Subject: Update: Talking Points Memo issues retraction for call to execute skeptics! -- 'A formal retraction and apology' |
From: "Marc Morano-ClimateDepot.com" |
Date: Sat, 6 Jun 2009 09:06:32 -0400 |
To: "'Marc Morano-ClimateDepot.com'" |
Check out www.ClimateDepot.com
for latest. – (Also see: Strangle Skeptics in Bed! Romm's
Climate Progress features threat to skeptics! 'An entire generation will soon
be ready to strangle you and your kind while you sleep in your beds' and A Somewhat Happy Ending
to the Latest Death Threat Story...first covered in Climate Depot
– See original Climate Depot report here: 'Execute'
Skeptics! Shock Call To Action: 'At what point do we jail or execute global
warming deniers' -- 'Shouldn't we start punishing them now?' )
#
Ashamed
of myself - a formal retraction and apology about my extremist global warming
post
June 5, 2009, 10:16PM
I wrote a post that advocated
for the jailing and execution of global warming deniers. If any of you
have read my former posts - I may get very angry sometimes - but I truly don't
want for anyone to die. I'm vehemently against the death
penalty - and do my best to respect all forms of life.
My intention was not to wish
imprisonment or execution of global warming skeptics. I am not a trained
writer (I hear your collective "no shit sherlock" loud and clear) - and
was not able to get my point across. That point is now irrelevant because
I did true harm to this site, as well as the cause of global warming research.
It's hard enough for respected scientists to battle Fox News ability to provide
mass misinformation on the subject - they didn't need the extremist language in
my post riling up conservatives. My original point was to combat what I
considered an extreme (denying global warming) with another extreme (my ill
conceived jailing and ... - well you know). A good writer would have
found a better way to make their point without the threat of violence. I
find the thought of being locked up for your views truly disgusting and
disturbing as well. The whole post was ill conceived, poorly written -
and not representative of who I am. But I did write it - and I take
full responsibility for it.
This post was linked to many
conservative sites before Josh could take it down, and I was even included as
the subject of a Washington Examiner article. Wow - I'd reached the big
time!! But I had been compared to an extremist abolitionist and the
murderer of an abortion doctor. And sadly I didn't have much room to
argue based on how my post was taken. Someone asked me how my language
was any different from an extremist anti-abortionist calling for the murder of
abortion doctors. While my intention was certainly different, the tone was
not.
Some of the global warming
skeptics actually had reasonable arguments against my extremist position,
pointing out that science is ever evolving and changing. One in
particular (I can't find it now - but it was well written) showed how
throughout history scientific consensus have been overturned by new evidence -
and that we should never stifle true scientific inquiry. This definitely
made me think and further realize I was wrong in my approach. For those of you
wishing to be thoroughly informed about the issue by a true master, I
humbly direct them to the great potholer54 on youtube and his extremely
reasoned scientific look at the issue. You will be glad you did.
What was truly disgusting
though were the right wing vultures who pounced upon the story like
it was a piece of rotting flesh (a good analogy for the post). They quote
mined the story - picking out only the part about jailing and murdering people
who don't agree with you and made sure it looked like Josh himself approved the
article. Many of them insinuated (or just stated) that the post was
written by the staff at TPM. They knew full well that the site allows
anyone to post a blog - but they tried to drag the site through the mud because
it wasn't pulled quick enough. One of the things I regret most is a
comment on red-alerts.com who said that my post was just another reason to
stock up on ammunition. Again - I know you don't know me - but the
thought that my post made even one more lunatic on the right consider further
arming themselves makes me sick and I question whether I should continue to
write. As you can see from some previous posts - I push the envelope with
people on the right and with evangelical Christians as well. I certainly
hope I have never given the impression that I wish harm or violence to any
person or group. I may (and do) vehimently disagree on some big issues -
but I want everyone to live a healthy happy life.
As I thought about what to
write - I wanted to post without throwing too many jabs at the right. I
hope I have succeeded in that endeavor - it was not easy. There are many
things that separate the views of progressives from the views of conservatives
(and especially neo-conservatives). But one thing I think our side does
much better is admit when we're wrong. I don't remember the last time
someone on the right offered a sincere apology for some of the vile viewpoints they
project onto our World. I'm not talking about offering a half hearted
generically written apology when a sponser threatens to pull out due to public
outrage - but an honest "You know what - I was wrong" apology.
It would honestly make me listen to their viewpoint more if I knew they
were introspective enough to question their own views and admit when they've
made a mistake. I've taken this experience as an opportunity to do just
that. I have concluded that although I think I'm right in my progressive
World view - I can always do more homework and look at the true facts - and
maybe examine the views of the other side for validity before I completely make
up my mind. If anyone takes anything from this retraction - I hope it's
that.
In conclusion - I'd like to
offer my thanks to Josh Marshall for the second chance he's given me. He
had no reason to allow me to post here - and in fact it was probably in his
best interests to suspend my account permanently. He gave me some advice
that I truly value and will do my best to heed it. I promised to abide by
the terms of service - and to think before I hit save. Josh - thank you
for taking a chance and for allowing me to continue to post here.
I am sorry.
The Insolent Braggart