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Show THE ZEPHYROCTOBER 1990 la It ethical to have the right to an abortion? The anawer can be different according to what experiences are fresh In someone's mind. Right after seeing an AIDS ed newborn handed over to Its mother who heads back out on the Infected, street for some more crack, I wonder If pro-lifwould be so sure of their stand. Or they might wonder If "murder of this Infant before birth might be the most humane and right thing Its mother could do, In this one particular situation. Its a difficult call. Is It ethical to murder someone? Ask the husband who helped his cancer-strickwife commit suicide. Some say euthanasia Is murder and Its always wrong. Others see times when It Is right, snd times when abortion Is also the ethical thing to do, for rape victims, Incest victims, etc. My point Is not to debate pro-lif- e, euthanasia Issues here. My point Is that thing about walking In someone else's moccasins. People like my husband and I, who have discovered, prospected (otherwise known as R&D, or research and development), put Into production, lived off of, and sold to someone else a BLM placer gold mining operation probably have a different perspective on public land use than a hiker from New York. Why does he think were Indifferent to the land? Looking down from the universe's viewpoint at the bunch of red antshumans scurrying around on the face of this planet, maybe It Is ethical to encourage our Because Is It right and moral to allow such futile struggling and pain to continue? Looking at H another way, Is It morally right to allow eastern congressman and eastern city dwellers to decide public lands Issues when they don't know the first thing about It? How can they? They have lost touch with the land and forgotten concepts such Individual freedom. These concepts are of vital as pioneer spirit; to me. Importance These visitors are prey to sentimentality: baby fawns, bold stags, crimson sunsets, baby seals, silent whales, baby eagles, rushing waterfalls. And I am not Immune to these feelings, nor are other miners, cattlemen, drillers, and loggers. But I see how this tendency toward emotionalism Is cultivated and nurtured until It overcomes common sense. You'll notice a lot of baby things In my list Why? Because they tug at everyones heart Environmental groups play this theme to the hilt In their national fundraising drives. I dont think It Is ethical. But It obviously works! The question Is, Is It morally right ethical, whatever, to continue to remove land In the public domain from public use? After all, these western lands were supposed to be open to everyone, not dosed. drug-addict- ers en pro-choi- from the western association of land users Ethics, Philosophy And a Definition of Terms by Jane S. Jones ce, self-destruct- ion. self-sufficien- cy, discovered while searching for a good quotation for this article (In Oxfords Dictionary of Quotations. 3rd Edition) that we're still philosophizing about many of the same things. And I learned, and wasn't surprised, that the guys back In time had a certain colorful way with words. (Those of you who dont care for British speech patterns can skip this many unpleasant changes. Preservationists are trying to convince us that change In past policies Is essential, changes In mining laws, cattle grazing, multiple use, etc. But what they want to prevent Is change to occur on certain public lands, which they wish to preserve. It's confusing. "Among a people generally corrupt, liberty cannot long exist" This happens to be a personal concern. If there's one thing sure about our federal government, Its that It Is corrupt And we elected them from our own ranks. Help. I'm skipping through some quotes that dont sit well with me, to "The people never give up their liberties but under some delusion." I think the delusion here Is that wilderness preservation Is more Important than economic concerns, and that everyone Is happy to make sacrifices In order to have gobs of wilderness withdrawals. And I was sure that we must not Ignore past lessons about keeping the people strong and the government weak, until Burke said, "You can never plan the future by the past Im confused again. Id like to close this section with "All men that are ruined are ruined on the side of their natural propensities, Just because I like It that defenses may be lowered and some may have been lulled Into a false sense of security, of possible agreements and compromises lurking around the comer between our two sides let me get to the final section; definitions. Here are some definitions of the word "public from Webster's New Collegiate Now Dictionary. 1973 Edition: of, relating to, or affecting all the people or the whole area of anatlon or state (example: public law) of, relating to, or being In the service of the community or nation (example: public affairs) of, or relation to, business or community Interests as opposed to private affairs devoted to the general or national welfare accessible to or shared by all members of the community to exposed general view I section.) I a British statesman who had much got sidetracked on Edmund Burke (1729-179to say on the major Issues of his time. He must have been Intelligent, since he felt England should try to make the colonies happy, Instead of abusing them until they revolted. What I was looking for was a nice pithy phrase to support my point of view. What I found was that Mr. Burke supported me, and then he didnt He enlightened me and then made me laugh, and then shot me down. And then agreed with me again. For example, "No passion so effectually robs the mind of all Its powers of action and reasoning as fear," which applies to both sides of the wilderness Issue. Both extremes are deathly fearful of pending disaster unless they act now. But then, "It Is a general popular error to Imagine the loudest complalners for the public to be the most anxious for Its welfare. My view exactly. And, "It Is not, what a lawyer tells me I may do; but what humanity, reason, and Justice, tell me I ought to do. All of our special Interests are spouting off; but are we always working for the betterment of mankind? Or are we pursuing personal agendas and personal gain? We all need to be statesmanlike. "The circumstances are In a great measure new. We have hardly and new landmarks from the wisdom of our ancestors to guide us. Sounds about right for environmental Issues. Are we saving public land for the people -- - or from the people? Is freedom to use resources now more Important than preservation for the future? "Nothing In progression can rest on Its original plan. We may as well think of a rocking grown man In the cradle of an Infant Change Is familiar yet frightening. Cant It be like It used to be, with room for all? Population growth here and abroad Is forcing 7), we bori'f week yoor oil ume ra6r. got pedal "Power. You weVe PAGE 23 'Uwr the similarity of terms: all the people, the whole area, business or community Interests, general welfare, all members. I especially liked the part about accessibility to all members of the community. The difference between public and private Is the difference between open and closed. Which Is the same difference between public Notice land and wilderness. Wilderness preservationists are free to band together and purchase private lands, to purchase or lease state lands, to pursue their dreams and to protect us from ourselves. They are currently doing this In some areas. I'm sure they'll have no trouble raising the necessary funds. But not one more acre of public land can be taken from the general populace because It's not ethical. Single-u- se lands, restricted lands: thy name Is private. definition of "private: From Webster's again, the Intended for or restricted to the use of a particular person, group, or class, unsuitable for public use or display, withdrawn from company or observation: sequestered (example: a private retreat) I rest my case. Jane S. Jones Is a member of the Western Association of Land Users, a state-wiorganization formed to oppose wilderness designations and changes to the Mining Law of 1872. The public Is Invited to attend the regular monthly meeting the fourth Wednesday of the month, at 7:30pm, In the Council Chambers. de GOES Tor. '(Du IDO, PAT OAT OIL 00MpAMIS! Moabs Complete Outdoor Store The Rim'oY -- fcaKe on SattoftlA 94 W. 1st No. s. 259-533- 3 3 |