Last night, our President announced that the USA would join Syria (at war) and Nicaragua (who wants stricter plans) in refusing to comply with the Paris agreement on reducing destructive pollution. Every other country in the world (195?) plans to try and save it, but our leader said the deal was not fair to America and made other nations laugh at us, so we would go ahead and do only what we think is best for us. America first.
Every country has a right, and a duty, to protect its own citizens and interests. But let's be realistic. WE DON'T WANT FAIR. We have contributed more to the degradation of the earth than any other country in history (though China by sheer volume of population will eventually catch up and surpass us). Fair would mean that we bear the brunt of change, that we live with the consequences, that we pay for our prosperity. Instead, the poor of the majority world will pay the highest price. We see it already. Fair would mean that we use earth's resources in proportion to our population, or land mass, not at our current excessive rates. Fair would mean that we pursue renewable energy jobs for places like West Virginia, rather than pretending that a return to coal can employ enough people. Fair would mean that we plan with a timeline of centuries, that we consider the Americans of 2050 and 3000, not just the ones making money today.
So at least we should be honest, and admit that "make America great" in this administration's view can come at the expense of the rest of the world, and the earth, and our future generations. Which begs the question of whether "great" means what we think it means, either.
I don't know the best way to employ my friends and relatives in my home state, to provide enough energy for the world, and to best turn over to my kids and (hopefully some day) their kids a world that God gave us to care for. But I'm pretty sure that the ocean tides, the polar ice, the clouds, the trees, the oxygen, don't respect national boundaries, and this is one issue that won't be helped by running away from the dialogue.
Every country has a right, and a duty, to protect its own citizens and interests. But let's be realistic. WE DON'T WANT FAIR. We have contributed more to the degradation of the earth than any other country in history (though China by sheer volume of population will eventually catch up and surpass us). Fair would mean that we bear the brunt of change, that we live with the consequences, that we pay for our prosperity. Instead, the poor of the majority world will pay the highest price. We see it already. Fair would mean that we use earth's resources in proportion to our population, or land mass, not at our current excessive rates. Fair would mean that we pursue renewable energy jobs for places like West Virginia, rather than pretending that a return to coal can employ enough people. Fair would mean that we plan with a timeline of centuries, that we consider the Americans of 2050 and 3000, not just the ones making money today.
So at least we should be honest, and admit that "make America great" in this administration's view can come at the expense of the rest of the world, and the earth, and our future generations. Which begs the question of whether "great" means what we think it means, either.
I don't know the best way to employ my friends and relatives in my home state, to provide enough energy for the world, and to best turn over to my kids and (hopefully some day) their kids a world that God gave us to care for. But I'm pretty sure that the ocean tides, the polar ice, the clouds, the trees, the oxygen, don't respect national boundaries, and this is one issue that won't be helped by running away from the dialogue.
4 comments:
Couldn't agree more. I hope you and your kids will continue to be voices of prophetic truth in your various circles. I get the impression from previous things you have written that you have people of great political diversity among your extended family and supporters. Thanks for bravely posting things like this when I'm sure you have audience members who will disagree.
Yesterday's announcement made me feel sadder than I've felt since election night (I'm not American - but that's the point isn't it? We have to all share this globe).
Amen!
- Cori
The best, most Christian and prophetic commentary on the wothdrawal from Paris that I have seen. Thank you Jennifer. John Elwood
amen and amen. so well said. thank you.
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