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Show electricity, the media, vehicular transport to oppose the overindulgence in those same conveniences? Most of us, I suspect, are haunted by questions like these; I also suspect that the answers can only be arrived at individually, and usually at some expense to our self-respe- ct. There's an obvious need for many, many more "Talkwalkers," people who see overgrazing and or feed lot misery and don't eat beef; who deplore the depredations of the petroleum industry and so don't own automobiles, etc., etc People like Wendell Berry; there's a complacency-shatterfor you, a real threat to your peace of mind. Read his books and quake in your Reeboks. And speaking of Talkwalkers: how about those who sit in trees or in front of bulldozers, those whose every worldly possession can fit on their back or in back of an ancient VW bus? Those who get beaten and jailed and ridiculed? Stripping away all hypocrisy-a- nd be a very demanding acting on your beliefs-c- an business. By now it's probably obvious that I have been airing out my own familiar interior conversations, so let's stay in that vein and consider the problem of gasoline; I struggle with this all the time, and it's pretty much a universal (in the "first" world) subject. Even after the executions in Nigeria, how many of us have bitten the bullet and sworn off driving? Not everyone has a choice, but many of us do. Every tankful, we belatedly have to realize, has a bit of blood additive in it. We (I) rail against proposed drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge-- or in slickrock country-en- d yet drive our 4x4's deep into the boonies to Can we fair and a go backpacking. expect respect hearing from the general populace when we argue with wilderness opponents and After all, as the timber industry loves to remind us, we do use toilet paper (and, at the opposite end of the spectrum, subscribe to Zephyrs). We've got a big problem here with no easy, or maybe no, solution. Our habits, desires and needs are all bound up in a destructive economic infrastructure; not quite bound up inextricably, but almost The fat of earthraping is marbled into the steak of our lives. What's a treehugger to do? Withdrawing your own personal fraction of support from the rapacity at large means gping against the currents and mechanisms of our entire culture. On top of that, it doesn't have any measurable effect upon the beast. Still, we feel compelled to try, and that's good; that's even vital I've settled into an uneasy cease-fir- e with myself: I live in a shack in the center of town, within easy walking distance of work and most other places; my work is at the public library, rather than in oil and gas exploration as was previously the case; I'm essentially a vegetarian. always that bit BUT- -I still take long hot showers, keep my thermostat set at a comfortable level, and will gladly drive to Montana for a backpacking trip. Those lemons all line up, and the jackpot is a jangling hypocrisy. Those on the other side of the wildemesspublic landsenvironment debate aren't faced with hypocrisy problems, at least in this arena. They're free to wallow, if they so choose and can afford it, in any and all of our society's excesses, then pat themselves on the back for supposedly stimulating the economy and creating jobs. Sounds sort of like I envy them, doesn't it? I don't I just wish they weren't so quick to insinuate that if we so much as use a toothpick or zip up our jeans, we therefore should have no quarrel with dearcuts or stripmines. That's bullshit Most things in life are a matter of degree, and lines need to be drawn much further down on the scale than we've been drawing them. Much further down. So, well, OK, back to my Zephyr subscription. I'm gonna keep it Sure, a lot of newsprint goes into each issue, fuel is required for the hauling of them to me. -- .you get the picture. And 111 shut up. But not before adding a quick little congratulatory note to Hank Rutter. That's right I have something good to say, and so don't have to remain silent In the entirety of his monument piece, Mr. Rutter only excluded backpackers from the ranks of "ordinary" people ONE TIME. like that must not go unremarked-Brav- o, Norma Nunn (W) 259-502- 1 (H) 259-727- 5 er Wise-Use'er- s? But-the- re's Self-restra- int Hank! s John Wahl Flagstaff, AZ !8Ti OMp! Dear Jim, WHY SHOULD EVERYONE OWN A GUN? First, consider the opposite side of the question. Why should anyone be denied what has historically been recognized as a right to keep and bear arms? Why should there be anyone who does not own a gun? Here are always those few, who in the course of their lifetimes, have proven that they are not capable of taking on the responsibility that comes with a discipline. In the example of driving a car, we all know of those who cannot seem to obey the traffic laws. They drive at excessive speeds or just flat out disregard traffic safety. Usually, these folks loose their driver's licenses. Too many of the rest of us are in danger when they are allowed to drive. There are always some folks who seem to be full of pity for these unfortunate people who have lost the privilege to drive and would allow them to continue to drive. This example is similar to gun ownership. Federal laws stipulate that certain folks cannot own firearms at alL In fids group are felons, folks who were discharged dishonorably from the armed forces, and others. It is plain to see why these folks should be denied this right. They have been proven to be dishonorable and cannot be trusted with the responsibility of firearm ownership. However, people who have lost the right of gun to drive. This ownership have fewer sympathizers than people who have lost the privilege more people in a despite the fact that people who misuse automobiles kill many, many given period of time than people who misuse firearms. Of course, in this discussion, we must consider those folks who would rather not have a firearm in their possession. This is fine. There are all