September 22, 2008, 10:01 am by Brett

There is a sad side of rhetoric. As much as I would like to agree with Plato and his belief that rhetoric should be used for the good, for the capitol T - Truth, and for the benefit of the people, it seems like the sophists have a more realistic view. Rhetoric is used on both sides. In the case of the Hetch Hetchy, those fighting for the Almighty Dollar prevailed over those fighting for the God of the mountain, like our man Muir. It is a sad truth, but rhetoric does not choose sides, we do.

Rhetoric is available to every argument, and that is why people are able to rationalize things like damming the Hetch Hetchy, or dropping an atomic bomb. It will be rhetoric that persuades people to either continue ravaging our planet to oblivion, or make the choice to live sustainably as a global community. The time to choose sides is now.

Regardless if man kind has an impact on this Global Warming, the climate is changing. Resources are becoming more and more scarce. Water will be the next oil. World Wars will be fought for rights to resources. We must adapt to the up coming climate change, not with an attitude that involves conquering it, but transitioning with it. We must ensure that there are people as zealous and dedicated to God of the mountain as those fighting for the Almighty Dollar.

We know they have rhetors capable of destruction, desecration, and death. Where are our rhetors capable of sustainability, adaptability, and humanity? Rachel Carson is one, as shesaid in her essay, Silent Spring, “All this is not to say there is no insect problem and no need of control. I am saying, rather, that control must be geared to realities, not to mythical situations, and that the methods employed must be such tat they do not destroy us along with the insects.” Whether the issue is pesticides, dams, climate change, or what have you, her words hold truth. We must find a sustainable course of action, one based on sound reasoning, science, and feasibility. Unfortunately, I am hardly smart enough to come up with such plans, but when the plan is discovered, I will defend and promote it with rhetoric until the end of my days.