WARMING: Don't slam climatologist

I see they're at it again - slamming Cliff Harris for opposing the global warming cabal in his column. And, as usual showing their ignorance by saying he should stick to forecasting the weather.

I'll go over it once again. Please read slowly, pause occasionally to let it sink in, perhaps sleep on it a night or two and maybe this time you'll awaken a little smarter.

We'll begin with the basics: Harris is a climatologist not a meteorologist. He does not forecast the weather. That is the job of our meteorologist Randy Mann. If you want a weather report you have only to look a few inches higher and read Mann's report. There you'll find all the weather forecasting you can handle.

Second, Harris is a columnist not a reporter. His job is to write a column on climate issues. In case you are unaware, global warming is a climate issue and falls well within the scope of what Harris covers.

Third, columnists write about their opinions on the subject to be covered. They do not report news. That is the job of a reporter.

Fourth, with respect to personal opinions about any column I subscribe to that well known saying: I may not agree with what you say but I will defend to the death your right to say it. In a recent letter Donna Williams (and many previous writers) were expressing a different philosophy: If I disagree with what you say I will do my best to shut you up. I suggest that is not a laudable position.

This is what I find most puzzling. I have seen several news items in The Press in which global warming was referred to in positive terms and not one letter appeared about them. I would guess that the positive coverage of this subject is at least 100 times the negative coverage. One wonders if perhaps a little brain washing is being attempted.

As for my personal opinion I am one of those mavericks who believes global warming as currently hyped to be a huge scam. Of course there is global warming-and global cooling-but they are normal and natural phenomena and not man-made and sea level will not rise 20 feet no matter what Al Gore tells you. I could be wrong and so I suggest you learn to swim.

PHIL MEMBURY

Coeur d'Alene