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Thunberg holds a mirror at us

To the editor:

Greta Thunberg, the Viking with the mirror.

Have you been following the saga of Greta Thunberg? She is the diminutive 16-year-old who just sailed across the Atlantic in, what might be called, a modern Viking ship. She, like her forebears, is well-armed. Instead of a broadsword and a battle axe, she is armed with science and respectfully blunt speech. I liken her respectful, blunt speech to sharpened Swedish steel for she strikes with precision at our head and at our heart.

She knows her generation’s future is being stolen by previous generations, by us, by our addiction to fossil fuels. What makes her so effective is her polite, professional and direct manner. She holds a mirror to us. The mirror does not reflect our social position, our money, our comforts, our clothes, or our physical body. Her mirror of wisdom lays us bare and shows us only our character. We are left staring at ourselves and who we are. But more importantly, she gives us a glimpse of who we can be and how we can be remembered.

She has addressed the Swedish Parliament, the World Economic Forum, the 24th UN climate change conference, and has met with the Pope. She challenges the world power elite, the top 5% who profit from the fossil fuel status quo, to become “mature” and lead us to deliver her generation a wholesome future.

None of us who live in U.P. are in the 5% top tier power elite. But, in a democracy, to make change, we are not supposed to naively depend on billionaires to make wholesome change. We are supposed to do it ourselves via our community, state and federal governments.

“We the people” are the power elite. We can vote-in smart, morally committed representatives. We can lobby and encourage our elected congress people when their courage wanes. We can join respectful and blunt speaking organizations like our Citizens Climate Lobby.

As you look in your mirror, ask yourself what you can do right now. Perhaps you have a young “Greta” or a young boy in your life. This Friday is the international “Student Strike for Climate.” Consider telling them you love them and support them on their most important day.

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