How about this for getting to the root of the problem?
The Chevy Volt (an electric car) is being pushed by General Motors as the first production electric car, to hit the market in 2010. GM unveiled it at a NASCAR event, and they're understandably trying to drum up excitement about the car. But GM has to be careful about pushing the Volt too hard as a patriotic, pro-American car that can help free us from our dependence on foreign oil. While they want to take advantage of the desire by nationalists to see the US become energy independent, they're reluctant to get to stars-and-stripes with the Volt.
Pete Lewis, who works in program operations at GM, puts it this way.
"There is a fear that if we position this as a 'pro-American' car, it will upset some of the environmentally conscious crowd, and we want it to be embraced by everyone."
Mr. Lewis is justified in his concern about offending the green-ers by becoming too pro-American, but I find it tremendously sad.
The most "green" or "environmentally conscious" among us are, by definition, the most anti-American. Take a look at Hollywood, PETA, Greenpeace, the Sierra Club (sorry Steven), and any other such organization if you disagree with me.
And the flag-waving, America-loving nationalists among us tend to be decidedly less concerned about environmental issues. Take a look at any NASCAR event across the country for further proof.
How has it come to this? How have we gotten to the point where, to care about our environment, we must hate our country?
