You know it’s nice to have a public forum where you can voice your thoughts and opinions about any possible topic. A few years ago, those opinions would have been about my favorite rock bands, the coolest alternative hair colors and the best way to sneak alcohol into an alcohol-free dorm room.
But just a few years later, I’ve grown slightly more responsible and have found new topics to opine on. Things that might actually make a difference, like politics and government and the environment. It’s fun to put your thoughts down and send them out. The part that isn’t nearly so nice is hearing the insults and arguments from every person who might possibly disagree with you. (Including those who just say, “Your stupid opinions suck.”) It’s something I’ve gotten used to over my time here at the Sun, but when it comes to some topics, I’m still not sure why or how people are still arguing.
I’ve made no secret of my views on being environmentally friendly or about my belief that global warming is a very real and dangerous occurrence that not only will happen, but is already happening. Although the issue is a hot button topic right now, with all kinds of support from politicians, like Al Gore, and celebrities, like Leonardo DeCaprio, Sheryl Crow and Pink, even car insurance commercials and credit card companies are encouraging people to be environmentally friendly by choosing paperless billing and offsetting their carbon emissions, if that were all it was, I wouldn’t expect people to be convince.
After all, I’ve never been one to be fooled into believing everything I see on television, (if I did, I would just teach myself how to wiggle my nose like on Bewitched, and this problem would be solved). And there’s no way I’m going to take advice from someone who chose their stage name based on the color of their hair, but after hearing a UN report, and several other scientific studies, that say that this problem needs immediate action to prevent rising temperatures, melting glaciers, flooding and extinction, I’m probably going to believe that something needs to be done.
No matter how long this argument goes on or how many people and studies prove that glaciers are melting and temperatures are rising, (although it may not feel like it today) there will still be a group of people who think the entire thing is a matter of fiction and that we should ignore it and let nature run its course.
Maybe they’re right, and all of the studies and scientists and facts are purely a work of fiction, designed to insight fear and force people to be more environmentally conscious. I’ll go along with that theory. However since I’ve been taught to plan for the worst and hope for the best, I think I’ll still try to be kind to the planet by recycling and driving a little less and planting trees and using less electricity. Some people will say I’m gullible or foolish, but if the scientists are right, then I’m doing everything I can to prevent a catastrophe, and if they are wrong, well I’m still helping the environment, and what’s so foolish about that?