{"id":27314,"date":"2021-03-04T09:12:38","date_gmt":"2021-03-04T17:12:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dminlgp\/?p=27314"},"modified":"2021-03-04T09:12:38","modified_gmt":"2021-03-04T17:12:38","slug":"snappy-slogans-and-conversation-stoppers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/snappy-slogans-and-conversation-stoppers\/","title":{"rendered":"Snappy Slogans and Conversation Stoppers"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the introduction to his book, \u201cApocalypse Never: Why Environmental Alarmism Hurts Us All,\u201d Michael Shellenberger says that he wrote the book \u201cbecause the conversation about climate change and the environment has, in the last few years, spiraled out of control.\u201d[1]<\/a> His general thesis is that extremist activists, organizations, and efforts can actually do more to hurt one\u2019s cause than help it. He argues for a better understanding of the other issues related to the issue and how the issue is not always the issue.<\/p>\n

Shellenberger\u2019s book is focused on the environment and the offering of alternative ways of framing the conversation and approaching the problem. He writes as a self-described advocate for the environment, thereby positioning himself as one who cares, an \u201cinsider\u201d with a \u201cmodest proposal\u201d for a better way. Not surprisingly, Shellenberger has received both support and criticism for his efforts.[2]<\/a><\/p>\n

Is Shellenberger the voice of reason here? Is he offering the prophetic word that might be a difficult and uncomfortable, dare I say inconvenient, truth to the environmental alarmists? Or does he merely offer the perspective that other \u201citching ears\u201d have been craving to hear, a means of reorienting the conversation back toward economic practices and policies? Time will tell.<\/p>\n

In the meantime, this book does offer a question about leadership and influence, especially when an ally or an insider tries to offer critique within his or her own sphere of influence. Has our society finally ushered in an era in which multiple perspectives and nuance is no longer acceptable. Have we moved to an \u201call or nothing\u201d approach when it comes to our support of various causes? Does the fear of being \u201ccancelled\u201d now keep influential leaders from speaking out or asking questions?<\/p>\n

One particular case related to this question happened in late 2020 when former president Barack Obama weighed in on the \u201cdefund the police\u201d movement. Obama questioned whether the slogan, while \u201csnappy\u201d in some political and social circles, was doing more harm to the issue than good. Kenya Evelyn writes, \u201cAs a policy initiative, defunding police departments involves the reallocation of local and state resources away from law enforcement into public services, designed to address issues of poverty, inequality and mental health \u2013 factors that contribute to crime.\u201d[3]<\/a> At its core, proponents were advocating for resources to be shifted to other social aspects of justice and law enforcement. Only a handful of extreme cases went so far as to completely eliminate police departments from municipal budgets.<\/p>\n

But the phrase \u201cdefund the police\u201d became a lightning rod. Obama suggested that the slogan was detracting from the actual work. He said, \u201cYou lost a big audience the minute you say it, which makes it a lot less likely that you\u2019re actually going to get the changes you want done\u2026.The key is deciding, do you want to actually get something done, or do you want to feel good among the people you already agree with?\u201d[4]<\/a> Obama was not speaking out against the idea of reform in law enforcement policies and procedures, only questioning the slogan and suggesting that the message could be communicated in less polarizing ways so as to invite more people into the conversation.<\/p>\n

Other leaders quickly took issue with the former president. They defended the language as intentionally inflammatory in order to convey the depth of their convictions. Rather than accept the critique as a constructive suggestion for reframing the conversation, many \u201cdefund the police\u201d advocates accused Obama of soft-peddling, even abandoning members of the black community.<\/p>\n

This is just one example of what can happen when leaders exercise their influence and lend their voice to issues. We live in a society in which we act as though others are \u201ceither with us or against us.\u201d We get defensive when we are questioned. We believe we must be passionate, loud, perhaps even angry or violent in order to accomplish our agenda.<\/p>\n

I recognize that I write this from a certain perspective of privilege and understand the complexity in asking these questions, but still, who will be the first to resist the urge simply to react? Who will be the first to reflect more deeply and seek ways that bring people together, rather than further push people away from each other with divisive language and rhetoric? Our world needs activists and advocates. But it also needs conversation and respectful debate.<\/p>\n

When we ignore, cancel, and dismiss those who offer critique, we cut ourselves off from greater learning and the opportunity to become better acquainted with another person\u2019s story. If we cannot accept where there may be flaws in our own logic or approaches, why should we expect those who disagree with us to acknowledge the flaws we can so easily see in theirs?<\/p>\n

Shellenberger seeks to articulate why environmental alarmism hurts us all. It is not just the extreme tactics of environmental activities that hurt us. It is the myopic and short-sighted, \u201cwin at any cost\u201d approaches we all are sometimes tempted to take to score quick points or make a big splash. These methods may be effective at raising campaign dollars and winning elections, but they do little to invite dialogue that may actually lead to lasting change and improved lives.<\/p>\n

[1]<\/a> Michael Shellenberger, \u201cApocalypse Never: Why Environmental Alarmism Hurts Us All,\u201d (New York: Harper Collins, 2020,) Kindle, x.<\/p>\n

[2]<\/a> For a counter perspective to Shellenberger, see Dr. Peter H. Gleick\u2019s July 15, 2020 book review at https:\/\/yaleclimateconnections.org\/2020\/07\/review-bad-science-and-bad-arguments-abound-in-apocalypse-never\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n

[3]<\/a> Kenya Evelyn, \u201cBarack Obama criticizes ‘Defund the Police’ slogan but faces backlash,\u201d www.theguardian.com<\/a>, December 2, 2020, \u00a0https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2020\/dec\/02\/barack-obama-criticizes-defund-the-police-slogan-backlash<\/a>.<\/p>\n

[4]<\/a> Ibid.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In the introduction to his book, \u201cApocalypse Never: Why Environmental Alarmism Hurts Us All,\u201d Michael Shellenberger says that he wrote the book \u201cbecause the conversation about climate change and the environment has, in the last few years, spiraled out of control.\u201d[1] His general thesis is that extremist activists, organizations, and efforts can actually do more […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":133,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[1962],"class_list":["post-27314","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-shellenberger","cohort-lgp10"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27314","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/133"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27314"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27314\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27315,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27314\/revisions\/27315"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27314"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27314"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27314"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}