Climate change, a blind man and the elephant

I  am glad that Makayla Sundquist took the initiative to write a letter to the editor expressing her thoughts regarding a short series of meetings held locally titled “Climate Change Trojan Horse.” I only wish she had attended to see if her assumptions were indeed correct.

Contrary to her assertion that the event was “based on disproving climate change,” the speaker never stated climate change had been disproven. In fact, he showed slides depicting increases in drought, earthquakes, floods, and other calamities in the natural world. My biggest concern with the letter was the statement, “I support free speech, but not when the information is untrue and actively hurting people.”

I am so grateful that this country values free speech. One only has to look at the mysterious death of Russian opposition activist Navalny to appreciate that freedom.

Who determines what is true? I ask you, do you want some elite individual or group determining what is true and forbidding you to disagree? That is one hallmark of a totalitarian system. Or do you buy the idea that truth is decided by a majority vote?

Thank you for voicing your thoughts but I urge you to join me in learning to dialogue first.  

It is right to stand up for your convictions, however much can be gained by listening to each other. Let’s remember the story of the blind men and the elephant and hold ourselves back from giving too much credence to assumptions that all too often have been wrong.

LYLE HARDER

Sagle