Brian Ettling
Dec. 3, 2015
On May 7, 2015, former Vice President Al Gore gave me one of the best gifts I have received as a climate change communicator: how to answer his critics.
For years, as I gave climate change talks, especially to my South County Toastmasters group, a conservative climate change contrarian would confront me with statements like, "It is hard for me to accept global warming when Al Gore lives in a big mansion and flies on private jets. His attitude seems to be, 'do as I say, not as I do.'" I would ignore these comments. I even asked other Climate Reality Project Leaders and friends of Al Gore how they would respond. The consensus seemed to be to just ignore those folks. Research shows it is very unlikely we can change their minds about climate change.
[Of course, a person's life style does not show any evidence of whether or not global warming is happening.
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My Question to Al Gore of how to respond to his critics.
I was incredibly nervous. After a second which seemed like an eternity, I blurted out this question:
"Mr. Gore, thank you so much for this opportunity to speak to you. All of us really do appreciate it today. For years I have been giving climate change talks, especially to my Toastmasters group in St. Louis, MO. Some of them ask me questions that are very critical of you. I know we will never convince the Uncle Joe in our family or audience or accept climate change. It is a waste of time. Unfortunately, the moderate folks in our audience are being influenced by conservative Uncle Joe who listens to Rush Limbaugh and Fox News. The moderates seem to be easily swayed when Uncle Joe says, 'we cannot trust Al Gore on global warming because he flies on private jets and lives in a huge mansion.' How should we respond to that? "
Al Gore responding to my question
It was such a relief to finally ask this question since my mind was still in a blur. However, I remember the whole room now sitting up and paying attention to how he would respond.
Al Gore's body language showed that he was eager to answer it. It seemed like time stopped as Al Gore wanted to give this question the full attention that it deserved.
His response:
'Thank you for asking me that question. I am under no delusion that people who ask it are just using one of the oldest tricks in history to just 'shoot the messenger.'
As a boy growing up in the South, I heard people around say, "I would be all favor Civil Rights if it was not led by Martin Luther Coon."
(From reading my body language, Gore could see that I was stunned by that quote from his childhood. I am a huge fan of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He responded to my body language and gasp saying...)
Oh, yes, that is what I heard growing up.
I do have 33 solar panels and 10 geothermal wells on my house.
Almost all the time, I fly commercial. I even flew in a small commercial plane to and from this conference from American Airlines. However, I occasionally have no choice and must to charter a plane to get to certain commitments. It is quite an expense and I avoid it as much as I can.
I know certain people would love to make climate change about me. Therefore, sometimes I do deliberately lower my profile so the issue does not become about me.
However, those critics would love for me ultimately to just go away.
I am never giving them that satisfaction.
As long as I can, I will be speaking up about the climate issue."
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