Jan
18
Choteau vs “Climate Change”
January 18, 2008 | 2 Comments
Usually, when the community of Choteau makes national news it is because of its most famous part-time resident, David Letterman. But this week Choteau has made headlines for a different reason: a professor was dis-invited to speak to students at the high school, and passions are strong on both sides as to the reason for the canceled speech.
In brief: University of Montana scientist Steve Running was scheduled to give two speeches in Choteau last week. The first one was supposed to be to a group of high school students; in Runnings’ own words, “I was just going to try to give an inspirational speech for young people about the jobs of science.” The second speech was titled “The Five Stages of Climate Grief.”
Some people in Choteau didn’t like the subject of the second speech (nor do I), and felt strongly enough about it to call the school superintendent and voice their concerns about Runnings’ scheduled first speech to the students. They were understandably concerned that his “global warming is real” philosophy would seep into the presentation about becoming a scientist without any opposing viewpoints to balance Running.
So the first speech was canceled, and the second one was presented as planned. End of story, right? Nope…now there are people who are howling at the thought of “…a Nobel laureate being temporarily silenced in his own state.” What rubbish: the implication that Running is being censored, and that his ideas and words are being suppressed, is nonsensical, since his words and ideas are available to anyone with an internet connection. Or access to anything of, by, or about Al Gore.
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his “global warming is real” philosophy
You have got to be kidding me. It is not a philosophy, it is SCIENCE. Steve Running is research scientist — a damn good one. And he has been working his butt off for years to try to save humanity from itself.
Please, what do people have to gain by making this stuff up? Those with something to gain are corporations and the wealthy that are more concerned with profits than people. I can’t believe people are falling for their propaganda.
And it sure as heck is censorship when an expert is denied the opportunity speak based on fear and controversy. I’ll bet the people minimizing this would be shrieking foul play if one of their “team” had a lecture canceled because somebody disagreed with them.
No, it is not censorship — Running’s voice is not being silenced, and he is free to promote his ideas. True censhorship occurs when the government prohibits the free expression of ideas.
I have no doubt that Running is sincere in his beliefs, and that he is a good scientist. I’m not knocking him.
And while the climate stuff may indeed be science, the philosophy surrounding it is NOT. The hype, the press, the celebrity, the attitude of the Greenies — that “transcends” science and has become a philosophy.