Climate Change or Global Warming?

Climate change or global warming?  Potato, potahtoh, tomato, tomahto. 

I'm sure the climate change advocates kick themselves every once in awhile when they hear the terms "global warming"; they wish other terms had been chosen to express what is happening to our planet.  The trouble with the term "global warming" is that when we have brutal winters like the last two, it gives fodder to Inhofe and his ilk who say, "Global warming? Where?"

A more accurate description of what is happening to our planet Earth is climate change.  I remember the brown winters in Oklahoma.  Brown winters had no snow, brown winters found me outside a lot playing basketball with the neighbor kids.  Brown winters found me wishing for snow.  Brown winters were full of moderate temperatures, short days, long nights, but no ice storms and blizzards. Snow was a treat, maybe coming every three to four years, not something to be dreaded.

The climate is changing and it is because of humans.  The Industrial Revolution brought more than labor saving devices.  It also brought factories that belch noxious fumes, automobiles that do the same.  Perhaps the largest change has been that not only the Western world, but the Rest of the world, wants and is gaining access to automobiles and everything else that we have enjoyed for over a century. And why shouldn't the Rest of the world have these things too?  All these emissions can't help but change our earth's atmosphere, and this change affects our global weather.

Humans do make a difference in their environment, for better or worse.  Even if one believes there is no climate change or global warming, live as if there  is.  We should conserve energy where we can, when we can.  We should be more mindful of our daily choices, from what we eat to what we wear, to how we clean, to what the temperature is in our homes.   Encourage alternative energy sources. 

Be more mindful.  Think.  This can only improve us.

Even if there isn't climate change or global warming . . .

What is the use of a house if you haven't got a tolerable planet to put it on? (Henry David Thoreau)

Short post today.  Just this:  even if Inhofe and all the other naysayers are right (which they aren't), but let's pretend - even if they are and there is no climate change/global warming, wouldn't it be better for the world, especially the United States of America, if we all lived as if there were climate change/global warming?

What is the harm of converting automobiles to cleaner fuel?  What is the harm of walking or bicycling more?  What is the harm of taking public transportation? What is the harm of reducing factory emissions?  What is the harm of cleaner water?  What is the harm of discovering alternative ways to heat our homes?

What is the harm of living as if there really is global warming/climate change?  (And there is climate change/global warming.)

A Land of Elephants and Fat White Guys

I am a blue dot in a sea of red here in this flyover state.  And I’m a native.  Somehow, the political makeup has changed over the years until, during the last Presidential election,  my flyover state was the reddest in the nation.  And for some perverse reason, we are proud of that.   


On my Google home page was a funny quote by Seth McFarlane:  “The two symbols of the Republican party:  an elephant and a big fat white guy who is threatened by change.”


Welcome to the land of elephants and fat white guys!  We battle Mississippi for the bottom rung in educational rankings, yet we vote down Question 744 which would have required our state to spend at least as much money per student as the bordering states do.  Aren’t our children worth the investment of our tax dollars?


We seem to think we are in imminent danger of Sharia law taking over our state’s courts because there was a state question about that.   Also, there was a state question about making  English the official language in this flyover state.  If anyone is familiar with this flyover state’s use of the English language, they might find this state question ironic.  Heck, the natives have trouble using English!  But now it’s official -- English is the official language of this state.  The only people this did not affect are the Native Americans.


And, of course, my candidate for governor -- Jari Askins -- did not win.  I now understand something that a professor from the East Coast once told me.  “You think you’re liberal?  You’re not liberal.  You should see the East Coast liberals.”  I understand now.  Even our Democratic candidates are barely recognizable as Democrats.  And, heaven forbid, if you aren’t wearing the required Christian cross around your neck.  That and the American flag lapel pin.  


Oh, and we also voted to block the new federal health care initiative.  It’s crazy.  We are already one of the unhealthiest states in the nation, but we don’t want any help with health care.


We’re represented by two Senators, one who says there is no climate change (there is!) and who is famous for flying his own plane which he recently landed on a closed runway (see Inhofe plane landing under FAA investigation).  And then there's Senator No.  He makes news only because he calls a press conference to say “no.”  Doesn’t matter what the question is; his answer is “no.”  He reminds me of my grandchildren.  “No.”  


Oh, and one more thing:  we elected a man to represent us in Washington, D.C. whose work experience was being a director at the Falls Creek Youth Camp, a big deal here in Baptist Oklahoma.  If nothing else, watching him maneuver around in our Nation's capitol will be interesting.


I told my husband we should move to another state.  His response, “Why should we move? We were born in this state!  We have just as much right to live here as anyone else. At least until there's a state question on the next ballot asking voters to decide if we can still live here.”


And, finally, to all you voters who switch allegiances back and forth with each election.  I believe you call yourselves "independent."  (Maybe wishy-washy?) There's a great cartoon appearing on this morning's Lawton Constitution editorial page.  A man is screaming at the TV which shows Election Night 2010.  "WE WANT CHANGE!!!"  Twenty-four hours later, the same man is screaming, "It's been 24 hours!  Nothing has changed!!"