I was watching Al Gore on Fox news the other night. The debate was Global Warming. Al Gore was on the defensive trying to defend is his position that man-made Global Warming was real and imminent. He then went on to call all those who disagreed with him “Global Warming Deniers” I must be living in a cave because I had never heard that term used before.
I immediately got a knot in my stomach. It was a knot of history. A knot of irritation at Al Gore for his ignorance of history and the power of the spoken word.
It had nothing to do with my views on Global Warming. I got the knot in my stomach because I felt that Al Gore has intentionally attached the word “denier” to call up either conscious or sub-conscious images of the Holocaust. Drawing on a subtle context and back of the mind imagery specifically designed to cause a subtle, parallel inference in the viewer/listener.
I do not dispute that the term “denier” has been around for a long time pre-dating its attachment to Holocaust Denial, a discredited revisionist historical theory that has been around since the 60′s.
There however, is also no disputing that in modern times the term “denier”, when attached to a scientific or other theory has become inextricably entwined with the Holocaust. Attached to discredit those who are “denying the obvious” I do not dispute Al Gore’s right to use it. But why use it? Why use it unless you are intentionally trying to draw up subtle inferences parallel with the Holocaust. THAT, in my mind is inappropriate.
Is the highly educated Mr Gore claiming that in his entire internal linguistics database there is no other appropriate way to make his point with the same force?
Am I being too sensitive? Possibly. I still do not like it. When I feel like the term is purposely being used to draw on the Holocaust I feel like my history is being denied. Regardless of my views on Global Warming, I view it as a desperation move on Mr. Gores part. A move that is beneath his intellect and intent.
I wish he would stop. Mr. Gore, please stop using that term
