Thoughts about Greta Thunberg

First of all, Greta is an endearing, appealing, touching person in her youth, freshness, sincerity and fragility. She is impressive for her dedication, determination, courage, and candor. She has an important message...especially for us older folks who are coarsened in the practice of avoidance. Good for her! I receive her message with gratitude, esteem and tenderness. She is like a secular Joan of Arc.

Sadly, she is clearly traumatized by the information about global warming. She is frightened, shocked, and enraged. The rage part is good in that she is fiercely activated to take action. That is much better than despair or depression (which she previously suffered). But the element of hysteria is not good for a young person. It is my view that the reality does not require such a response. (My reasons in  previous blog post.) She grieves that her childhood was taken from her...by the UN leaders in her version. I see that her childhood was stolen, but I don't blame the UN. I place some blame on the unbalanced, frightening presentation of climate facts.

Presenting children material for which they are unprepared is a form of child abuse. Imagine presenting a 5th or 7th or even 9th grade class with videos of: an actual late term abortion, rape of the Iranian women by ISIS, honor killings in the Islamic world. These are realities and they must be faced by the adult world community; but we don't want to show these things, graphically, to children. It is my view that something like this happened to the sensitive Greta.

That she has the Asperger's syndrome suggest to me the "autistic" nature of much of our political life. The autistic person is very good with numbers and facts but not so good interpersonally. And so, as I listened to her, I recognized her grasp of the numbers and science of global warming, but I wondered who she was talking to. Well, to the UN leaders of course; but she didn't seem to know them in any degree. She was screaming out, in hysteria and indignation, about the neglect. But she didn't know who she was talking with. Our politics shows this prevalent pattern: people are talking to thmselves or those who agree with them, but not speaking with the opponent. Trump is not autistic;  he is worse in that his narcicisism draws all attention to himself and his hostility alienates anyone who disagrees. But the extremes on the right and left are autistic in that they are unable to connect with each other.

Lastly, it is notable that Greta puts on a marvelous performance. Hailing from a family of actors and opera singers, she has drama in her blood. She was mesmerizing. This is a good thing in so far as her content and message is good. All politics, teaching and preaching are dramatic; otherwise they are abstract and dull. Trump succeeds because he performs. Unfortunately, his act arouses resentment and fear. Hitler was spectacular. The greatest performer of my time was St. John Paul the Great, himself an actor, who enacted and embodied the call to holiness, courage, generosity.

Greta has a sobering, troubling message for us. It is a good message. I hope she...and the youth who emulate her...are able to maintain their determination and perseverance even as they modify the anxiety and indignation.