Selfish recreationalists

Dear Eds,

Peter Miesler’s reading comprehension skills seem to be a bit  rusty. My letter simply pointed out that with the land trade off the table, the potential for development on an inholding in the San Juan National Forest is real, and as soon as a developer splits the Hermosa Creek property into four trophy home sites, the usual suspects, led by Mr. Miesler, will protest the development. And yes, it is an either/or choice. You either choose to pick up 265 acres and eliminate in holdings or you choose to maintain a status quo and hope that the in holdings won’t be developed. Guys like Chapman and McCombs are drooling over the prospects of getting their hands on these in holdings for trophy home parcels surrounded by federal lands. Quite frankly, I’m tired of Mr. Miesler and his ilk using inflammatory language in pursuit of their goals. “Hostile take-over” and “greedy developers” and parcels as “trade bait” are just a few of the terms used to “spin the situation.” I’d like to add a new phrase to the mix; “selfish recreationalists.” Again, it’s doubtful that the land trade will ever happen as it’s a one-for-one trade and the USFS likes to see six or seven acres received for every acre traded. That said, it’s too bad the “selfish recreationalists” didn’t use an opening salvo of a funding-raiser to purchase Hermosa Park and Mitchell Lakes so that they were off the table.

– Dennis Pierce, via e-mail

The power of women

Dear Editors,

A friend of mine got back from living on a farm in Norway recently and has done nothing but rave about it ever since. He says the women are both beautiful AND extremely well informed as is the general population. He is the second person to relate/report this. What a helluva difference from a lot of American

women unfortunately, but then not all, which quickly brings me to the point of this letter. As a passionately loyal boarding school boy, I had always said I’d never let a woman rule me, and I remain true to that in my personal life to the extent that that’s even possible. But would I care, be intimidated or otherwise put off by the prospect of a woman/women running the government? Not at all. I remain convinced that they should logically take over after the “Yahoo Rednecks” who have dominated American foreign and domestic policy for eight years. Thank God funeral arrangements are being made for that, and I shiver with excitement about it. Women have spoiled me in my life and I them, and I’m sure that has influenced me. But, well whatever, and in spite of my admiration of and often fun battles with them (women) I am certain their time has finally come. Right on Hillary, cunningly calculating or not, I’ll sure vote for you. I like Wesley gurls anyway.

We (men) cannot continue to be afraid of what a female-dominated government and policy might look like. Kevin Costner was quoted as saying “I love women, they innately have such a different perspective (and priorities) than we do.” Fascinating right there if nothing else.

– Grant D. Cyrus, via e-mail

The beginning not the end

To the Editors:

Thanks for covering the exciting Children, Youth and Family Master Planning process (Durango Telegraph August 9) that is taking place in La Plata County. Contrary to the headline that states the plan is near completion, the process is actually just starting! Beginning with training for all youth and adult participants this fall, the plan will then unfold as a result of the seven action committees’ work referenced in the article. Please join us in this process to ensure all children, youth and families in La Plata County thrive! Contact Jenny Bruell 759-9353 to learn more about the master planning process that is just starting.

– Best wishes, Lauren Patterson, Durango

What is Wal-Mart afraid of?

Dear Editors,

I’m writing because I’m concerned about where the food I buy comes from.

There are a lot of reasons why this matters. I want to be able to support American farmers. I want to be able to choose products raised in environmentally conscious ways. And most importantly, I want to make sure that the food that my family eats is safe.

In order to make smart choices, I need information. I need to know what country my food comes from. I have to trust that the people I’m buying from are doing their best to provide me with safe, humanely-produced products. That’s how the free market is supposed to work, right?

Then why is Wal-Mart trying to keep that information from us?

Wal-Mart, where millions of Americans buy their groceries, refuses to adopt country-of-origin labeling, which would give customers the information they need to make smart choices about what they eat. They’ve actively lobbied to prevent country-of-origin labeling from being required. When I walk into a Wal-Mart, I have no way of knowing whether I’m buying meat from Colorado, or from China. That’s wrong.

We have a right to know where our food comes from. What is Wal-Mart afraid of?

– Lacy Townsend, via e-mail