It is interesting to observe people as they filter and distort incoming sensory information to form perceptions that support their world view. Take offshore oil drilling as an example. We are asked to believe that newer, safer technology makes oil spills a thing of the past. To quote Sarah Palin, "Drill baby, drill!"

Almost unnoticed was an Oct. 6 USA Today article telling that 500,000 gallons of crude oil was dumped into the Gulf of Mexico during Hurricane Ike and was now flowing into the marshes and bayous of Louisiana and Texas. The spills were the result of destroyed platforms and punctured pipelines. So much for safe drilling.

And yet we will keep filtering and distorting so that we can preserve our current lifestyle and ignore the impact that our actions will have on the next generation. We must, otherwise how could we sleep at night? We've been doing this for the past 30 years, why stop now? Drill baby, drill!

Glenn Gilchrist

Southern Pines