Wilderness proposal

The rumbling I'm hearing now concerns a bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives that would save nearly 25 million acres of valuable wilderness land in three Western states from encroachment by roads or development. Or, as the other side would put it, a bill that would wipe off the map opportunities for commercial growth and turn existing communities near the proposed area into ghost towns.

The bill had its first hearing in the House last Thursday, October 18, as H. R. 1975, and it was introduced by Carolyn Maloney, New York. The bill calls for a designation of about 25 million acres of undeveloped mountain land as wilderness. The area includes nearly 7 million acres of wilderness in Montana, 9.5 million acres of wilderness in Idaho, 5 million acres of wilderness in Wyoming, 750,000 acres in eastern Oregon, and 500,000 acres in eastern Washington. Included in this total is over 3 million acres in Yellowstone, Glacier and Grand Teton National Parks.

I may find a noose on my door in the morning, but I do not go along with Idaho land owners who oppose wilderness legislation because it might infringe on their rights to do as they wish with their property.

Nobody has an infinite right to anything in this world. We have to give and take or give up and take...the exit. Don't tell that to the folks who rise up in anger every time someone suggests a move that would save, restore, or protect something in our mountains and streams. Thousands of delicate plants, animals, birds, and fish are present in these beautiful, untouched mountains, rivers, streams, and rocks. Doesn't matter if you feel you have an inalienable right to build whatever you wish wherever you wish as long as you own the land.

Before you write this legislation off as an attack against freedom, please take a look at what the Sierra Club has to say about this pristine country. Or visit the Wild Rockies Action Fund. Or check out exactly what took place during the first public hearing of this proposed legislation by going to the House of Representatives web site dealing with this bill.

It's an opportunity to preserve pristine mountain areas in our beautiful state. If we don't do anything to keep these acres safe and free for nature's wonders, they will be destroyed forever.