Editor's note: This ran as an opinion piece in the Wanganui Chronicle on Friday, 27th December.
Beware those bearing H’s.
No, this has nothing to do with the spelling of W(h)anganui,
although I suspect there is ample crossover with those who have come to embrace
the word hypocrite when attacking
individuals who speak out on climate change. In other words, it’s likely that
the same people who do not want an H in Whanganui are more than happy to draw
the mighty H from their quiver and quill as a first-line offensive against
climate change activists and ordinary citizens who have the courage to bring up
the issue in the press.
In our feel-good, consumer, deflect-blame Western culture, I
reckon the worst thing you can call someone is a hypocrite. We all know that we
do not live 100% by our values 100% of the time, but the last thing we want to
hear is someone else telling us. I suspect it is part of a psychological
defense mechanism.
Knowing this human tendency, the worldwide, corporate-funded
climate change denial network has come to advise its “trolls” to use the term
at every possible opportunity. Calling someone a hypocrite has become a common
technique of climate change deniers when asking climate scientists or activists
how did they travel to a certain conference, protest, or other event. It is
meant to shut down the conversation before it begins by calling their
credibility into question because they may have traveled by automobile or
airplane.
In Whanganui, our Chronicle Letters Page climate change
denial trolls – two of whom do not live anywhere near the River City – have
learned this technique, presumably from an on-line tutorial from the right-wing
Heritage Foundation or other such corporate-funded denial organization.
About six weeks ago, a local writer to the Chronicle – who
appears to lack enough courage to use their first name when signing her or his
letters – suggested I was a hypocrite for expressing my opinion that a
predicted increased incidence of severe weather events would likely make
clearing sand from the Castlecliff Beach car park more costly in the future. A
prudent approach, I suggested, that would both save money (rates) and reduce
pollution (carbon dioxide) would be to downsize the massive, underused car park
in a managed retreat.
Of course the obvious response to this reasoned, win-win,
eco-design solution is to call the messenger a hypocrite. Duh.
I have been called many things in my long and lonely life,
but never a hypocrite. My street ‘cred’ is ‘legit’, yo.
I suspect that anyone who knows me would agree I am many
things good and bad, but not a hypocrite. Regardless of political affiliation,
it would be difficult to find a former colleague of mine willing to say I am
nothing if not genuine in my words and deeds. Although I would not hold a
candle to Buddha or the Dalai Lama, a colleague did once call me Bodhisatva. Go
ahead and laugh, but this may be closer to the truth than you think. After all,
I did teach Walter Becker’s son when he was in year 9, but do not remember if
he took me by the hand during our
parent-teacher conference*.
Although I share a car with my wife, I ride a bicycle and
take the bus the vast majority of the time. I have traveled between Whanganui
and Hamilton over a dozen times on board Intercity. When purchased a week in
advance, the return fare costs less than half the price of petrol alone. Public
transport reduces carbon emissions, and I have time to read, write and sleep on
the bus.
I suppose this means those who wish to call me a hypocrite
will simply say I’m self-righteous. With some people you cannot win, but that
does not stop them writing letters to the paper, nor should it. Keep ‘em coming
peeps, but please follow these simple instructions: do your homework first;
only use quotation marks for direct quotes; include sources and references for
anything that is not considered common knowledge; have someone proofread your
work; Use your full name; and, above all else, don’t write anything that will
end up embarrassing you in front of the entire city.
It takes courage to write something for public consumption, and
I admire courage.
* In case you missed it, Walter Becker is ½ of Steely Dan.
Peace, Estwing
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