Even if the current president doesn’t “believe” in the tremendous preponderance of evidence being offered to describe the phenomenon of climate change, he should remain sensitive to certain traditional bits of folk wisdom such as: “Better safe than sorry!”
You know, if you are walking on the beach and the forecast is for a king tide, you should take note and be on guard for danger. I learned this lesson the hard way. A friend and I decided to go for a walk on the beach; we were walking on firm sand near the water’s edge with the incoming tide sending small waves rippling over our barefoot feet.
We were lost in conversation when suddenly we found ourselves standing waist deep in surging foaming water! One giant wave went crashing past us, pulling and tugging at our legs as it surged forward and then fell back; even in retreat, it was surprisingly strong!
We were able to stay on our feet (thankfully!) but we were both quite amazed at the size and power of this rogue waved that seemingly appeared out of nowhere. I had never been quite sure before then what ocean-wise people meant when they said “beware rogue waves”. After that frightening incident, I now listen attentively to all such warnings.
If scientists tell us to “watch out for climate change” only fools would disregard such a warning. Stubbornness and ignorance make for a deadly pair; they never advance mankind’s achievements but rather dash hopes and dreams upon the rocks of calamity and disaster.
I am reminded of a story told about Stalin during World War II. Archaeologists informed him of an old legend–a superstitious tale, really–and asked what should they do. Keep in mind that Stalin was a dyed-in-the-wool communist; he believed utterly in the Marxist materialist approach to the real world. Nothing he did or said would ever allow him to give the slightest credence to religious dogma or superstitious tales from a medieval past.
In this instance, however, he was engaged in an all-out war against Hitler. The tomb of Tamerlane was discovered and opened on June 20; two days later, Hitler’s armies invaded Russia. Now according to legend, there was a curse placed on the opening of the tomb; if left opened for three days or longer, disaster would strike and those who opened the tomb would lose the next battle or war.
The expedition’s leaders naturally requested advice from Stalin; he simply ordered the tomb closed. Now as an atheist and a materialist there’s not a snowball’s chance in hell that Stalin could give credence to such a superstition and yet he proceeded as he did.
Why? I’ll tell you why, because at least he understood “Better safe than sorry!”
As president, Trump does not have to understand everything scientists and engineers are telling him, but only a fool would ignore them like he does. A person doesn’t have to know all the technical details of everything modern science is capable of accomplishing to enjoy good health, a higher standard of living, and a beautiful world of technology. The president, like ordinary Americans, can learn to appreciate, to collaborate, to trust.
We know it’s hard for people to give up or modify viewpoints with which they grew up. In politics and religion, it’s especially hard. Some people can do it but it’s difficult; the religious root runs particularly deep. Most people value their beliefs almost more than life itself; many do not have the requisite education or training to think matters through objectively or scientifically.
In such instances, the psychological commitment overwhelms nearly everything else. They can’t easily change their beliefs even when a more accurate scientific explanation becomes known. Consider this simple question: is the earth the center of the universe or is the sun the center of the solar system and the earth merely a planet in orbit around it?
Just a few centuries ago we know there were people who had a hard time changing their views from the first (geo-centric) viewpoint to the second (helio-centric) viewpoint, the latter now universally accepted as incontrovertible.
Indeed, we can predict with a fair degree of certainty–given the human personality’s penchant for stubborn oppositional willfulness–that with every new advance there are always a few people who will be opposed to it, no matter the degree of evidence available. No matter how thoroughly a new discovery is validated, there will be people who prefer clinging madly to the soon-to-be-outdated view.
When the airplane was invented, a popular saying was that if God intended man to fly he would have given him wings! It’s a clever enough saying but it couldn’t hold out against the airplane’s usefulness; over the years airplanes caught on as a way to travel great distances quickly—and whether or not man grew wings.
We learn from the proverb that “it takes all kinds” and perhaps in the long run it’s a healthy thing for human beings to have such an incredible diversity of personality and opinion—including even those persons who will be proven wrong but are unable to admit it.
The problem is, we expect far more from people in certain lines of work; we want our doctors up-to-date on the latest medical treatment; we certainly don’t want them resorting to leeches or cupping to bleed their patients to make them well!
We expect more from our political leaders, too; we insist that they stay informed on the latest developments around the world. Our current president, however, chooses to behave like one of those superstitious peasants from the Middle Ages who won’t change his mind no matter what new ideas and discoveries occur.
The great scientist Galileo nearly lost his life because pedantic ignoramuses were determined to protect an obsolete and unscientific view of the world for as long as possible, even though they were absolutely wrong in their geocentric beliefs.
Most grown-ups, when they develop the requisite maturity expected of adults, at least know enough when to defer to the opinions of experts.
All we are asking is that this president commits to listening to the scientific experts on the topic of global warming and climate change.
Is that too much to ask? Even if he is not educated enough or intelligent enough to understand the causes, he should still be able to see there’s widespread pollution of air and water—can he understand THAT?
If the president has no other reason than “Better safe than sorry!” then let him adopt that mantra. Let him move forward in step with the findings of environmental science.
Let him address the changes that are occurring and work proactively with political leaders and scientists to address such issues as flooding, drought, and other extreme weather events. Let him stop being an anchor dragging the world down toward a watery grave.
Let him stop trying to prevent social and cultural change from occurring. Let him stop being a front man for the dirty fossil-fuel industry because he places profits in the near-term over saner and more sensible policies for the long-term health of the world.
Let him stop being a selfish, arrogant, ignorant, narcissistic bastard and for once in his life do something for the betterment of humanity.
Let him listen to the growing chorus of voices telling him that climate change is real and urgent action must be taken now, not later.
Mr. President, it is time to grow up!
