Dear Editor: You have recently published a few letters challenging the global warming theory. The letters caution us to do more thinking about the subject than its admirers will allow. I do think that it is about time that those who accept the idea that global warming is true need to let those who have reasons for opposing or at least questioning the theory have their say.

I’ve heard the president say that regarding the matter, the science is settled. First of all, no scientific matter is ever finally settled. But beyond that, I’ve read that most scientists at least question the theory, and some are decidedly opposed to it.

On Jan. 17, 2003, Michael Crichton gave a lecture at CalTech in which he gave reasons for doubting the truth of the global warming theory. He pointed out that the theory uses the same faulty mathematical template as Carl Sagan used to support his theory of nuclear winter.

To go further, it seems to me that that nuclear winter theory used the same set of circumstances used by the proponents of global warming to prove their case. As I understand it, Sagan said that the dust kicked up by nuclear explosions would form a barrier to keep out the sun’s warmth, causing the Earth to cool down. Global warming theorists seem to say the opposite, that carbon emissions would rise up in the atmosphere and form a barrier that would keep the Earth’s warmth in.

Of course, if Sagan’s dust kept the Sun’s warmth out, would it not keep the Earth’s warmth in? And if the carbon emissions keep the Earth’s warmth in, would they not keep the Sun’s warmth out?

I wonder whether those who have silenced those who question or oppose the global warming theory are putting themselves in the same position as the critics of Galileo put themselves in.

FRANK DROLLINGER
Woodhaven