sorts of reasons that people have for not driving, for not swimming, for not owning a home. These people have the right to choose for themselves. There are undoubtedly those who have yet to prove themselves either honorable or dishonorable. Either they are too young to have ever taken on any responsibility or maybe that they have been they (regardless of age) have never matured mentally to the point to take on responsibility, and fiius have never felled or allowed to or have rho succeeded In the challenge of responsibility. Some people just never get to the point that in some areas of their they feel comfortable being responsible. They may take responsibility lives and yet not in other areas. Making a choice to own, use, rent, borrow or otherwise caraorother be possess or not to possess any number of items, whether it firearms, houses, mp ppgp i .jn M&H' Vv 1 .: 4 QUALITY REALTY 505 N. Main FAX; (80 ) 259-83- St. 259-64- 93 1 87 BRAND NEW HOME on a large comer lot in a great family neighborhood. Light and bright with vaulted ceilings, 3 bedrooms, 2 full baths. Gorgeous kitchen with all deluxe appliances. $109,000. (557) Smith GREAT 3 Commercial property. Excellent visibility on US 191. Over 212 acres with excellent 7000 sq.ft, building. Building includes offices, bathroom, and 14' bay doors to workshop area. Also has 5 trailer spaces on property. Seller motivated. Price reduced to $200,000 with owner financing available. (511) Leavitt LOOKING FOR GREAT mom k pop business that will make a good living? All real estate, building and equipment with high visibility and excellent parking. Five bay car wash and well established laundromat. Turn key operation with seller financing. $375,000. (521) Tite SPACIOUS 3 bedroom, 2 bath, laundry room. All appliances stay. Beautiful views of cliffs and La Sal Mountains. Fruit trees and large garden area. One share Moab irrigation water. City water and sewer. Close to town with country location. $89,500 (581) Moses PANORAMIC VIEWS overlooking the city, of the La Sal Mtns. and the red rocks. Conditionally approved PUD subdivision on 5.27 acres. Owner financing available at Priced at a reasonable $248,000 (576) Morris THIS IS THE PLACE! Choice highway commercial property with excellent 2100 sqieet d driveway. Price building. 220 feet frontage on US 191. Ample parking, reduced to $139,000 (842) Hughes C-- 9. black-toppe- such things is taking responsibility. You make a choice that is responsible, then you live within the parameters of a free society. We respect the rights, freedoms, and responsibilities of others sharing the freedom of our society. So now it is time to look at the other consideration required by this question. That is: Who should own a gun? Some folks are adamant about their answer in that they feel no one should own a gun. To be somewhat contrary to that point of view I feel that those who are not part of the group of folks we discussed first should be able to make their own decision concerning gun ownership. The folks who want no one to be allowed to own a gun are saying to society as a whole that they are the ones that should be allowed to make your decisions for you as well as making my decisions for me. I don't want other folks deciding what color suit I wear to work, nor any other personal decision that I have to make on a daily, weekly, monthly, yearly or lifetime basis. I know that there are many people who would agree with me in this matter. I recognize that gun ownership is really a personal choice. To own a gun or not to own a gun. What kind of gun or guns does a person want to own? Does a person choose to carry a gun with himher at all times, is it loaded at all times, or is it kept unloaded until a need arises? These are personal decisions and each is irrevocably linked to responsibility.. .to the people around you, but mostly to yourself. The opposite point has been proven. Obviously everyone should not own a firearm. However, some people choose to own a firearm. The constitution of the United States of America guarantees this right Sincerely, Dean Blanck Grand Junction, Colorado Dear Jim, As usual Ken Rail's language is loaded and his arithmetic is wrong. But even though he strains to find something to complain about in Governor leavitt's incremental wilderness strategy (not "scheme"), most wilderness supporters can see the sense of it In feet, the Utah Wilderness Association advocated a "regional approach" back in 1985 for nine regions: CanyonlandsDirty Devil Desolation Bookdiffs, Escalante, Grand Gulch Plateau, henry Mountains, Kaiparowits, San Rafael West Desert and ZionCanaan Mountain. In 1995 this strategy came to fruition on five San Rafael with the cooperation of Emery County and the help of the Coalition for Utah's Future. All the substantive issues were resolves, which is the advantage of working on a regional scale. Wilderness advocates can continue to politicize Utah wilderness or we can try to find a more rational approach. The governor has offered us an opportunity to be rationaL The only viable alternative is another political bill coming from the Utah delegation, which would largely ratify the BUM'S poorly done wilderness study process. With Ken Rait off to another environmental hack job in Oregon, we won't have to see him posturing on the cover of the Zephyr any more. I would like to suggest that all the rest of the SUWA folks stop posturing and start looking for solutions. Mike Metz's salary is comparable to Governor Leavitt's, but he doesn't work very hard for it Sincerely, Richard Wamick Salt Lake City Editor's Note: For there to be a "rational approach to wilderness there has to be some civility among the various environmentalists as well. Mr. Wamick, you sound like you're in the throes of terminal seething. As far Ken "posturing " on the cover iFebMar 1997), he didn't pose, he was, if anything, a victim. The photographer morphed his head onto The Incredible Hulk's Bod. Mr. Rait, in reality, is sort of scrawny. Like me. sms 5C9S3 . .. i ni . i J 1 1 1 n i n im mi i ""I'.".'".'. |
