Dialogue is strengthened by hard facts and therefore permits the most prudent decision in the public discourse. Though it may not be immediately apparent to each of us, in the final analysis we all do drink the same water, do breathe the same air and do cherish our planet’s future. Please assume all your readers can "take the truth," simple or complex as it may be. A questioning mind is a healthy mind. An informed mind is healthier.
It's vital for newspapers to do more than just repeat what's being said, but to show real news judgment. There's an old joke that if one group tries to claim that the Earth is flat, a newspaper would report, "Earth's Shape: Views Differ."
Unfortunately, that joke is far too true when it comes to the subject of climate change. The science is overwhelming and clear: our planet is warming, and we are responsible. And yet newspapers across the country have been repeating the same, tired attacks against it.
Well, scientists are starting to pay the price, dealing with harrassment and threats, just for doing their job. This is wrong, and it needs to stop.
I urge your paper to report on the facts, use sound news judgment, and stop repeating the baseless attacks on scientists who are simply doing their best to help us understand the world.
-Chris Robinson, Avondale, Pa
