Letter to the editor

“California, here we come,” is replete with contradictions (HCN, 5/1/06: California, here we come). It praises California for “showing the rest of the West how to use water more efficiently through conservation” by “pioneering the transfer of water rights from rural areas to rapidly growing urban centers.” But rural areas, with their ability to grow […]

The ongoing discussions about Brokeback Mountain prompt me to write (HCN, 4/3/06: Keep the closet closed, please). During my 55-year marriage, I have lived in much of the West. I’ve even had the rare opportunity to actually live on a working cattle ranch. In short, I’ve known a lot of real cowboys! Seeing Brokeback Mountain was a […]

A “terrorist” intentionally targets innocent people in order to promote a political agenda. Members of the Earth Liberation Front target only property, which invariably belongs to Earth-rapers with nothing innocent about them (HCN, 4/17/06: Eco-terrorism and the trial of the century). ELF has never killed or injured anyone. They are idealistic kids who claim that the […]

Regarding your recent cover story on the Healthy Forests Act (HCN, 4/17/06: The war on wildfire): The biggest impediment to legitimate hazard fuels reduction on the Forest Service district where I work (South Park, in central Colorado) is that the project units are laid out and marked by timber personnel. The main goal of the […]

I so hoped “Waypoints of the Heart” was part of your recent April Fools’ spoof (HCN, 4/3/06: Waypoints of the heart). I was chilled by the words, “the unwavering locating and decoding of geocaching is like finding a rubric for the universe …” Here, in the increasingly mapped, sanitized and sold Southwest, geocaching is on […]

Regarding your recent essay “Mute, riven, blessed” (HCN, 4/17/06: Mute, riven, blessed): Headstones, crosses and other symbols used to mark the passing of a life are prohibited on national forest and Bureau of Land Management lands. Although well-meaning mourners find comfort in placing memorial markers in a beautiful setting, others find the memorials intrusive. One […]

Regarding Robert Amon’s views on eco-terrorism, I must stress there are valid means of protest, and burning down buildings is not one of them (HCN, 4/17/06: Eco-terrorism and the trial of the century). Martin Luther King Jr. and Mohandas Gandhi did not sneak around at night, wearing masks and committing acts of destruction. Yes, they […]

Yes, Mr. Amon, I have noticed that 12 young people have been charged with arson and conspiracy to commit arson — and I am ecstatic about the possibility that they might go to jail for the rest of their lives for their crimes (HCN, 4/17/06: Eco-terrorism and the trial of the century). You may want […]

I’ve been meaning for several months now to compliment HCN on your superb graphic design. HCN has a remarkably handsome and easy-to-read look and feel. That may sound trivial. However, given the visual mess made on the pages of much bigger and better-financed publications in our region (Rocky Mountain News, are you listening?), I’m continually […]

Bob Hayward of the Native American Church can be that naive only by choice (HCN, 4/03/06: Keep the closet closed, please). I was first introduced to homosexuality in southern Montana. How it relates to New York intellectuals is beyond me. Mr. Hayward may as well get used to our presence, because we are not going […]

At first, I thought your jabs at the real estate profession were mildly amusing. I mean, in a recent issue you had two letters from Paonia realtors taking you to task for some comments you made; you stabbed them back with a cartoon placed smack in between the letters, and not less than two pages […]

Your fine article “Town Shopping” describes “realtors’ rise to power” (HCN, 3/20/06: Town Shopping). That rise to power rests on the rise of American Socialism, in my opinion — the use of government (from the halls of Congress to your county board of commissioners) for personal gain. It’s seen prominently in various targeted benefits to […]

I disagree with Paul Larmer, and think it’s highly unfair to kick Gale Norton in the back of the leg on her way out the door (HCN, 4/03/06: Norton Departs). Norton dealt directly with two of the largest Interior issues in the West during her tenure. You mentioned in passing the Colorado River water issue, […]

Dare I say it: The Endangered Species Act (ESA) has to go. I’m sure many megalopolis developers, real estate cronies and ranchers-without-a-cause would agree with me, though not for the same reasons. The ESA protects habitat for a single species, not the entire ecosystem. This is short-sighted, biased and inappropriate given current ecological understanding. When […]

“Town Shopping” is a great article, but John forgot to mention geezerdom as the number-one factor affecting his high country experience (HCN, 3/20/06: Town Shopping). You’re getting old, dude, just like the rest of us. Remember when Loveland Pass was the only way to Denver? When Vail was a high-valley cow pasture? When a night […]

Salvation for salmon will not come through reading Brett Wilkison’s completely decontexualized piece on salmon and dams (HCN, 3/06/06: Fishermen blamed for salmon troubles). The threats to the well-being of salmon are very complex. Yes, for certain runs of salmon, dams have had huge detrimental effects. But the evidence shows these salmon runs have continued to […]

In your story “Spotted owl or red herring?” you state that critical habitat for the northern spotted owl was never implemented (HCN, 3/20/06: Spotted owl or red herring?). While it is true that there is no critical habitat for the spotted owl on private or state lands, it does exist on federal lands. Although the Fish […]

I was one who applauded HCN’s graphics changes as they were being introduced, but you do seem to have overdone it with the March 20 issue, and not just in terms of graphics: Color the articles by John Fayhee “yellow.” According to Fayhee, Realtors are nothing but ex-bartenders and/or day-laborers who got licensed online with […]

John Fayhee’s piece (HCN, 3/20/06: Town Shopping) raises a lot of the usual questions, but one he avoided is this: Are those of us who bemoan the gentrification of the West guilty of romanticizing poverty? An acquaintance in Santa Fe once commented that the area around Taos was “Cabrini Green with better scenery” — that is, […]

M. John Fayhee struck a chord with me in his article “Town Shopping” (HCN, 3/20/06: Town Shopping). It has always been my dream to move to a small town in the desert and enjoy the ambience and peace. After reading the article, I have to admit this is a pipe dream.  Even if I found an […]