In my latest National Post column I say that closing ranks to defeat Marine Le Pen while ignoring the sources of the discontent she taps into would be to forget the lessons of Donald Trump if, indeed, people ever learned any.
"Suddenly it becomes evident that things which for thousands of years the human imagination had banished to a realm beyond human competence can be manufacture right here on earth, that Hell and Purgatory, and even a shadow of their perpetual duration, can be established by the most modern methods of destruction and therapy. To these people (and they are more numerous in any large city than we like to admit) the totalitarian hell proves only that the power of man is greater than they ever dared to think, and that man can realize hellish fantasies without making the sky fall or the earth open…. Nothing perhaps distinguishes modern masses as radically from those of previous centuries as the loss of faith in a Last Judgement: the worst have lost their fear and the best have lost their hope." Arendt, The Origins of Totalitarianism, with specific reference to film footage from Nazi concentration camps
"It might be a good idea if the various countries of the world would occasionally swap history books, just to see what other people are doing with the same set of facts." Bill Vaughan, quoted as "Thought du jour" in Social Studies in Globe and Mail June 1, 2009
"The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane." Marcus Aurelius
Yahoo! The Kickstarter campaign has closed and The Environment: A True Story is funded. Thanks to everyone who made it happen. I'll keep people posted as the production process unfolds. And if you meant to contribute but didn't get to it, I'm still happy to accept support by cheque or via PayPal; email me for details. But for now, a great big thank you to all our backers. I literally can't do it without you.
It's really exciting that The Environment: A True Story has made its basic funding target on Kickstarter and the project will definitely be going forward. If you've contributed, let me repeat how grateful I am. It's because of you that I'm able to proceed. And I do appreciate how many other worthy demands there are on your resources. If you haven't contributed, let me remind you that anyone who puts in any sum, even just $1 dollar, will be listed in the credits unless they request anonymity. Given the unpleasant rhetoric that accompanies the misleading science of the climate alarmists, it makes a difference to have people stand up against the sneering and be counted on the side of clarity and decency.
Look, if you're in a position to make a substantial contribution I'm keen to have it. We do have a stretch target and all sorts of things we'd like to include in the project if we can fit them into the budget. But regardless, if you want to take a stand, put in a dollar, or two, or ten between now and Sunday at 6 p.m. EDT and I'll be proud to add your name to the nearly 500 people already on the list of backers.
Thanks.