In a recent letter to the editor Mr. Ron Eckles inquired about the fuss concerning protection of the Gold Butte area. At first I was interested in Eckles description of the Gold Butte area as being a dusty desert area with not much to offer.
However, the paragraph at the end of the letter where Eckles accuses “Redwood hugging Californians” as being the source of the conservation effort reveals Eckles real intent and most likely his credibility (or lack of credibility) about exploring the Gold Butte area. Clearly, calls for the protection of this natural area are supported by a broad base of our population representing both conservative and progressive leaning citizens in our community.
So why does Eckles need to frame the topic as a “them vs. us” perspective? Is it impossible to imagine that there are important public issues that transcend the sharp divide in American politics? My guess is that this issue has nothing to do with “Redwood hugging Californians” and much more about our local residents representing a diverse population who are in agreement about natural lands in our area that need protection.
James Sida
Mesquite