Dear Editor:
I am sorry an unnamed letter writer is upset about my response to her letter. I sincerely apologize for using her name so much. Most people enjoy getting their name in print. I was unwisely writing it as a “Dear Virginia” letter. Also, my message was probably too blunt. But since she focused on my name and changed hers, I am not sure she understands and appreciates that I was trying too hard to allay her fears of using oil and its effects on climate change. As part of working decades in science and engineering, it has been my duty to protect the health, safety and welfare of the public. Informing her and others is part of my obligation to help avoid public panic and wrong decisions concerning our future welfare. Climate change is not our major problem. Unfortunately, our health, safety and welfare are very much threatened by government leaders’ (both ours and others) decisions, which right now are not in the best interests of anyone. Using oil wisely now and making energy research important will allow us to plan a better future. Maybe she will see this as important to her and in re-reading my letter, not be so upset. War, especially nuclear war, stops the future of children and grandchildren, not oil. Is it wrong to want people to know this?
As to my use of L. O. as my name, mom and dad called me that since I was born. If I used my full name, my friends and neighbors would not know it was written by me. I am sorry that was not understood either.
L. O. Cox, Jr.
Gresham