[Vision2020] Anti-Discrimination Ordinance

Thu Apr 4 14:09:27 PDT 2013

Oversimplified erroneous stereotypes are often part of what motivates
discrimination and hatred, whether they apply to blacks, women,
homosexuals, or even those promoting environmental action.

Am I to understand you think that in general the "green movement," which is
a rather hard to define entity, is nefarious?  In what manner?

I do not question for an instant that some will and are exploiting
environmental concerns for cynical or profit oriented aims,
that have nothing to do with solving environmental problems, but rather
with manipulating peoples fears for political or financial gain.

But there is no "green movement" that marches in lock step like an army
taking orders from central command.  There are a wide variety of different
ideological, political and religious orientations to a wide range of
environmental problems; and to state that in whole these viewpoints express
a "nefarious agenda" is to oversimplify and stereotype in the extreme.

Consider the Vatican, a bastion of conservative values on abortion, not
allowing women as priests, contraception, and not promoting full rights for
homosexuals:
http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_19861001_homosexual-persons_en.html

Yet consider the Vatican position on anthropogenic climate change expressed
by Vatican scientists in "Fate of Mountain Glaciers
in the Anthropocene," a position many conservatives in the US stereotype as
a typical liberal or socialist view on global warming:

http://catholicclimatecovenant.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Pontifical-Academy-of-Sciences_Glacier_Report_050511_final.pdf

Declaration by the Working Group

We call on all people and nations to recognize the serious
and potentially irreversible impacts of global warming caused
by the anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases and other
pollutants, and by changes in forests, wetlands, grasslands, and other
land uses. We appeal to all nations to develop and implement, without
delay, effective and fair policies to reduce the causes and impacts of
climate change on communities and ecosystems, including mountain
glaciers and their watersheds, aware that we all live in the same home.
By acting now, in the spirit of common but differentiated responsibility,
we accept our duty to one another and to the stewardship of a planet
blessed with the gift of life.

We are committed to ensuring that all inhabitants of this planet
receive their daily bread, fresh air to breathe and clean water to drink
as we are aware that, if we want justice and peace, we must protect
the habitat that sustains us. The believers among us ask God to grant
us this wish.
--------------------------------------------------
Wow!
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Vision2020 Post: Ted Moffett

On Tue, Apr 2, 2013 at 5:26 PM, Judd A. Wilson
<judd_allen_wilson at yahoo.com>wrote:

