Dear HCN,
I would like to commend
you for excellent coverage of the problems plaguing the Gila
National Forest in southwest New Mexico (HCN, 5/2/94). For too
long, battles have been raging between environmentalists and
wise-use proponents there without anyone sitting up and taking
notice.
Three years ago, my wife and I bought
property in the Silver City area hoping to move there from
southeastern Arizona in five years or so. Our home away from home
and the friends we made in the Mimbres Valley were a welcome
respite from our jobs as managers of a large nature preserve and
guest accommodations across the stateline in Arizona. We were
attracted to the area for the reasons you stated in your articles –
an eclectic blend of ranchers, miners and hippies in a beautiful
natural setting.
The last three years, however,
have made us aware of the divisiveness, ignorance, hypocrisy and
blatant lies among the anti-environmentalists and certain employees
of the Forest Service. Their tactics to squelch free speech, and
resistance to meaningful dialogue, are disgusting. What galls me
even more is that these same people refer to themselves as “true
Americans.” Their Neanderthal mentality was a major factor in our
decision to sell our home and stay in southeastern Arizona. It’s
not a perfect world here, but we don’t hear idiotic shouts of “get
a rope!” when someone speaks their mind.
I’ve got
to hand it to the Gila Watch and the Greater Gila Biodiversity
Project for their determination and fortitude under such adverse
and violent conditions.
Mark
B. Apel
Cascabel, Arizona
This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline A Neanderthal mentality in Silver City.
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