Kristof: 'Fire Bell' in the Night

[lady lib]

September 27, 2005
'Fire Bell' in the Night
By NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF
The most important decision we'll make in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita isn't whether to rebuild New Orleans. It's how to tackle global warming.

Today we look back at the presidents who preceded the Civil War, and we can't understand how they could have sat on their hands in the face of a threat that proved so devastating to this country. Someday, I fear, Americans are going to look back at today's leaders and wonder the same thing.

Wait one second! You're trying to frightify Americans. ...

Mr. President! How did you get into my keyboard?

-snip-

In 1820, Thomas Jefferson described the extension of slavery in the Missouri Compromise as "a fire bell in the night" and a mortal threat to the Union, but a series of ineffective presidents refused to listen or respond as we drifted toward catastrophe. Now, Mr. President, these hurricanes constitute another fire bell in the night, calling on us to act on global warming - before it's too late.

http://select.nytimes.com/2005/09/27/opinion/27kristof.html?pagewanted=print