What do (Environment-obsessed) Liberals and (Jesus-obsessed) Conservatives have in common?
Faith.
When someone finds out I am a godless heathen, the first thing out of their mouth is usually, "Why not believe just in case?" Their reasoning is that if I'm right, I've lost nothing and if I'm wrong, then I still get to join their harp and lute band in the sky after I'm dead. When I counter that I've been down that road, and little things like facts and science dictate that I no longer buy it, they tell me to "have faith". For example, faith is supposed to make me overlook evolution ("It's just a theory!" "Scientists can be wrong!").
On the drive home from my parent's house last Friday, I hit some bad weather. It sucked and I was a little freaked out by the horrendous winds and snow. I needed a distraction from my impending doom, so I set my radio to WLS and caught a chunk of the Sean Hannity talk show. I figured I could channel my fear into rage and keep my car on the road.
Sean was discussing global warming and the fact that he doesn't believe we humans are responsible for it ("It's just a theory!" "Scientists can be wrong!"). Then a woman called in and mused that even if global warming is some kind of "cockamamie lefty propaganda designed to hurt capitalism" (to paraphrase Mr. Hannity), shouldn't we err on the side of caution just in case? In essence, shouldn't we have faith that the scientists are correct. Either way, we win by taking an active role in preserving our planet.
Maybe I'm grasping at straws here. It just struck me that both sides are essentially asking the other side to do the same thing: Have faith that the other is right.
Of course, this is coming from someone who neither goes to church nor recycles, so both sides hate me.
At least they can agree on something.
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- I like stuff and things. I've been married for close to 14 years and have two miniature versions of myself running around (and it frightens me most of the time). I have never been nor will I ever be a vegetarian.
6 comments:
I always thought Sean Hannity was god.
You and he are in agreement then.
Most of the neocons I know, ironically, refer to global warming theory as "junk science." Now, 99% of the time, they completely ignore scientists. Science is bad / God is good. And, yet, on these issues, they're somehow enlightened scientific thought leaders.
We all know that 99+% of the scientists in the world agree that global warming is real and that evolution is spot-on. But, a few whack-job renegade scientists deny it and the right wingers latch onto them like super-glue.
In other words, right-wingers only use science when they need to. Things they hate suddenly become "junk science" based on some whack-job with a Ph.D. no doubt from some southern rebel-flag-flying university. Global warming? "Junk science." Evolution? "Junk science." DDT? You could sprinkle it on your MF-ing Cheerios. Et cetera.
As for the whole believing "justs in case" argument, I've long held that, if there does turn out to be a god, this would be viewed by the deity as selfishness and you'd be cast straight to hell. As Thomas Jefferson said, "Question with boldness even the existence of a god; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason, than that of blindfolded fear."
I don't hate you even though I DO believe in God AND global warming. I mean, your blog is titled "Better living through bacon". I'm growing rather fond of you and appreciate our common love of salty meats (wait...that sounds so wrong...). Anyway... ;)
Although I can understand a person trying to have you consider God, the idea that they can persuade you to "just have faith" rings false. You either believe it or you don't. Telling you to believe it "just in case" makes it sound more like they expect you to go through the motions than actually hold the belief, which goes against the very point of faith.
I get really frustrated/ irritated/ticked off/"not Christian" with Christian groups who write off global warming. It's happening. What are we going to do about it (or not). That's it. I would think, to Christians, it should be a particular burden as there are scriptural dictates about being good stewards of the earth.
But that's just me.
Patrick: Spot on, Mistah Gas!
Hanmee: I worried that it would appear that I don't believe that global warming is real. I absolutely think it's real. I am just too lazy to recycle.
(but I promise to start once we're settled in the new house. It's actually a "mid year's resolution" of mine).
I didn't get the impression you didn't believe in it, only that you were frustrated with the groups you were highlighting.
And just because you believe in something doesn't mean it's easy to change all of your habits overnight. Even when you are confronted with them.
As much as I believe in global warming, do I make the green choices? NO. I am trying to change my behavior, one habit at a time. It's hard to change them especially when another way seems so convenient. And I am so (oh so) lazy. But it's a start. I gotta start somewhere
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