A peer once told me that believing in global warming is a lot like believing in God. Such was a retort to an argument about the gravity of today's largest environmental issues. I had been touting the virtues of activism, individual action, policy change and technological developments. But my solutions seemed to be missing the point. Believing in climate change is dogmatic. Activism for the environment is as inundated with ideology as holy war.
The skeptic's dissenting opinion gave me occasion for pause. After recovering from the initial rage that healthily blazes in any young liberal's heart when confronted with ignorance, I began wondering how one could conflate secularly grounded environmental issues with a discussion of religion and faith. I am an environmentalist, even an activist, but I never thought of myself as a crusader. Could it be that the dirty hand of ideology had, in fact, breached my clean, green citadel?
Well, in fact, yes. Radicals have been chaining themselves to trees, ramming whaling ships and monkey-wrenching forestry equipment for decades. A certain anti-establishment fervor runs through environmental movements, assuming revolution and expounding fanaticism. From granola and Birkenstocks to solar power and hybrids, there is a tinge of something slightly red on environmentalism's professedly green bill of health. With a closer look, much activism for social and environmental justice rings with uncritical discord.
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I completely disagree with this article. As a person of faith, a social activist, and a very liberal person (which shouldn't matter in this discussion). (Continued…)
This article made me ill. Liberals like you are the reason why we are unhappy; we have computers, warm shelters, and all the food we can eat and still you complain about things in life such as global warming and ideology such that you sully our spirits. (Continued…)
The problem of activism, beyond what you've alluded to in this article, is the "passion is all I need" conviction held by so many who let everyone know how much they love the environment and ending global hunger. (Continued…)
Excellent article, as a libertarian nothing annoys me more when people start mixing ideologies, thinking that if environmentalism = good and religion = good, then environmentalism + religion to argue something = awesome. (Continued…)
2008 Woodie Awards
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Please e-mail online@dailynorthwestern.com to flag a comment or for more information.
Viewing Comments 1 - 7 of 8
Ben R.
posted 4/07/08 @ 9:17 AM CST
This is quite possibly the best editorial to be run in the daily this academic year. Thank you!
Collin J
posted 4/07/08 @ 5:04 PM CST
I completely disagree with this article. As a person of faith, a social activist, and a very liberal person (which shouldn't matter in this discussion). (Continued…)
Cairn C
posted 4/07/08 @ 10:48 PM CST
Keep writing like this Mr. Sleamaker and you just might make NU students think critically outside of a midterm. Bravo.
Cairn C
Cairn C
posted 4/07/08 @ 11:35 PM CST
Keep writing like this Mr. Sleamaker and you just might make NU student think critically outside of a midterm exam. Bravo.
Sasquatch M
posted 4/08/08 @ 12:46 AM CST
This article made me ill. Liberals like you are the reason why we are unhappy; we have computers, warm shelters, and all the food we can eat and still you complain about things in life such as global warming and ideology such that you sully our spirits. (Continued…)
Dima
posted 4/09/08 @ 11:30 AM CST
The problem of activism, beyond what you've alluded to in this article, is the "passion is all I need" conviction held by so many who let everyone know how much they love the environment and ending global hunger. (Continued…)
Brendon
posted 4/09/08 @ 2:27 PM CST
Excellent article, as a libertarian nothing annoys me more when people start mixing ideologies, thinking that if environmentalism = good and religion = good, then environmentalism + religion to argue something = awesome. (Continued…)
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