Showing posts with label NO Hidden Gems. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NO Hidden Gems. Show all posts

March 12, 2012

SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Daily News/Letter to the Editor "Keep the land public"

'SandBox Nanny' has been a 'news junkie' since her late teens.  And that...is a long time...

Throughout the years she has noticed that the sheer volume of vitriol output does come from liberals.  The vast majority of the time one can find conservatives in defense mode.  Rather than get into finger-pointing, smart defenders have developed what 'Nanny' calls the 'mirror defense'.

From the position of taking the higher road one can very effectively shine a reflective mirror on to those who antagonize.

Jennifer Isenhart shows beautiful execution of the 'mirror defense' today.  Up on the Aspen Daily News.

Jennifer Isenhart, New Castle:
"Editor:

I recently had the pleasure of partaking in one of our freedoms: The right to speak at a town hall meeting. I took my two minutes to speak then sat quietly listening to others who had the right to do the same. I am writing at this moment in regards to the “heckler” leaving the meeting, speaking against my belief instead of taking the time to share theirs with me. I will not stoop down to a level below the beliefs I am so passionate about.

People might be quick to judge me just because I have a “No Hidden Gems” sticker displayed on my vehicle or for what I may speak about publicly. But no one has ever stopped to take a minute to ask me about my passions and beliefs on public lands, or to share theirs.

Hidden Gems supporters might be surprised that I see things very similarly to them. I care about our public lands, and even more this great planet we live on. I wish to protect it, and just like you I want the younger generation and those beyond to enjoy it just as I have. Yes, that may be by a motorized route to a special destination where we believe in teaching the younger generation to be good stewards of the land and to work hard to keep the land just the way it is — public.

I don’t believe wilderness is the answer for every piece of land. You can bet I won’t give up on the possibility of there being a better way. Maybe I could be a part of some new legislation, and I would invite you to be also, because deep down we all walk on the same path, just in different shoes. So as I proudly display my sticker I do so with an open heart and mind, and you will continue to see me out there on the trails working hard to keep them clean, promoting responsible use and standing strong for the belief that everyone should have that right to use it as well...."  (Read original letter?  Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."\

February 29, 2012

SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Daily News "Udall wilderness proposal includes Hidden Gems land"

And 10 years later, the right answer is still the same:

Just say NO.

Public lands, public use, public access.

Andrew Travers:
"U.S. Sen. Mark Udall is working on new wilderness legislation that could include 13 areas covering more than 60,000 acres in Pitkin County within the Hidden Gems wilderness proposal.

In all, Udall announced on Sunday in Frisco, he is seeking public input on new wilderness designations for 236,000 acres of land in western Colorado. It also includes Gems areas in Eagle and Summit counties.

In coming months, the senator plans to do widespread outreach to locals in the areas at issue. A comment page is open on his website, which includes detailed maps and a list of the sites he is considering.

“Before we do anything,” Udall said in a statement Sunday, unveiling what he’s dubbed the Central Mountains Outdoor Heritage Act, “it’s important to me to hear from as many Coloradans as possible about how the land is used today and their vision for the future of these special places.”

The Gems proposal went through a years-long public debate in the Eagle and Roaring Fork valleys, spearheaded by the Carbondale-based Wilderness Workshop, before going to Washington. The wilderness advocacy organization negotiated with groups like snowmobilers and mountain bikers, who opposed protections that would curb recreation in certain areas or limit future trail construction.

The proposal sparked controversy in some recreational factions of western Colorado, as all mechanized and motorized uses are banned in federally-designated wilderness areas.

After dropping hundreds of thousands of acres from the proposal and attempting to build community consensus, Wilderness Workshop sent a draft bill to Colorado’s congressional delegation in 2010...."
(Read more?  Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."





"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."