Redirection

Friday, February 7, 2020

Why I Am Not Triggered By Greta

Lots of right-wingers appear to be really upset with the latest progressive prodigy and her antics and take them quite seriously, yet it's my opinion that those who support the traditional way of life (not necessarily "conservatives" if you know what I mean) have no dog in this fight.

While I don't really buy into CO2 driven climate change doctrine (climate changes all the time, we don't really know what causes it), I also don't think that the environmental issues are the domain of the left. All decent folks should be worried about the pollution of our oceans with plastic, deforestation, disappearance of insects, poisonous chemicals used in agriculture etc etc. Yes, "climate plan" sounds rather ridiculous, but if it means planting more trees, I don't mind.

There is an Eastern proverb which says, "let the infidel school the unbeliever" and that's how I feel about this whole controversy. It's difficult for me to sympathise with the other side of the debate, the one which fuels  modern consumerism. As a housewife, for years I have been doing many of the things which progressives insist are so good for the environment. I last took a flight 8 years ago and it was inside Europe (1 hour). We never go on overseas vacations in some exotic lands.

I walk, bicycle or use public transportation since my husband takes our family car to work every day. My thermostat is set to 18*C during the day (used to be 17 and would go down again if the prices rise significantly) and 15*C at night and only goes to 19*C during the weekends and after 5 p.m.  and though we own a small portable air conditioner it's only turned on when the temperature downstairs raises higher than 26*C. It's always turned out at night and we don't have air conditioning in the bedrooms. Our house is old but well isolated, I try to save water, I have a community garden, you name it.

My friends who are housewives live in a similar manner. Collectively, we have been looked down upon and mocked by the people who consider it a necessity of life to own a 7 bedroom home for a family of 4 where they proceed to pave the garden with tiles because they have no time to maintain it, where the mother goes to work so that they can park 5 cars outside (and we have an awful problem with parking lots in the cities), by those who take luxury vacations 4 times a year flying to far away destinations and so on and so forth.

Along comes Greta and starts scolding them for their environment-unfriendly ways. Am I supposed to feel pity for them? It's now my turn to virtue-signal, as I'm doing my best to live a "sustainable lifestyle". I don't contribute to traffic jams and air pollution by driving to work every day , and to deforestation by insisting on owning a villa in  what used to be a nature reserve. I don't use tons of natgas to warm my mansion. I recycle by buying second hand clothes and reusing things I get from my friends.

So whatever, let them fight it out between themselves. I couldn't care less and so should you. 


7 comments:

  1. Your attitude is very wise. I must admit Greta triggers me tremendously. As Asperger woman myself, that hysterical little brat gives us bad reputation: much worse than any amok-running hikikomori ever could.

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  2. She's quite irritating, I guess. Yet I don't feel that she's addressing me because I am already environmentally-friendly, see above:) Anyway, she's just a front used by others, so getting mad at her personally makes really no sense.

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  3. she's just a front used by others, so getting mad at her personally makes really no sense.

    This, to me, is the crux of the matter. This kid is being used as a pawn, and it's too bad. It makes more sense to be annoyed at the adults who are manipulating her.

    I don't live as environmentally friendly as you do, although I do try to think about the choices I make and do things that are more sustainable within our current living situation.

    I think conservative's wholesale dismissal of environmental concerns (simply because we don't like the media's environmental standard bearers) is a mistake.

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  4. "Collectively, we have been looked down upon and mocked by the people who consider it a necessity of life to own a 7 bedroom home for a family of 4 where they proceed to pave the garden with tiles because they have no time to maintain it, where the mother goes to work so that they can park 5 cars outside (and we have an awful problem with parking lots in the cities), by those who take luxury vacations 4 times a year flying to far away destinations and so on and so forth."

    EXACTLY

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  5. Exactly! Calling her Gretard and comparing her to children with Down syndrome just makes people look mean and reinforces the stereotypes progressives have about the right-wing people.

    BTW, I wasn't really that much into environment in my younger years, but have done all these things simply to save money. There were times when we really had to save and energy costs and the cost of having a second running vehicle are sky high. I know folks (single women) who simply can't afford having/driving a car. I should say that not all my clothes come from thrift stores, btw, but though I haven't used makeup since after I got married I do have a love for fashions:) Again, I feel much less remorse for buying something and getting rid of it after 3 months when it comes from goodwill (I usually pass old clothes down to friends or to charity and sometimes, recycle by making rags out of them or incorporating into craft projects).

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  6. This above was in response to Elspeth, sorry for the confusion!

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  7. Robyn, yeah, by people like this:

    https://mobile.twitter.com/HotepJesus/status/1225760664418947072

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