Say, Should The U.S. Apologize For Climate Change?

by William Teach | June 22, 2015 7:53 am

Alternate headline: Should the United States issue a formal apology for being so darn productive and advanced?

Should the United States Issue a Formal Apology for Climate Change?[1]

It’s 2017 and the newly elected president of the United States is apologizing to the world for its contribution to environmental injustices at home and globally. Could this happen? Should it happen?

There’s a long list of historic environmental injustices that the United States has inflicted upon its own peoples and cultures, and globally. Environmental racism (where environmental laws, policies and practices have differentially affected individuals, groups of communities based on race or colour), the watered-down approach of American companies toward corporate social responsibility, and its significant contribution towards climate change all form part of an embarrassing environmental scorecard.

As a proud and courageous nation, the United States should be honest with itself. It’s time for the damaging and dangerous notions, fantasies, and myths of American exceptionalism and Manifest Destiny that continue to influence some elements of the nation’s political ideology to be confined to history.

Uh huh.

So, why apologize?

Over the past few years, there have been a number of political apologies offered by nations for historical and more recent injustices.[2]

As a nation, any empathy toward its neighbours brings with it feelings of shame and guilt for some aspects of its way of life. Through apologizing, that dignity and self-esteem could be restored.[3]

Our fragile planet demands that we renew and focus our energies on the resolution of conflicts, and that it is done in a way that does not simply submerge the resentments that inevitably accompany such conflicts but acknowledges and responds to them. I believe that apologizing can help in that effort.

But apologizing is more than merely an acknowledgment of offences together with an expression of remorse. It is an ongoing commitment to change the nation’s behaviour. It is a process that requires of all parties attitudes of honesty, generosity, humility, commitment, and courage.

Strange. This almost sounds like “climate change” is all part of a greater far, far left Progressive agenda. Of course, mentioning “honesty” in a discussion of “climate change”, considering all the lies Warmists have told, is a hoot.

But, hey, I’ll tell you what, I’ll agree to Mr. Paul Collins’ call for an apology when every member of the Cult of Climastrology proves an apology is needed by giving up their own use of fossil fuels and go carbon neutral in their own lives.

Crossed at Pirate’s Cove[2]. Follow me on Twitter @WilliamTeach[3].

Endnotes:
  1. Should the United States Issue a Formal Apology for Climate Change?: http://bigthink.com/experts-corner/should-the-united-states-issue-a-formal-apology-for-climate-change
  2. Pirate’s Cove: http://www.thepiratescove.us/
  3. @WilliamTeach: http://twitter.com/WilliamTeach

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