The Power of Rhetoric

I agree with many of the points which Michael Maniates makes in his Washington Post article, "Going Green? Easy Doesn't Do It." It's true that making small changes to our choices probably won't have much of an impact on slowing climate change. Although no one is arguing that it is a bad thing to recycle, to use energy-efficient light sources, to use the same reusable grocery bag every time you shop, and to turn off the water when you brush your teeth, these things alone will most likely not make the kind of drastic difference in climate change which will be necessary.

The environmental problem facing us is much larger than that, and I truly believe that it is going to take a huge overhaul of the way we all think about how we use resources. Telling people that climate change will be easily improved if you just recycle a little bit more is not going to bring about real change, because many people will think that if reducing our impact on the planet is as simple as that, then climate change is not a cause for real concern.

Mr. Maniates is on the right track with thinking about the power of rhetoric. A good, powerful speech can rouse people out of their stupor and truly make them think about the problems facing this earth. A powerful orator has a unique ability to stir something in the listener that makes him or her feel compelled to act. And we are ready to combat climate change. I know that it won't be an easy task to accomplish, but the most rewarding accomplishments never are.

I personally never feel that accomplished when I do something that didn't take much effort to complete. When I really feel good about what I've done is when I work hard and toil away at a project and at the end really feel like I have made something worthwhile; that I have made something to be proud of. If the world comes together to fight against climate change, and if we are inspired by some powerful speakers who give us the motivation to really do something about this problem, then we can do something about this problem.

I'm going to go ahead and make an assertion: reversing or atleast tampering climate change is not going to happen if we only make a few small changes to our lifestyles. Combatting climate change will require a lot of us; it will probably require reevaluation of the comfortable way in which we live our lives. But it will be worth it.