also the earth is immovable, heavenly bodies are blemish-free, and everyone knows that you can’t hitchhike across the United States in a week!

These same people would go on to say that the earth was the center of the universe (I easily could have told them that I am the center of the universe); and, four-hundred years later, after the invention of airbags and the hybrid automobile, their sour-faced ancestors would tell me that people don’t pick up hitchhikers anymore.  I mean, c’mon, Mr. Ryan Jeanes, if you please, EVERYONE knows that you’re gonna be standing on the side of the road with your dick in your hand.  Luckily, I didn’t take their advice and only stuck out my thumb .  Because I listened to myself and challenged a false assumption, I was able to experience a grace that only pure kindness can bring as twenty-three people gave my friend and me twenty-three rides across the United States.

Galileo took the long stairs down the tower.  His assistant told him that the two weights did indeed hit at the same time.  Somewhere Aristotle grimaced.  Even, and perhaps especially, the greats do not like to be wrong.  How could it be that something EVERYONE knew was true was utterly false?