The Climate Crusades

In Jack Black’s comedy Nacho Libre, Black plays Nacho Libre, a Christian monk in Mexico who, along with his emaciated vagabond friend Esqueleto, is on a mission to become a famous professional wrestler. Throughout the movie, Nacho struggles to reconcile his religious upbringing with his desire for glory. To relieve his guilt, he makes it his mission to baptize Esqueleto. To each of Nacho’s attempts at proselytizing, however, Esqueleto always has the same dead pan response: “I only believe in science.”

I don’t know whether man-made global warming is true. What I do know is the question is not whether one believes in “science,” per se, but whether one believes certain scientists over others. There is no unified body of science on this issue; if there was, there wouldn’t be documented evidence of attempts to silence critics. Besides, anyone who has been around scientists knows they can’t agree on anything. When they do, they have a word for their agreement; they call it a “law.”

Because global warming is a theory, we skeptics have a right to question it. Skeptics are not “silly” (Robert Gibbs) or “deniers” (Newsweek); we’re just people who aren’t buying the hysteria. We want clean air and water just like everyone else, but we’re not ready to turn over our lives to wannabe oligarchs, especially those currently plotting in Copenhagen.

Still, the alarmist treats the skeptic like a disease. Why? Because there’s no room for disagreement when it comes to saving the world. If global warming really is a matter of life and death—as the alarmists believe—then a skeptic is an enemy of the planet.

Rather you should be an enemy of the people. Witness the call for a global one-child policy or the journalist wishing an “enlightened” autocracy could replace the democratic system. In their hysteria, the alarmists have met the enemy; and we are it.

Global warming crusaders have been compared often to the religious zealot. The comparison has merit. One says follow God, and he’ll save you from hell; the other, follow Gore, and he’ll save you from the weather. Both find purpose in something larger than themselves. The difference is the environmentalist sees his own genius as the solution. Only he can save the planet.

Admittedly, there are sensible people on both sides of the aisle. Can’t we get together,  form a team, and promote a clean environment without the Chicken Little nonsense? Can’t we push for clean air and water because both are good for people?

After losing his first several wrestling matches, Nacho and Esqueleto had the following exchange:

Nacho: I'm not listening to you! You only believe in Science. That's probably why we never win!

Esqueleto: We never win because you are fat!

Let’s get back to the point of this debate. In many areas, the environment is lousy because we are fat. We waste too much energy and consume outrageously. The debate shouldn’t be about the science behind doomsday predictions; it should be about making our environment safe and our habitat clean. On that, can’t we all agree?

Comments

[Nacho (Monk in training)]

"When the fantasy has ended,
And all the children are gone,
Something deep inside me
Will help me to carry on..."

[Tony]

Get that corn outta my face!

[John]

Not exactly the direction I wanted to go, but since y'all started it:

Nacho: Chancho! I need to borrow some sweats.
Chancho: Are you leaving us?
Nacho: No, Chancho, I would never leave you. I just need to borrow some sweats.

[Ben]

Sometimes...When you are a man, you wear stretchy pants in your room...Just for fun.