Danny Glover is Also a Jerk
Posted in News/Opinion by lunarskye | Tags: Danny Glover, Global Warming, Haiti, News/Opinion
Out of fairness, (and thanks to poorkmart for pointing this out) I think we should also call out Danny Glover’s idiocy, which joins that of Pat Robertson regarding asinine explanations for the causation of the disaster in Haiti.
Here’s what he said in an interview on GRITtv: (video after the jump)
This is a great moment for another type of internationalism, you know. (And and I and) I hope we seize this particular moment because the threat of what happened to Haiti is a threat that could happen anywhere in the Caribbean, to these Island nations. You know there’s all this peril because of global warming, (because—) all this peril because of climate change, and all of this. (And we need to find, this this, when we when we back) When we do what we did at the climate summit, in Copenhagen, (this is the response—) this is what happens, you know what I’m saying. But we have to act now.
Not as malicious, nor clearly worded, as compared to Robertson’s comments, Glover’s statement is still self-serving and ignorant. Global warming, or the failure to prevent it, caused the earthquake huh? I guess it caused the buildings to be inadequately constructed and equipped to handle the force of an earthquake that would otherwise not have been so devastating too.
Be a supporter or naysayer of the global warming theory, clearly earthquakes happen as a natural part of geotectonic plate movement, and it is ridiculous to try and use the “threat of global warming” to explain or suggest we can avoid such disasters. More so, I think in general, it is ridiculous and callous for anyone out there to be politicizing or using this tragedy in anyway to bolster one’s own cause.
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poorkmart says:
Man did that make me laugh to see this up on the front page. I think the most important thing too keep in mind about all this is we all, regardless of politics, should hate these people. We should be diligent in directing our hate exclusively at the person and the ridiculous claims, not the causes or religions they associate themselves with.
If we all come together in our common hatred, we can find peace and happiness.
Lithobolos says:
I’m glad you liked it poorkmart, I thought you made a good point and it only seemed fair, gg lunarskye.
I’m almost with you pkm (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PK_machine_gun =P) , but I really do think evangelical right wing extremists are harder to deal with based on rational arguments than ignorant environmentalists who at least pretend to be dealing with the empirical data.
“More so, I think in general, it is ridiculous and callous for anyone out there to be politicizing or using this tragedy in anyway to bolster one’s own cause.”
I agree except for causes that directly benefit benefit Haiti, like aid, debt cancellation, investment etc.
John McDougal says:
Your negative post of Danny is without merit. Global warming negatively impacts the climate on various levels. Heating of water, excessive water flows into areas not meant for such influx of water. Yes Haiti is on a fault line, but clearly global warming (and HAARP in Alaska) are to be put on top of the list of reasons. Your article re the poorly built homes is not really an intelligent response. California and modern cities have also had buildings affected by Earthquakes. Yes less people would have died if Haitians had better built homes, but since Haiti defeated Europeans, on several occasions, and are still being punished for it, something you probably wouldn’t believe or care about, I won’t even get into that level of insight and intellect.
lunarskye says:
I was not intending to be insensitive to the plight of Haitians. Theirs has been a difficult history, but it has nothing to do with Danny Glover or global warming. My comparison that global warming causing earthquakes is like saying global warming causes poor infrastructure was a sarcastic one to point out the absurdity in the statement.
The lack of infrastructure was more of an accelerant to the damage done by the earthquake than global warming was a cause of the earthquake. Earthquakes do effect modernized regions as well, but I think everyone can agree the devastation in Haiti was exceptional.
Reiterating: Earthquakes aren’t caused by global warming. Glover should not have linked the two.
Tim Naylor says:
Danny Glover’s assertion that global warming is responsible for Haiti’s tragedy is patently absurd. To even give it the slightest bit of credence defies the most basic understanding of science. The downward pressure of the Earth’s ice ice, is infinitesimally small compared to the outward pressure of the earth’s core on up through the crust.
If this theory were remotely true, the initial receding of ice of the last glacial period (which still continues today, which happened far more quickly than today with ice masses several times the size of today’s polar caps), would have been marked by a sharp increase in seismic activity. The geological records show no spike in earthquakes or volcanic activity during that time.
Danny Glover, although his sentiments to save people are laudable, his political angle that the West is some how responsible for deaths in Haiti is down right despicable and fueled by ignorance. He’s a perfect example of an effusion of stupidity when celebrities parlay their popularity into causes they know little about. What next? Shall we ask Amy Winehouse’s opinion on trade deficits with China? If he wants to point blame, it lies with Haiti’s inability to govern itself to the point where people have the wealth and regulations to build to a code that mitigates earthquake damage.
Hell, they just elected a pop star as president. The west didn’t pressure or back the guy. But with such lack of qualifications other than great musicianship, it’ll most likely continue Haiti on its road to ruin. It makes about as much sense as electing Danny Glover to head MIT.