Reason must prevail

To the editor:

Two statements jumped from the pages of your last issue. Pastor Vonderhorst’s page-one “sign… to go on” and Linda Hensz’s letter describing a “religion of global warming” were subtle, yet powerful statements, charged with the superstition of millennia. We can no longer allow such statements to stand without comment.

Recent global and local record floods, and storms, and heat, and fires, and droughts are the result of the activity of humanity. Don’t take my word on this. I’ll defer here to the Nobel Committee.

Also, please see IPCC.ch for research by thousands of the world’s leading scientists. The climate crisis is the exact opposite of a “religion.” Our understanding of global warming is based on fact, information, logic and peer-reviewed evidence. Religion is based on faith only, and a firm belief in myth is required of the faithful. Religion is a “bronze-age” construct: limited people trying to understand their place in the universe.

Our family doctors are scientists, and we no longer blame disease on “gods” and “spells.” When our doctor or any scientist speaks, we really should listen. Very simply put, we know that “germs” are the cause of a fever. Planet Earth has a fever—and humanity is the cause. For those who believe in the divine origin of humanity, collective “delusions” about science and seeing “signs” from books on a table are a poor substitute for responsible behavior.

Reason and logic must prevail if we are to find solutions for the many urgent issues of our time. We owe this to the generations yet unborn. “One-issue” citizens and community leaders who follow “signs” are making our world unsustainable and ever more dangerous. Religion should have no role in a responsible dialogue about important current affairs.

A brilliant job

Kudos to Kelly Dean and anyone else who may have been involved in the holiday street decorations in Narrowsburg this year. This was one the most tasteful and attractive displays I have ever seen. It is this type of spirit and involvement that makes a town special. Well done, Kelly.

Irreversible damage

To the editor:

On the issue of gas drilling in Wayne County, PA: no money in the world is worth more than clean water, land that is good for growing food and air safe to breathe. If you are considering signing a lease with a gas company, please understand that even though you may have insisted upon addenda that promise clean-up of any messes, once the groundwater is polluted, it cannot be cleaned up. Polluted groundwater affects us all.

Our community is up against some very powerful companies. I think it is admirable that people have come together to try to make the best of a potentially bad situation. We need all the power and wisdom we can amass to avoid degradation of an area valued for its agriculture, water, wildlife, forests, and the tourism, camps and other recreation attracted by these assets.