Language at climate events

# 4001

At climate symposia, which seem to me should be sober, even solemn events, speakers are routinely praised in overly long introductions for a broad range of mostly irrelevant studies and then respond with “I am delighted to be here.” Delighted?

An upcoming poetry reading "event” is introduced the their website as

Join us for an evening of poetry and inspiration with William Sieghart, the acclaimed author of the bestselling Poetry Pharmacy books. Sieghart's books have become a sensation, offering readers a prescription of verse to soothe, inspire and revive. At Intelligence Squared, we have had the privilege of hosting Sieghart before, along with stellar guests including Jeanette Winterson, Helena Bonham Carter and Dominic West.

To me, poetry is the search for resonating with the truth (We are the Hollow men headpieces stuffed with straw, leaning together. T.S. Eliot, or “The center cannot hold. Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world. Yets The words, “Inspiration, acclaimed, best seller. sensation soothe, inspire, revive, privilege, and steller just seem unserious. Seem like curtain calls at the opera, but this is a war, or several of them, not an entertainment. How about "We have invited John to speak with us. Let’s get on with it, “ and John responds, not with “Ï am delighted to be invited to talk to you about the end of the world.", but with “ÖK, on with it. Here is what I have come to engage with you about…..