[at-l] Appalachian Trail history question

[shane at theplacewithnoname.com (Shane Steinkamp)]

> Whether the regional planning portions were sincere or disingenuous, we
are
> left with choosing between the trail he proposed and his later wilderness
> crusades. The point being that *we* have to choose what happens to the
> existing wild lands. MacKaye and others may inform our views but times
have
> changed and those who have died are in a word, dead. It's not up to them
> any more. It is up to us. The burden for anyone passionately attached to a
> given strategy is to defend that strategy based on how it affects *us* and
> the generations to come. Simply saying "because MacKaye (or whomever is
> your favorite dead guy) wanted that way" isn't a reason. The torch has
been
> passed. If you expect it to stay lit based on the fire of a passed
> generation, you will find yourself in the dark.

This is, perhaps, the sanest, most reasonable thing ever said on this list.

Well, except for some stuff Felix said once, but that's besides the point.

Very well said, Jim.  I'm going to steal that and post it on my website
somewhere.

Shane