If you believe, like most scientists, that climate change is largely man-made and poses an existential threat to humanity, then you probably feel a pretty strong sense of urgency about doing something about it. Especially if you are a young person. Greta Thunberg embodies that sentiment probably more than any person in the world. The sixteen-year-old Swedish teen, singlehandedly started a global movement around the issue. Her impassioned speech at the United Nations brought her global recognition and earned her a few critics, including the President of the United States. This past week, Time Magazine named her their person of the year. A remarkable honor for the teen with Asperger syndrome. My kids, along with millions more, love Thunberg. They think she is amazing. Whether you believe climate change is real or not, it is refreshing to see the impact that one small voice can have. In an era when the role models for our kids are limited to indulgent celebrities like the Kardashians, Greta Thunberg certainly stands out. Bravo to Time Magazine for their choice.
Terms like “great, genius,” and “world-class” are overused, perhaps because they mean something different to everyone. Greatness is subjective. Some might say you must be great just to be employed in the film business or to play professional sports, but I don’t think Will Smith or LeBron James think that way. The concept of being great also requires context. You could be a great high school athlete but only an average college player.
Regardless of political persuasion, most people think the rhetoric of politics has gotten out of control. If you believe that, as I do, there IS something you can do about it. You can ask yourself whether you are helping or hurting the situation. I like to say that there are two types of people in the world: people who add stress and people who relieve stress. I think similarly, some people are adding to the political spectacle in the country, and others are at least trying for something better.
Gary's Blog will return next week.