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Show THE SAN JUAN RECORD Thursday March 19, 1981 My One of my college reading as- signments was two science fiction books. At the time I read them, I found the books fascinating for the thematic content, which I interpreted to be a plea for keeping humaness in humanity. Both books George Orwells 1984 and Aldous Huxleys Brave New World suggested to me that bureaucracy, big government and technology were forces that would eventually destroy compassion, loyalty and love in mankind. I try these days not to think about either book because too often I feel that we are living in the worlds that Orwell and Huxley wrote about in their significant novels. anti-hum- an The movie version of Orwells book familiarized many with big brother and life in 1984 as Orwell saw it. Brave New World was a world of test tube babies, hallucinatory tranquilizers, drugs and mind conditioning. Only savages who lived in a rugged and wild area somwhere in New Mexico bore children and lived in family units. Life was manipulated and public land was fenced to control usage. Iam writing about these books because of a draft plan for managing Grand Gulch that I read recently. A proposal was put forth in the draft for fencing fragile Letters to the editor The Record welcomes letters from its readers on any subject of public interest. Letters must be no more than 300 words in The publisher at all length. times reserves the right to edit, condense or reject any contributions, in the interest of suitability andor good taste. Copy of a letter sent to Calvin Black, San Juan County com- missioner. Dear Mr. Black: I am writing regarding the Sagebrush Rebellion, a movement by Western officials which is gathering momentum. You have been a supporter and are recognized as an influential person in determining the direction of the movement. I wish to express my deep concern over the implication of the Rebellion and what it could mean to the West as we know it today. - Page 2 land areas in Grand Gulch. The implications of such an idea are frightening to me. Is the fencing meant to manage the landscape or the public. Are we so near Brave New World that it is necessary to deface an area of scenic grandeur by planting a fence in what is commonly re- ferred to as wilderness area? In fact, there are so many plans afoot to manage the Four Corners area that it is difficult to remember all of them. There is Grand Gulch. There is a plan for managing the rivers of southeastern Utah. The corpos of Engineers is studying the San Juan River Basin for flood and conservation control. The Department of Energy is considering managing radioactive waste storage in San Juan. There are Wilderness Study Areas. And there are more. Talk to any stockman, farmer or miner. We are receiving, I believe, more attention than we ever wanted certainly more than we have time for. Each of us should be actively involved in programs that will change San Juan and our life here. Each of us should attend every public hearing and offer comments as required by the bureaucractic agencies associated with different projects. Each of us should. And each of us should have more hours tacked onto the day so we can keep abreast of government programs that will affect us. Each of us should. I hope enough of us do that we never have to know 1984 or live in a Brave New World. J.A.M. frustration over working with the federal government. I have found over the years that the level of competence and the willingness to cooperate has been diminishing. Local government officials constantly find the path blocked when they are attempting to govern in the best interest of their con- stituents. However, I have serious questions about substituting the state for the federal government. My experience says state governments are inflexible and isolated from local issues. Local specifically the government, most responthe are counties, sive to the needs and desires of the people. I believe that with proper safeguards and planning, (Please turn to page 9.) 4 j Sagebrush Lady (Due to some excitement this Valentine story didnt find its way to its intended destination. So it is late but sincere.) Snow was, falling on the thirteenth of February and the little girls were excited over the valentines they were making for their friends. It was not festive in the middle bed room. Here their big brother lay in a different kind of excitement, the kind one feels when life is swiftly coming to an end. It was not new to us who waited there beside him, for we had known even as he knew that the time was short and Valentines Day lost its charm. I could not bring myself to help the little girls in their effort, nor could I feel their joy. I could not leave this dear son who needed my hand on his and to know that I was there. Already his eyes were sightless and his words came in labored whispers. The day passed and the night. Valentines Day dawned bright and clear and cold. Our boy was still with us but he whispered a farewell in the early morning and was mercifully through with his suffering. I told the little girls. For a moment they wept and left their valentines, but grief in the young cannot be long sustained. They moved to a table in their room and were soon back with their labor of Jove. It was essential that we set our grief aside in order to have a clear head to function in the many plans and responsibilities of preparation. Even so, tears fell unnoticed and voices didnt always behave. As I was rusning out the door, one litte girl ran to throw her O arms around me and say: mother, Ive made you the prettiest valentine, specially so you wont feel so bad and so you will . Postage increases on Saturday Beginning March 22, it will cost three cents more to mail a letter to a friend, unless the friend is very special and the writer of the letter has a lot to report, then it may cost five cents more. First class letters class articles will cost less 12 and first ounces or cents for the first ounce or fraction of an ounce. Each additional ounce or fraction of an ounce will cost 17 cents. Stamped envelopes will be 22 cents each. Postal cards and standard size post cards will be 12 cents each. Although the official changeover day is Sunday, March 22, mail deposited for local delivery after noon Saturday and for delivery after 4:15 p.m. will be subject to the new rates since this mail will not receive postmarks until Monday, says 18 Postmaster Garcia. interim postage stamp with a selling value of 18 cents will serve for domestic use until the new stamps are printed. The purple stamp will bear a profile of an eagle and will have the letter B in the lower left quadrant. Certified fees in addition to postage will be 75 cents and return receipts will be 60 cents. Special delivery fees and other services will also increase. A1 An non-denomin- . out-of-to- wn TOE VOTES Goldie Hawn and Chevy Chase in 'Seems Like Old Times Tonight 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday 7 and 9 p.m. MonandTues 7 p.m. (March 23 -- 24) know we love you. My mind pulled in a thousand ways, I said, Thank you honey-g- o and put it on my bed and I (Please turn to page 9.) Community Calendar A Public Service of The San Juan Record Monday, March 23 Free Film Services Whitehorse High School Man of La Mancha I have spent most of my working 7 p.m, 6 Big Days Tuesday, March 24 life as a land use planner for municipal and county government in - March 25 thru 31 Wed Thurs Mon and Tues 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday 7 and 9 p.m. NEW SCHEDULE Mon-Tues-Wed-Th- ONE MOVIE urs ONE MOVIE at 7 p.m. and 2 SHOWINGS on Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. there has not been enough discussion of safeguards necessary to insure that those lands now open to the public would forever remain open. I understand your concern and SPECIAL - MONDAY FAMILY NIGHT ONLY Thursday, March 26 Pre-scho- ol VISION Screening District Music Concert Farm Bureau Banquet Blanding Health Office SJHS MBS all-d- ay 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. $8 See it at The Movies Monticello |