Hey Newsweek: Why not just call us heretics?
Posted: Saturday, Aug 11, 2007 - 11:58:03 pm MDT
FRANK MIELE

http://www.dailyinterlake.com/articles/2007/08/12/columns/columns01.txt

If you wanted to see an example of biased journalism, a good place to
start would be the Aug. 13 cover story in Newsweek about global
warming.

The issue's cover says "Global Warming Is A Hoax," but there is an
asterisk, which leads to the statement "Or so claim well-funded
naysayers who still reject the overwhelming evidence of climate
change."

In other words, Newsweek has an agenda to promote global-warming
hysteria, and they don't feel any need to give equal time to a point
of view they disagree with. Indeed Newsweek's author Sharon Begley
denounces global warming skeptics as "deniers," a term which I think
establishes the pseudo-religious quality of the global warming crusade
as well as anything.

We are indeed reaching the point where "science" has become the
equivalent of religious dogma, and "deniers" of the "received truth"
(from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, in this case)
have the same status as the poor saps who dared to tell the
Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (previously known as the
Inquisition) that church dogma was wrong.

Although "deniers" of the faith of global warming cannot yet be
executed, they can be excommunicated - from the one true church of
government funding for scientific research - and that threat of lost
funding has marginalized skeptics of global warming to the point where
they probably feel a little like Galileo under house arrest.

Newsweek complains that some of the scientists who do not recite the
Catechism of Climate Change, as declared by the Intergovernmental
Panel, have taken what can only be considered 20 pieces of silver from
the ***** of Babylon, also known as ExxonMobil. To quote Newsweek,
"Since the late 1980s, this well-coordinated, well-funded campaign by
contrarian scientists, free-market think tanks and industry has
created a paralyzing fog of doubt around climate change."

The language is virtually identical to that used by the Catholic
Church to describe the damage done to "true faith" by anyone who dared
to use the lever of science to pry people out from the confines of
ignorance. And just as the Inquisition would try to link heretics to
Satan, so too does the modern inquisition against global-warming
skeptics - for in this day and age there is surely no greater demon
than ExxonMobil, is there?

But for just one moment, let us ask the obvious question: What
difference does it make where I get the money to do my scientific
research, if indeed it is scientific research and not just propaganda?
Obviously no difference at all. The earth is still going to be
revolving around the sun, regardless of who paid for my lunch.


--
The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority but to
escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane. -- Marcus Aurelius

Wherever I go it will be well with me, for it was well with me here, not
on account of the place, but of my judgments which I shall carry away
with me, for no one can deprive me of these; on the contrary, they alone
are my property, and cannot be taken away, and to possess them suffices
me wherever I am or whatever I do. -- EPICTETUS

Joseph R. Darancette
daranc@NOSPAMcharter.net

In other words, Newsweek has an agenda to

FRANK MIELE

Hey Newsweek: Why not just call us heretics?
Posted: Saturday, Aug 11, 2007 - 11:58:03 pm MDT
FRANK MIELEhttp://www.dailyinterlake.com/articles/2007/08/12/columns/columns01.txt

If you wanted to see an example of biased journalism, a good place to
start would be the Aug. 13 cover story in Newsweek about global
warming.

The issue's cover says "Global Warming Is A Hoax," but there is an
asterisk, which leads to the statement "Or so claim well-funded
naysayers who still reject the overwhelming evidence of climate
change."

In other words, Newsweek has an agenda to promote global-warming
hysteria, and they don't feel any need to give equal time to a point
of view they disagree with. Indeed Newsweek's author Sharon Begley
denounces global warming skeptics as "deniers," a term which I think
establishes the pseudo-religious quality of the global warming crusade
as well as anything.

Hey Newsweek: Why not just call us heretics?
Posted: Saturday, Aug 11, 2007 - 11:58:03 pm MDT
FRANK MIELEhttp://www.dailyinterlake.com/articles/2007/08/12/columns/columns01.txt