THE PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE, USA
An Online Journal of Political Commentary & Analysis
Volume VI, Issue # 272, December 29, 2004
Dr. Almon Leroy Way, Jr., Editor
Government Committed to & Acting in Accord with Conservative Principles
Ensures a Nation's Strength, Progress, & Prosperity
A FORCE MAJEURE, EARTHQUAKES, ETC.!
By Alan Caruba
ENVIRONMENTALISM, GLOBAL WARMING THEORY, & NATURAL CATASTROPHES -- REFLECTIONS ON THE EARTHQUAKE &
TSUNAMI THAT OCCURRED RECENTLY IN THE INDIAN OCEAN & SOUTHEAST ASIA: REFLECTIONS THAT MAY HELP
PEOPLE PUT THESE TRAGIC EVENTS IN PERSPECTIVE
FULL STORY:
I have been thinking about the earthquake that occurred in the Indian Ocean and the resulting massive ocean wave, a tsunami, that
wreaked havoc throughout the area, affecting Sri Lanka, Thailand, and parts of Indonesia. Estimates of the toll are expected to exceed
150,000 dead.
Some people would call it an act of God, but a term lawyers use is “force majeure.” Literally, a major or greater force and one
understood to be a natural and unavoidable catastrophe that interrupts the expected course of events. It is a clause that excuses a
party to a contract from liability.
The Bible is testimony to past catastrophes, such as the story of the great flood that Noah rode out in his ark or the parting of
the Red Sea that allowed the Hebrews to escape and the pursuing Egyptian army to be consumed. Scientists point to the extinction
of the dinosaurs and comparable events affecting life on Earth.
Others would call it Mother Nature. Whatever name you give it, the earthquake was just one more reminder that, for all the prattling
of environmentalists, we humans are just “renting” Earth for our brief sojourn between birth and death, and often enough Earth
shows its utter disregard for our lives and property by perpetrating an earthquake, a flood, a blizzard, a tornado, a hurricane, or a
huge forest fire.
I often tell people that Mother Nature’s message to mankind is “Get out of the way!”
People seem to have short memories for these catastrophic events. And they seem endlessly susceptible to their manipulation,
such as the immediate suggestion that the tsunami’s aftermath is somehow linked to the bogus theory of global warming.
The Earth’s tectonic plates are forever rubbing up against one another. Late last year an earthquake killed 40,000 people in Iran and,
within months, it was old news. This latest manifestation of Earth’s indifference to our wish to sun ourselves on exotic beaches or
just not have our home cave in on us will be forgotten too. Until the next time. And there will be a next time.
All of which leads me to suggest that we need to be much more humble in our approach to Mother Nature and less inclined to listen
to every claim that something horrible is going to happen. The simple truth is that something horrible is going to happen. Typically,
we usually don’t know where or when. Your local weatherman has, at best, a vague notion of what the weather will be four days from
now.
And there isn’t a damned thing we can do about it. Except, if possible, to get out of the way. That’s what lots of folks in Florida tried
to do earlier this year when they were told a big hurricane was going to hit them. And then another one hit them. And another one.
And another one!
Stay or leave. A force majeure does not care. Mother Nature does not care. The lesson is — always eat dessert!
LINKS TO RELATED TOPICS:
Policy Issues Relating to Energy, Environment,
& Natural Resources
Alan Caruba is a veteran business and science writer, a Public Relations Counselor, Communications Director of the American Policy Center,
and Founder of the National Anxiety Center, a clearinghouse for information about media-driven scare campaigns. Caruba writes a weekly
column, "Warning Signs," posted on the Internet website of the National Anxiety Center
(www.anxietycenter.com). A compilation of his past columns, entitled Warning Signs, is published by Merril Press. In addition
to Warning Signs, Caruba is the author of A Pocket Guide to Militant Islam and The United Nations vs. the United States,
both of which are available from the National Anxiety Center, 28 West Third Street, Apartment 1321, South Orange, New Jersey, 07079.
Copyright 2004 Alan Caruba
Published with Permission of Alan Caruba
ACaruba@AOL.Com
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