Because I’m off my feet now recovering from foot surgery, I have lots of time to go down rabbit holes. The terrain is so full of holes, I’m beginning to wonder how the ground under our feet holds together.

I clicked on an article that sounded an alarm over the demise of sardines (my husband will be glad to hear that) and declared that the domino effect will be the loss of huge populations of sea creatures. Makes sense.

Pondering that, I scrolled down to a meme that screamed at me, Now do you believe in climate change you #$@*!!!? (Insert a long list of angry invectives branding non believers as evil people of questionable parentage.)

As a writer I spend a lot of time attempting to craft intelligent responses to difficult, complex issues. Given that my brain scatters in multiple directions before it forms a complete and hopefully rational thought, it takes me awhile to get clear on things.

I am not going to address the issues involved in climate change in a public forum. I will freely admit that I don’t know enough about the science that supports the conclusions people draw to discuss the topic in any meaningful way. I do have some thoughts on temperature of the discussion, though.

The louder they shout, the less they know

In his book On Moral Fiction, John Gardner suggests how the true artist should deal with people who may also be artists, but who pervert art for their own purposes. I think the same argument could be made for the true scientist.

It’s not safe to let them be driven from the republic by policeman, politicians, or professional educators. Officialdom would drive out all of us, which is one of the reasons that when we come out shooting we should all talk with dignity and restraint, like congressman, and wear, like Doc Holliday, vests and ties. Let a state of total war be declared not between art and society—at least until society starts horning in—but between the age-old enemies, real and fake.

Real and fake

The first order of business is to acknowledge that Gardner said this in the Seventies when congressmen behaved with more decorum, at least in public. But to my point, sorting the real from the fake is a difficult business. It’s easier to resort to shouting at each other.

Behind the shouting on the climate change side seems to be a White Rabbit urgency, “I’m late! I’m late! I’m late! For a very important date! The table we are asked to come to is like the Mad Tea Party: lots of arbitrary and inconsistent cross talk. The image of Alice storming off in disgust while the Mad Hatter and the March Hare attempt to stuff the Dormouse into a teapot seems apt.

Good stewardship

We are called to be good stewards of the earth and to manage our resources well. Titus 1:7-9 says that good stewards must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or drunkards or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, lovers of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. They must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught and be able to give instruction in sound doctrine. In short, the characteristics of a good steward are a pure heart, good behavior and due diligence.

But, but, but, this is urgent! It’s important! No time for niceties, the zealot may say. Yes, I say, but if you want my trust, you will have to do better than yell in my face.

photo credit: Alice falling down the rabbit hole @ Blue’s Bros Smoke Shop via photopin (license)