Remarks to the Commonwealth Club Michael Crichton (Theme: Environmentalism is really Urban Atheism)

Michael Crichton ^ | September 15, 2003 | Michael Crichton

[FreedomPoster]

I have been asked to talk about what I consider the most important challenge facing mankind, and I have a fundamental answer. The greatest challenge facing mankind is the challenge of distinguishing reality from fantasy, truth from propaganda. Perceiving the truth has always been a challenge to mankind, but in the information age (or as I think of it, the disinformation age) it takes on a special urgency and importance.

[Samwise]

I'm saving this for Hubby to read. I thought yours might want to read it too. :^)

[Doctor Stochastic]

This article is as bad as his novels. His misunderstanding of environmentalism makes him less than helpful in fighting junk science.

[Dan Evans]

Perhaps the point to stress is here is hubris, and not religion. Nobody has a monopoly on hubris.

Speaking of hubris, I've always felt that the difference between the religious view of nature and the environmentalist view is this: the Bible says Man should dominate and subdue nature, environmentalists believe that environmentalists should dominate and subdue Man.

[cornelis]

Interesting reply. I guess all the cards get played when political humanity is engaged, now to admit, now to dismiss criticism.

I started out with a criticism of Crichton's reasoning and pointed out his error. The error is called dicto simpliciter and yes, we are the better for faulting his resort to fallacious propaganda. It's too bad, because I think the criticism of the hubristic environmentalist is warranted.

But on a deeper level concerning the value of critical thinking across the board, we should begin to recognize that both extremes, dogmatism and mysticism, are not a special prejudice of some past age. Nor is our present dispostion to technology or political procedure exempt from either extremes.

[Ditto]

I found his statements that those who banned DDT knew they were lying to be especially interesting and worth researching, worth repeating.

Look it up. He's right-on with his facts. Rachel Carson's silly little book killed more people than Stalin, Hitler and Mao combined or all religious wars in history. And they turned her birthplace in Springdale PA into a National Historic Landmark and troop school children there every day to indoctrinate them into their pagan Enviro Religion.

[cornelis]

Interesting. Although if you let me be finicky, I would point out that you have given the difference between a biblical view and the environmentalist view.

This is an important distinction in light of this discussion because it's so easy commit another version of the same old fallacy of mistaking some part for the whole, that a religious view of nature = a biblical view of nature.

[FreedomPoster]

LOL, perfect!

P.J. is the best, I need to find the copy of The Atlantic I bought to read the article it had from him on Iraq.

[FreedomPoster]

You disagree with a large number percentage of those posting on this thread, nearly all. Care to articulate why you think that?

[FreedomPoster]

A DDT link.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/710158/posts

[Dan Evans]

You're right, that was sloppy of me. As a matter of fact, there were quite a few primitive religions (and some present-day) that take the natural view. The Nazi's were pagan nature worshipers and the encouraged the "stong should dominate the weak" view of childrearing (and pretty much everything else).

[Argh]

Bump.

[Virginia-American]

The closest comparison I can make with the "fundamental religion" of environmentalism is that of the suicidal religion of Islamic fundamentalism.

Disagree. Marxism has many of the characteristics of a religion (prophecies, inerrant scripture, promises of a better future, etc), and it takes the place of (normal) religion for its true believers. That's what the enviros are.

Green on the outside, red on the inside

(Green is the color of Islam, though...)

[nkycincinnatikid]

bump

[knews_hound]

BTTT

[massadvj]

The President who spends twice as much on defense as the one who spends on welfare is the conservative

I'm not arguing with Bush's defense spending. Here is the domestic agenda:

The biggest farm subsidy bill in US history
The biggest increase in federal spending toward education in US history
The biggest new entitlement (prescription drugs) since Johnson
Three extensions of unemployment benefits
Inreases in the rate of discretionary, non-defense spending that far exceed the rate of inflation and economic growth combined

Could Gore have done more than this had he been elected with a Republican Congress? I think not.

[syriacus]

I hope Crichton hasn't had to go into hiding after making this great speech.

We need more bright and brave souls like him

[PatrickHenry]

P L A C E M A R K E R

[js1138]

bump for later study. Looks good.

[Publius6961]

Long but excellent read.
Bump for reading comments later...

[RadioAstronomer]

Thanks! I pinged Patrick hoping he would use the ping list. I am glad he did :-)