First, let’s get one thing straight. There is simply no intelligent argument in favor of destroying the environment, depleting precious resources, and leaving behind a mess others have to clean up. Leave it in better shape than you found it is a philosophy everyone can agree to. If the current debate over global warming reminds us all to be better stewards of the earth, well and good.
But I’ll be danged if I’m going to fall prey to another legalistic fundamentalism! I went down that route in my early exposure to fundamentalist Christianity and it’s taken me years to get over it. The fundamentalists are those who have rigid and judgmental attitudes of how a “righteous” person ought to live. The fundamentalist circles I was in evaluated people by whether or not they smoked tobacco, drank alcohol, went to dances, played cards and wore makeup. The “real” committed faithful didn’t frequent bowling alleys or pool parlors, they didn’t wear wedding rings, and the women didn’t wear slacks. The “true believers” regarded folks who did such things with condescension and condemnation.
Now I read in the April 9, 2007 issue of Time that there is a new list of 51 do’s and don’ts for those who want to be environmentally righteous. Among them are # 29 “Remove the tie” and #31“Wear green eye shadow” (p.89). And, not surprisingly, as with all such controlling systems, they have even figured out a way one can “Pay for your carbon sins” (#42, p. 94). Hallelujah! I can be “redeemed” simply by contributing money that “typically funds clean-energy projects”. Translation, contributions will pay the environmental religionists’ salaries.
God help us! The last thing we need is another fundamentalist religion on the planet. Especially one that won’t let me wear a tie when I want to—which is almost never.
3 comments:
Camille Paglia writes:
I am a skeptic about what is currently called global warming. I have been highly suspicious for years about the political agenda that has slowly accrued around this issue. As a lapsed Catholic, I detest dogma in any area. Too many of my fellow Democrats seem peculiarly credulous at the moment, as if, having ground down organized religion into nonjudgmental, feel-good therapy, they are hungry for visions of apocalypse.
I'm warming to the cautionary evidence for global climate change (pun intended).
I mean, what's not to like? If it encourages solutions, both technologically and behaviorally, toward creating cleaner and more efficient means to power our toasters, then more's the better.
Sure, maybe it will require some sacrifice. Buying "green" isn't necessarily cheaper right now. But as a market demands more environmentally-friendly practices and products, there is great potential for fiscal rewards for everyone. How much does wind cost again? Perhaps some small death of our American individualism and decadence is needed...not necessarily a bad thing in the long view. Sacrifice is a rich and valuable exercise, but it too often greets us on it's own terms.
And here's another chance to perhaps unite under the auspices of doing good that can benefit us all.
It's strange, I see a lot of God in it too. I see an opportunity to worship Him here. And as much as fundamentalism has raised it's ugly head in the midst of perfectly functional religion, it's never been a deal breaker for me.
I'd encourage people to search themselves with this issue. Avoid any impulse that would cause a judgment that begins with a core of fear. Whether it be a "sky is falling" mentality that affirms the global warming movement or a "slash-and-burn" mentality freighted by a particular eschatological view, I don't think the talking point of global warming is as important as how we relate to one another through it.
We're all in it together and at it's core this is the most precious theme of the environmental message.
Having lived in the "cold country" up north where summer was my favorite two weeks of the year, I have come to the conclusion that I am actually in favor of global warming. Now that I live in the south, I see the merits of warmth. Show me a ballot--I'll hang my chad on a yes vote. I'll even leave my carbon footprint on the beach if you want. Just don't try to make me believe that I can make a difference in global temperatures by hugging a tree. We can all be better stewards of our environment by simpy using good sense and not being wasteful.
That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
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