Amazed at Taylor’s label for environmentalists
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Editor,
After reading Republican Rep. Janna Taylor’s legislative notes printed in the Valley Journal on March 7, 2012, I was shocked for many reasons. I am proud to have been raised on timber dollars; however, I still believe in freedom of speech in this country. She compares environmentalists exercising their freedom of speech, in a peaceful forum, to terrorists.
I probably wouldn’t agree with many ideas these environmentalists put forth, but 6,075 and counting American soldiers have lost their lives defending freedom; that includes the freedom of speech, I hope. I would never label environmentalists, worried about clean water and air for their grandchildren, terrorists, because of a few radical people who use violence to push their agendas. If I labeled people in this fashion, which I don’t personally do, I would have to label every anti-abortion activist a terrorist because of a few violent people in their midst. That is not the way I think. I was amazed at the amount of hate, fear and name-calling in Taylor’s legislative notes.
Secondly, Taylor claims that Montana has a history of “a great balance in the way we responsibly mine our treasures.” Was she sleeping through her Montana history classes in high school? Has she personally visited the town of Libby, where people for years and years have been watching their friends and relatives die because of mining practices in this state, still waiting for a settlement over and above their tremendous medical bills? There are mine trailings still lurking in the Blackfoot River because of negligent mining practices.
I have been lucky enough to swim in way more than my share of clean rivers, mountain lakes, and tributaries all over this state for more than 40 years. Swimming in the Clark Fork River below the Milltown Dam feels nothing like swimming in clean water. I only tried it three times, because when I got out of the water, my skin and hair felt dirty.
I would hate to see more rivers in this state polluted by irresponsible mining practices, which place no value on Montana’s water supply. I can only hope that future politicians in this state at least hold out some hope for a cleaner energy future for this country.
Tonya Marshall
Polson