> Ted, you're absolutely right in saying that I took an oversimplified view
> of things when I was still a liberal.  By stating that the green movement
> has nefarious purposes, I was summing up the complexity of its agenda.
>  You're 100% correct to say that there are nefarious intents, persons and
> purposes across the spectrum of institutions, demographics, etc.  Thanks
> for the link.
>
>   ------------------------------
> *From:* Ted Moffett <starbliss at gmail.com>
>
> *To:* Judd A. Wilson <judd_allen_wilson at yahoo.com>
> *Cc:* "vision2020 at moscow.com" <vision2020 at moscow.com>
> *Sent:* Tuesday, April 2, 2013 3:48 PM
>
> *Subject:* Re: [Vision2020] Anti-Discrimination Ordinance
>
>
> Judd A. Wilson wrote:
>
> "When I was a Democrat I thought the only reason conservatives opposed
> environmental regulations was because they were greedy businessmen who
> wanted to kill the planet."
> ------------------------------
> This statement suggests that you adopted an oversimplified and very
> stereotypical view of "conservatives" when you were a Democrat, at least
> regarding "environmental regulations."
>
> What prompted you to adopt this oversimplified negative stereotypical view
> of conservatives who oppose environmental regulations?
>
> It appears that you continue in this oversimplified stereotyping of other
> peoples views when you also wrote:
>
>  "...the green movement was based on false premises and had a nefarious
> agenda of its own..."
>
> "Nefarious agendas" can be discovered among individuals with widely
> differing worldviews, among those who believe in a "God" or do not, or
> among those who think sober objective science indicates there are very
> serious environmental problems that humanity must address, or do not, etc.
> "Nefarious" human beings occupy positions in every major institution in
> society, in churches, courts, schools, military, among police, lawyers,
> businessman, democrats, republicans, libertarians, among evangelicals and
> agnostics and atheists et. al.
>
> I am certain that many in powerful economic positions in the world of
> business sincerely believe that global warming, for example, is an
> exaggerated threat that does not justify certain economic costs of
> addressing the problem.  I would not condemn these people as "greedy
> business people who want to kill the planet" even though I think the
> preponderance of scientific evidence indicates that anthropogenic climate
> warming, and all it implies, is a grave threat to humanity and the
> biosphere as a whole.
>
> For an analysis of the complexity and range of views on global warming,
> the following PDF from Anthony Leiserowitz at Yale University is at least a
> start... It certainly avoids the ridiculous stereotyping of people into
> "warmers" and "denialists" regarding the threat of global warming:
>
>
> http://environment.yale.edu/leiserowitz/pubs_assets/ClimateRiskCommunication.pdf
>
> A bio on Anthony Leiserowitz is at website below, which offers a link to
> the "Yale Project on Climate Change Communication," one of the best sources
> I have discovered for analysis on how to approach this vexing problem:
>
> http://environment.yale.edu/profile/leiserowitz/
> ------------------------------------------
> Vision2020 Post: Ted Moffett
>
> On Tue, Apr 2, 2013 at 2:46 PM, Judd A. Wilson <
> judd_allen_wilson at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> Hi, my name is Judd Wilson.  I'm one of the people who attended last
> night's meeting  and intended to speak in opposition to the gender
> discrimination ordinance.
>
> This is my first time using this forum, but I saw my name bantered about
> here today (and several months ago when I spoke to the city council
> regarding the anti-child, anti-Christian billboard), so I figured I'd join
> the forum so we can have real dialogue.
>
> As someone who grew up valuing free speech, journalism, transparency in
> government, personal kindness, and rational discussion, whenever I see
> people launching a salvo at another person whom they've never even met, nor
> given the opportunity for proper debate, I get the feeling that I'm seeing
> something out of a sci-fi movie.  That behavior is from another planet.
>
> To the best of my understanding, whether you're coming at things from a
> Biblical, Reformation worldview or a naturalistic, Enlightenment worldview,
> we as Americans have the duty and opportunity to treat each other
> courteously, respectfully, and intelligently.
>
> For the record, I grew up a liberal Democrat, spent my youth as a
> progressive, and championed most of the views touted on this website (i.e.,
> gun control, egalitarianism, multiculturalism, abortion rights, social
> programs, non-Biblical theology, and yes, even acceptance of homosexuality).
>
> So I'll say it once, and I'll probably have to say it again, but I chose
> what I believe and how I live after deliberate and intensive study,
> reflection and experience.  Isn't that the hallmark of a good, classical
> liberal?
>
> I am a Bible-believing, conservative Christian because that system of
> thought and way of life compelled my conscience as the only true and viable
> one.  I tried the other systems.  They failed the intellectual and
> experiential tests.  I would gladly wrap myself in the progressive,
> pluralistic, multiculturalist flag if I could do so without offending my
> sense of reason and commitment to intellectual honesty.  But as I said,
> they fail the test.  This is not meant as an offense to those of you who
> hold to those systems of thought and life, but it is an explanation of who
> I am and where I'm coming from.
>
> Please don't create some strawman of me or assume that I am like someone
> else who bears some resemblance to me or my views.  I know from personal
> experience that it is incredibly easy to do that.  When I was a Democrat I
> thought the only reason conservatives opposed environmental regulations was
> because they were greedy businessmen who wanted to kill the planet.  It
> never occurred to me that (a) the green movement was based on false
> premises and had a nefarious agenda of its own, that (b) there might be a
> better way to deal with actual cases of environmental abuse, or that (c)
> such regulations would cripple the families, businesses, and communities
> which make up America.  So let's make a deal: I'll do my part to give you
> the benefit of the doubt and a fair hearing, and you give me the same in
> return.  We can agree to disagree and still be civil; that's how mature
> adults handle life.
>
> I would like to invite any and all members of this forum to face-to-face
> conversations with me here in Moscow.  Hey, we can even videotape them and
> put them online.  Not debates, per se, but conversations about the things
> we share in common, and the things we happen to have different views on,
> such as the ordinance which passed last night.  I'll bet that many, if not
> most, of the members of this forum were in favor of it.  I was not, so on
> that we disagree.  But I'll also bet that many, if not most, of the members
> of this forum were displeased with the way that the council precluded
> public comment before they approved the ordinance.  So was I, so on that we
> are in wholehearted agreement.  I applaud Mayor Chaney for speaking up for
> our First Amendment rights and for transparency in government.
>
> I've posted my entire comments on last night's debacle on my website,
> juddwilson.com, and I invite your comments.  I'll check that website more
> often than this forum, so if you need to get a hold of me that's your best
> bet.
>
> Thanks for taking the time to read this.  I look forward to good
> conversations.
> Respectfully,
> Judd Wilson
> juddwilson.com
>
>
>
>
>
>
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