Letter: We’re not all hateful

Dear Editor,

Last Monday, a letter criticized President-elect George W. Bush’s nominee for Secretary of the Interior, Gail Norton. This letter stated that Norton is anti-environmental and for big oil. Gail Norton was the protégé of Jim Watt, secretary of the Interior during the Reagan administration. We all know that Mr. Watt was anti-environmental, so there is no reason to believe that Norton is any different. In fact, her environmental record proves that she is definitely against the environment. With this appointment Bush shows his true feelings about such issues as public lands and environmental quality.

The following Friday a letter was published, titled “Environmentalists need not be so hateful.” To this we feel a need to answer. This letter attacked environmentalists, saying “most radical environmentalists tend to become hateful and even violent when someone DARES disagree with them.” While we would agree, SOME do become that way, not all do, and nothing in the first letter was hateful in any way. We also note that the “quasi-religion” of environmentalists is something that we choose to devote ourselves to. Whether or not anyone else does is their own choice.

We also feel, as environmentalists, that having what we say and believe in called drivel is incredibly offensive. We don’t criticize other people’s beliefs without justification and would prefer not to have ours attacked, either.

The letter from Friday was just as hateful as anything that we have ever seen, but toward environmentalists instead of a political appointee.

In response to the same letter, to get along with those who do not agree with us, then before we begin preaching to others we should start with ourselves.

And while it may only be an “illusionary environmental holocaust” that happens, it may also be very real. In which case, it will be those “radical environmentalists who make a difference in this world.

Sarah Lundstrum