I attended a forum on gay marriage at Brigham Young University, presented by the Sociology department. The keynote speaker asked, “Why would you study the effects of pre-marital, physical intimacy on subsequent marriages?”
Nobly, many responded that they would study the effects of such immorality to show that their moral stance on pre-marital intimacy was right. The professor wisely said. “And that would make you bad scientists. You cannot have any other alternative motive in science than to find the truth.”
Nobly, many responded that they would study the effects of such immorality to show that their moral stance on pre-marital intimacy was right. The professor wisely said. “And that would make you bad scientists. You cannot have any other alternative motive in science than to find the truth.”
He was right.
The most disconcerting finding from the “ClimateGate” scandal wasn’t so much the “smoking gun, as it was the attitude of the researchers. Their approach to research is problematic; they have an axe to grind and aren’t really interested in learning.
The lesson for conservatives is to listen to each other and try to find the truth. What if global warming really is happening? What if human activity really is the cause? And how many will dismiss the question without listening to the evidence? I know I’ve been guilty of it.
Conservatives are more worried about corruption in the government. The primary complaint isn’t against the climatologists; it’s against the government taking away our freedom. Many politicians want to pass “Cap and Trade” and other laws that will cripple our prosperity (See here about the EPA).
The pursuit of truth, (i.e. science) shouldn’t be the focus of our criticism. The way politicians construe science and create policy should be. Hopefully you’ll critically evaluate the evidence laid before you as well as what principles you argue for.
Arguing for the sake of arguing just makes angry people.
- David
(PS, for a wonderful explanation of the problem with Cap and Trade, see here. Yes, he's an environmentalist, but not my enemy. That’s the beauty of this movie. I don’t believe the world is going to be destroyed by global warming, and Earth is not my God. But I can still see the truth explained in this film by someone who feels this is true. I think this is a great exercise for anyone, not just conservatives).
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