5.30.07 Silent Congress

Proto - environmentalist Rachel Carson would have turned 100 this year. Marine biologist, nature writer and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service employee, Rachel Carson is best known for her book The Silent Spring (1962). Most notably the book is remembered for a chapter in which a fictional town was described after its ecosystem was destroyed by the affects of DDT. DDT at the time was a commonly used pesticide. For many who read the book, it was alarming. Later in an interview Carson remarked, “Man's attitude toward nature is today critically important simply because we have now acquired a fateful power to alter and destroy nature. But man is a part of nature, and his war against nature is inevitably a war against himself…[We are] challenged as mankind has never been challenged before to prove our maturity and our mastery, not of nature, but of ourselves.” The green revolution was born.

Recently our United States Congress wanted to honor Rachel Carson’s contribution. The vast majority of Congressman were in favor of the resolution. Saving the environment usually means more votes even for Republicans. Carson’s name is synonymous with the environmental movement. Yet the resolution has not passed, nor will it.

Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn (R) has utilized a parliamentary procedure to block any and all recognition of Rachel Carson. His web site has posted the following statement:

“Carson was the author of the now-debunked The Silent Spring. This book was the catalyst in the deadly worldwide stigmatization against insecticides, especially DDT.”

There are those who blame Carson for the millions of deaths caused by malaria. DDT was the cheapest and most widely used pesticide before The Silent Spring was published. Coburn claims that 1-2 million deaths a year from malaria are all preventable save for the impact of Rachel Carson and her book. According to Coburn, DDT was and should be our chief weapon against our great nemesis the mosquito.

Rachel Carson never called for the complete ban of DDT. Had she, she still would not be responsible for malaria deaths. These deaths are far beyond her reach. She died in 1964. DDT was not banned as an insecticide until 1972. Regardless of our politics, can’t we all agree that protecting the environment is a fundamental security issue? Protecting our habitat is a bipartisan policy. Recognizing Rachel Carson’s contribution should not be controversial. Yoda is getting a stamp this summer. A resolution honoring Carson makes sense.

What doesn’t make sense is why the Democratic leadership is allowing Coburn to bully them into submission. Both Pelosi and Reid could pass the resolution in spite of Coburn’s attempt to block. The-Do-Nothing-Congress has earned another name this spring, The-Silent-Congress.