Why are some things, somewhere, right, and those same things in other places, wrong?
Starting in the 1960s with the campaign for nuclear disarmament, environmental activists have fought for an end to nuclear power. Proponents of nuclear energy said it was sustainable (and cheaper than the alternatives), but after the disaster at the Fukushima nuclear plant in Japan a reexamination took place. Countries that had supported nuclear energy began having doubts. At the same time, the push for renewable energy sources gained traction in the developed world.
Yet: The P5+1 have just signed an agreement with Iran that supports its development of nuclear energy. Three of the P5+1 countries — China, Germany and the UK — were those that reexamined their nuclear policy after Fukushima. Germany decided to phase out nuclear energy entirely.
Why is there a trend of holding historical figures to today’s standards and, when they fall short, as they inevitably will, arguing that they should be relegated to the dustbin of history or, at least, removed from prominence? Democrats are busy disavowing Thomas Jefferson for being a slave owner and Andrew Jackson for his anti-Indian brutality. This trend is worrisome as it opts to ignore history instead of addressing its complexity. Locally, citizens have lobbied against naming neighborhoods for Benjamin Stapleton due to his ties to the Klan.
Yet: The bust of Margaret Sanger, a social reformer who supported eugenics (which calls for the selective breeding of humans), continues to grace the Smithsonian’s Hall of Justice.
Why is the marketing of cigarettes heavily regulated, with graphic images and both succinct and descriptive warnings plastered on the packaging? Why is there is a movement to increase food labeling so that consumers better understand healthy from non-healthy foods (for example, labeling salt content more clearly) and grasp which food choices can lead to obesity?
Yet: In Colorado, the marijuana lobby seems to be succeeding in getting Gov. John Hickenlooper to backtrack from his support (based on the advice of his staff) from a stop sign style sticker warning buyers of THC content. After pressure from the marijuana industry (their argument: buyers of edibles may get the impression the products are dangerous — duh?!), a revised proposal removing the stop sign effect is being put forward.
Why is marijuana getting a free pass in Colorado? And nuclear energy in Iran? And Margaret Sanger in the Smithsonian?
What — only Thomas Jefferson, Andrew Jackson and Benjamin Stapleton are to be judged?
Copyright © 2015 by the Intermountain Jewish News
