Yeah, there’s a lot of crazy angry people on the right. People who seem out of touch with reality. People who deny the climate crisis and believe masks are evil.
And, yes, even to most leftists, I seem way, WAY to the left. For example, I don’t believe our current system can be reformed from within.
But, I’m not simply a cliche, a bucket of views selected from a limited menu with two items. In part, that’s because I believe in the principle of triage — that is, rank things by degree of importance and focus on what’s really important.
There’s plenty of unimportant and often imaginary issues that the right wingers obsess on: the cups at Starbucks; whatever AOC said yesterday; ridiculous allegations that Democrats stole an election in states where the election officials are in the GOP.
But those on the left have trivial or imaginary issues that they obsess about, too. For example, the language policing and the tiresome anger at people who use the “wrong” term. Let’s be clear — sometimes I don’t know what personal pronoun to use and I don’t sweat it. As long as I treat everyone with respect, what does it matter?
And then there’s taking a single statement made by someone and becoming obsessively angry at him. You know what? Eric Clapton is wrong about the COVID vaccine and I’d never take his advice about that. But he is, in fact, a very good guitarist and has many other qualities as well — some laudable, others less so.
Just like everyone. Just like you.
My view is this: I’m not gonna sweat over Starbucks cups or personal pronouns. (Hey, call me Ishmael!) I’m gonna look around, see what’s really important and try to DO something about it.
In my case, the number one issue is the climate. I want to save the Earth for the young and for future generations. If the planet becomes permanently hostile to human life, the other issues look really small.
So, I try to persuade people who are in a position to do something. I write to oil executives and remind them what burning fossil fuels will mean for THEIR OWN children and grandchildren. I try not to think of them is evil, but as foolish. I’m trying to save their grandchildren — while THEY are dooming them. Maybe my actions won’t work — they certainly haven’t so far.
And I’m encouraging people to consider sabotaging the physical infrastructure and other creations of the fossil fuel industry. (Think SUVs.) I’ve been asking people to read How To Blow Up A Pipeline by Andreas Malm. Can you help save the Earth by making fossil fuels a risky and unattractive investment? Possibly.
I’ve been seeking out other approaches to which I might contribute, including traditional protests — which in my view are too slow to save us, at this late date. But maybe they are a valuable part of a bigger strategy.
In any case, I try to identify a strategy and take action. Not AGAINST people, but FOR people. Including the children and grandchildren of oil executives.
Even if you oppose everything I believe, even if you are my political opposite, I think you should identify what’s most important to you, and take action. But never action against people. Do what you can that would, in your view, make a positive difference about something important.
I’d appreciate if you recognize my intentions are to help, and to make things better. I won’t hold it against you if you try to thwart me because you believe I’m mistaken. Ok, I might be annoyed.
But do what you think is best. Just really think! Oh, and don’t sweat the small stuff. There’s plenty of it.
