Dear HCN,
Your
excellent story on snowmobiles and West Yellowstone (HCN, 4/1/02:
Move over!) demonstrates one among several points: After a new,
destructive practice has gained a foothold in the local economy, it
can be virtually impossible to control, much less dislodge. People
who valued tranquility, clean water, kayaking, wildlife and
traditional island values decided to ban Jet Skis in Washington’s
San Juan Islands before the area became a mecca for these loud,
obnoxious water machines. It still required opposing and defeating
legal action by the industry, but local government and people
firmly supported the successful ban.
Four ways
exist to oppose harmful behavior by others: (1) overpower them; (2)
outvote them; (3) reason with them; (4) shame
them.
Many world cultures have used the fourth
tactic, but it won’t work if people and society are shameless, or
don’t even know what the concept means. Nevertheless, it’s worth a
try in West Yellowstone. The minority offended by noise, smoke,
speed and waste of fuel could sponsor billboards with the following
messages, at the same testing the health of the First Amendment in
Montana:
“Fight Obesity. Pump That
Accelerator!”
“I Exercise Gripping a Steering
Wheel.”
“Get Active by Sitting on Your Butt. Rent
a Snowmobile.”
“Snowmobiles: the Strenuous Sport
for Couch Potatoes.”
“Don’t Sneeze and Snivel *
Sniff My Fumes.”
Computers, cars, casinos,
television, movies, Jet Skis, snowmobiles: SITTING has become our
national posture, our favorite form of exercise. We might as well
make the best of it.
Bob
Keller
Bellingham, Washington
This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline Four ways to oppose snowmobiles.
Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license.
