Perspective, was Trail closures -- Was [at-l] FLA Trail reopens

[janl2 at mindspring.com (Jan Leitschuh)]

> My point was not to put down the others with their legitimate claim for 
> support for their recreation of choice. 

I know that Dave. You, of all people, are someone looking for solutions.
I seized that sentence only to make a point.

You know I love you, Chainsaw.
(You and your pumpkin soup!)
;-)
GourmetShoe

David Hicks wrote:

> Shoe
> 
> You are absolutely right.
> 
> I was not meaning to stigmatize anyone.
> 
> I have worked on building and maintaining Non-AT, multi-use trails with both 
> horse/mule clubs & mountain bike clubs.  I have had horse/mule club folk help 
> us get tools, food, etc to sites on the AT -- both common use segments (as in 
> the Smokies) and for AT segment closed to pack animals.
> 
> BTW -- I also agree with R&R that we should support the horse folk, bikers, 
> ATVs, etc get their own trails.
> 
> However, the resources are limited and the AT is in competition against others 
> for the future of the AT.
> 
> My point was not to put down the others with their legitimate claim for 
> support for their recreation of choice.  Rather, like Pogo, I am suggesting 
> that we have met the enemy and they are us, when our boorish/illegal/etc 
> behavior in and around the trail and trail community cast us in a bad light in 
> the eyes of those who make/enforce/etc the laws/rules and who control the 
> purse strings.
> 
> Chainsaw
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Jan Leitschuh" <janl2@mindspring.com>
> To: "AT-List" <at-l@mailman.backcountry.net>
> Sent: Friday, October 15, 2004 7:39 AM
> Subject: Perspective, was Trail closures -- Was [at-l] FLA Trail reopens
> 
> 
> 
>>It
>>just hands ammunition to those who would take from us what we need -- funds,
>>and trails. The horse folk,
> 
> 
> Man, these "us and them" statements make me edgy.
> Who is this "them?"
> 
> Wake up! We ARE "Them."
> 
> I'm not picking on any one person here, just pointing out a common
> theme that extends well beyond this list.
> Such basic internal attitudes (us/them) ARE the problem. They polarize
> instead of unite for mutually workable solutions.
> Jan
> 
> PS Some "us" us manage to do both, you know, hike trails and ride.
> Does that make "us" a "them?"
> Or are we a "we?"
> 
> 

-- 
========================================
     	AT Journal:
	http://www.trailjournals.com/Liteshoe/
	Jan Leitschuh Sporthorses Ltd.
	http://www.mindspring.com/~janl2/index.html

========================================