[at-l] Appalachian Mountain Top Removal

[Bror8588 at aol.com (Bror8588@aol.com)]

In a message dated 3/8/2006 4:21:00 PM Eastern Standard Time,  
sloetoe@yahoo.com writes:

>  RoksnRoots@aol.com writes:
> But  heck, who are we fooling. These  people plan to
> develop it all and simply label it important
>  national economy needs.
> 
~~~~~~~~~~~
> There  is an  industry that makes financial gain by
> selling its products to hikers,  ...(who$e voice$
$hould be tapped) > Skylander Jack

### I would  observe (as many before me) it's even
bigger than that: that it   *IS*  "national economy
needs." There is a unique American Spirit that  glories
in a sense of self-reliance, societal independence,
economic  entrepreneurship, and spiritual merit, that
each are developed, tested in,  and sustained by, just
the sorts of tests provided in feeling "small" in  the
woods (and coming metaphorically out the other side).
We have mostly  lost that spirit, and we have a moral
decline and increpitude that reaches  to the highest of
corporate and governmental heights, only to be  matched
by a fiberless sense of civil duty among the
"citizens" of this  free society. Holy crud, but we are
in deep shit. Muir said "In Wilderness  is the
preservation of the world." Indeed.


Therefore, it is the voices that speak loudest with the greatest urgency  and 
which affect the local community that are heard.  Whose voice will  speak to 
the heart of the community?  After all, it is not the whole trail  that is 
voted upon when each community allows construction and development on  land in 
their community but just the portion that goes through it and the  history of 
acquisition may have left a bad taste in the mouths of the community  and there 
may be stories (legends) that have filtered down through the years  that 
impact the feelings of the locals to vote one way or another. If the local  
community has experienced rude behavior on the part of some Thru-hiker or even  
someday hiker the whole trail gets tarnished in reputation.  What is needed  are 
advocates in each community that highlight the value of the trail and the  
benefits that it affords to each member of the community such as tourists who  use 
the motels, those who buy products in the stores, those who use the  
restaurants, and other examples of economic benefit.  In addition the  access to the 
trail by members of the community for exercise, and communication  with Nature 
or just having a place to enjoy solitude.  Local High Schools,  Scouting 
organizations, Church Youth groups, Birding organizations, as well as  the hunters 
and fishermen/women who enjoy time in the woods.  The AT is  indeed a valuable 
resource.  It takes effort to promote its benefits and it  needs people who 
can speak a word of advocacy for its protection.
 
Skylander Jack