A couple of weeks ago newly-elected Senator Barack Obama impressed even the jaded blogosphere with the brilliance of his response to those on the left eager to punish Democratic Senators deemed to be "appeasing" right-wing Republicans by working with them on certain issues, or not opposing them bitterly enough on others.
The post on Obama's website, which also can be found on Daily Kos, fully deserves reading from start to finish; it's a masterpiece, not for its rhetoric, its flowery phrases or angry denunciations (what flowery phrases?)...but because it just makes so much sense. But what makes it inspiring to yours truly is its determination not to be drawn into hyperbole , but to make a virtue of the truth.
Hyperbole is especially tempting when it comes to global issues such as climate change, I think, because the fact that we are facing a whole new world, literally, opens the door to the wildest sort of speculations or fears. It's especially important to those of us who believe in truth and science not to be drawn into the trap of exaggeration, from which no reputation can emerge unharmed. The issues we face are big enough.
Here's what Obama said:
And I firmly believe that whenever we exaggerate or demonize, or oversimplify or overstate our case, we lose. Whenever we dumb down the political debate, we lose. A polarized electorate that is turned off of politics, and easily dismisses both parties because of the nasty, dishonest tone of the debate, works perfectly well for those who seek to chip away at the very idea of government because, in the end, a cynical electorate is a selfish electorate.
He was speaking of politics, but it's just as true regarding the planet's health. The temptation is to respond to cynicism about science and the environment with apocalyptic visions of doom; tempting, but that way hyperbole lies. The facts are troubling enough; leave the apocalypses to the religious fanatics.
