Letters June 3, 2009

Wednesday, June 03, 2009

By Planet User

Top Priority
Dear Jackson “Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem” Representatives,
Wildlife and Open Spaces, values this community has cherished for decades, should be reinstated as the Community’s top priority and become the organizing theme of the entire Plan.

Do I need to say more than these simple words? There appears to be an “uprising of the soul” in this community.  We are ready for the change we are seeking.  It’s the time and the place in history to reverse our worrisome path towards destroying the most valued wildness in our country, and all the good that it shares with us.  We must continue to protect this wild habitat and its wild creatures, and place this goal as a priority above our own agenda for individual profit.  Let’s begin thinking about “restoring” our habitat, not chopping away at it.  We Can Do It.

Warm thanks for your effort to protect our human values to preserve all things wild.
– Lisa Robertson, location unknown

Listen to citizens
To:  Teton County Planning Department
Having read a portion of the document, and many of the thoughtful comments in the JH News&Guide letters to the editor, as well as the email sent by the JH Conservation Alliance concerning the draft Comprehensive Plan, I would like to ask that the Teton County Planning Department listen to the citizens, ponder on the discrepancy between the understanding of the citizenry going in to the process, and its understanding of the newly published draft Plan now, and rethink and redefine the processes and goals of the current draft Plan.

There was obviously a misunderstanding between the citizens of Teton County and the staff of the Planning Department at the time that the work plan was undertaken.  Further effort must be made to create a Plan that both the county and its communities can live with.  I would like to underline my agreement with Walter Thulin’s letter to the editors that makes the distinction between Teton County as one distinct place, and the virtual and more encompassing area that has become our larger community. 

The finite area of Teton County cannot fulfill all of the planning goals set out at the outset of the planning process.  The priorities were quite clearly outlined by a majority of the participating citizenry and those priorities should be given priority planning status.
– Berthe K. Ladd, Wilson

Beer and blondes
Please extend my thanks to Clyde Thornhill for his sage advice on how I can improve my column. (My mother says it’s fine just the way it is, but I really don’t believe her.)

In the future, I will focus on beer and blondes, and use words of no more than two sylla.  Bles.
– Jona. Than. Schechter, Jackson

Operation Overlord
This coming Saturday commemorates the 65th anniversary of the allied invasion of France at Normandy, which was code named Operation Overlord, but has come to be known to all as D-Day. Engineered by Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower and his staff, this combined effort of American, British, Canadian and French forces became the bayonet of lethality that was thrust into the breast of tyranny and world terror under the reign of the Nazi Third Reich; subsequently resulting in the unconditional surrender of Germany, bringing an end to WWII in the European theater. This in turn allowed all attention to be focused upon the remaining pestilence of the Pacific, Japan, and within the ensuance of a mere four months their demise was also determined.

I now ask your allowance and patience for me to make three points regarding the aforesaid rehashing of history: First, I remain humbly appreciative to those whom 65 years ago, when faced with instantaneous annihilation, landed upon the beaches of Normandy, some of the fortunate ones being my elderly family members. Secondly, let it be known that I abhor all war for it is the greatest scourge known to mankind. Even though it strangely appears to be a genetically inherited trait, it is a peculiar thing that it yet exists despite man’s claim of an increase of intellect over those before him.

And third, if man is to continue such barbarity into this new century, why not execute it with totality, following an Operation Overlord strategy, and thrust a similar dagger into the breast of the modern day enemy instead of politically pussyfooting into another 100 Years war with the unnecessarily prolonged cost of lives.
– Patrik Troiani, Jackson

Impacts of ‘Growth Plan’
In Teton County political apathy has built due to the length of the Comp Plan process, ignoring the public’s will and because many don’t feel personally threatened. Without fundamental changes, the new plan will not protect Jackson Hole’s irreplaceable wildlife, open spaces and small-town character. The proposed plan more than doubles the amount of residential and commercial development that’s already on the ground. Yet the plan does not analyze what effect this much growth would have on our natural resources (like wildlife and aquifers) or our built resources (such as roads and schools). Long-term trends show that the region’s moose and mule deer populations are already in decline.

The plan also fails to acknowledge that the amount of commercial development it proposes will worsen, not relieve, our workforce housing shortage. Speak up – the impacts of this unwarranted “Growth Plan” will flow to all via increased sales and property taxes, a deeper workforce housing shortage, reduced wildlife, less open space, greater traffic and fewer opportunities for solitude on our public lands.
Martin Niemöller was a German pastor and theologian.

He was an anti-Communist and, for that reason, supported Hitler’s rise to power – at first. But when Hitler insisted on the supremacy of the state over religion, Niemöller became disillusioned. He became the leader of a group of German clergymen opposed to Hitler. He was arrested and eventually confined in Dachau concentration camp. Unlike millions of others, he survived. His poem is wellknown, frequently quoted, and is a popular model for describing the dangers of political apathy. Following is a diffident take on Niemöller’s famous poem:
 
First the planners came for South Park, and I did not speak out—

because I did not live in South Park;
Then they came for the Aspens, and I did not protest—

because I was not an Aspen resident;
Then they came for Wilson, and I did not speak out—

because I was not a Wilson neighbor;
Then they came for the Town of Jackson, and I remained silent—

because I did not live in Jackson;
When they came for my neighborhood—
there was no one left to speak out for me – they were all stuck in traffic.
– Rich Bloom, Teton County
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Letters June 3, 2009 | Planet JH News Article: Letters To Editor

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