Grist: How do you solve a problem like conservative white men?
Sarge was filling up the gas tank for Bridge's truck, and I made fun of him because he wasn't removing the pump nozzle correctly from the gas tank. (I had pointed out the sign on the gas pump on a previous trip to a gas station and showed him the technique.) He acknowledged that he wasn't doing it correctly in front of Bridge, who dismissed it as "stupid green ----." Such is the repulsion many feel to contemporary environmentalism. The dismissal of environmental measures is more emotional than rational, and may rest on fallacious reasoning. It should be clear such an emotional response precipitously causing an embrace of fallacy is wrong-headed, but who is to blame for the repulsion? After all, many environmentalists are confrontational and hostile to their fellow citizens and their culture, and have a perceived anti-human attitude. Even if they do not denigrate mankind, their advocacy of "animal rights" may have that practical effect. There is no sense of solidarity -- they embrace a form of [identity] tribalism as much as those they disparage.
Bridge, like many CWMs loves the outdoors but also embraces the age of fossil fuels. Conservatives should know that conservation is part of conservatism. The virtue of prudence requires an acknowledgment of limits, especially of resources, careful stewardship, and restraint. It is unfortunate that many are not true conservatives and embrace a consumerism reliant upon cheap energy, but this is true of many environmentalists as well, as they push for the development of alternate energy sources that will enable them to maintain their current lifestyle.
Those who think they are in the right with regards to climate change should know that an appeal to self as authority is still a fallacy, no matter how much they believe themselves to be experts on the topic. Obviously, appealing to the authority of experts is fallacious as well, and referring opponents to the "data" or "papers" that are available online does nothing to advance the discussion at hand. They should be able to present the arguments themselves, and if they cannot, then they should have the humility to realize that their case is not so obvious or certain,.
A better understanding of CWMs on the part of environmentalists is necessary, to the point that they can identify with them. Only in that way can they breach the emotional barrier and being persuading them. This is true of any divide that is caused by emotion or trauma, and Christians should remember this as well when they evangelize. But I believe it is unlikely that environmentalists "on the left" will be able to do this, as they are steadfast in their opposition to what they think conservatives represent, and it is not just this moral issue that separates the two groups. Pride is a problem for everyone. Perhaps the best chance for converting CWMs to a form of environmentalism lies with Christians who live a theology of "stewardship."
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