legacy of albert einstein

He was touted as the most important individual of the 20th century, and there is little doubt that it is true, or at least there is no other person more deserving of the title. I speak of physicist, professor, pacifist and humanist, German-Jew and great American, Dr. Albert Einstein.

Considering this mans legacy is no small task. Although he was a simple man who actually liked to deal in simple terms, the accomplishments of his lifetime can be considered no less than phenomenal, monumental, and without any question profound.
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For most who attempt contemplation of his theory of relativity and the implications of it, the staggering conceptual complexity proves overwhelming. The icon he will best be remembered for was his formula E=mc2 which in essence redefined the entire universe, or at least mans perception of it. More than just an icon, hidden within the simplicity of this formula were secrets of the atom bomb, the big bang, and the recently discovered manifestation of black holes.

In 1921, Albert Einstein one his place in fame as a Nobel laureate, but the accolades nor fame that came with it, did not distort his persona with egotism, but simply opened up a larger stage upon which he could express his ideas as he so loved to do. There can be little doubt that Einstein will be best remembered for his scientific contributions and perhaps his knack for genius, but his bequest to the continuum of human historical perspectives covers a broader spectrum of accomplishment.

He was a champion of humanitarian cause and a vehement critic of Antisemitism or any other form of oppression or discrimination. He called his new home in America "the freest place in the world" and he cherished the concept of inalienable rights. He was somewhat of an anarchist when it came to governments, hating the Nazi's that had overtaken his native Germany, but was an American patriot, even setting aside his zeal for pacifism to participate in the Manhattan project.

While Einstein was an ethnic Jew, he had great disdain for any forms of religion, and as such did not practice orthodox Judaism in any form. He was however, a spokesperson and advocate for Zionism and took great personal interest in the founding of the Hebrew University in Israel

In the final analysis, we can conclude that if any name from the 20th century will be remembered one or two thousand years into the future, then that name will most likely be Albert Einstein. That in itself is a pretty profound legacy.