CREDIT WHERE IT’S DUE...
Hello all, In the August/September issue of the Z, Ken Sleight penned
a nice tribute entitled, "AROUND THE BEND AGAIN: Remembering
the history of Rainbow Bridge." Among other sources, he referenced
an administrative history of Rainbow Bridge National Monument. Since
I am the author of this admin history, I am grateful to be included
in the bibliography; however, I must correct Ken on two issues related
to my volume. First, the correct title is "A Bridge Between
Cultures: An Administrative History of Rainbow Bridge National Monument." Second,
the volume is sourced with National Park Service as the author. I
am surprised that Ken overlooked my authorship since my name is on
the cover. If he doesn't actually have a copy and would like one,
let me know and I will send him one toute suite. I know it may seem
like a petty complaint, but two years of my life went into the research
and writing of that volume and the Park Service didn't write a word
of it :-) Thanks for understanding. Cheers, David Sproul University
of Nevada, Las Vegas
Editor’s Note...Glad we could set the record straight...JS
A MOOT POINT ON THE BALLOT INITIATIVES, BUT STILL....
Jim - I really hope you are simply raising your sarcasm to new levels
ostensibly to outfox what you characterize as the DEADFROMTHENECKUP
public, in regard to your position on the form of county government;
but if not: For a believer in the last chance for meaningful voting,
i.e. locally, you are apparently clinging hopelessly to the past
again (but unfortunately this time, to the wrong past, Amigo....)
on the matter of the form of county government. Districting at least
preserves the potential for diversity and representative government,
whereas at-large voting will always allow urban/business interests
and cronyism to dominate political decision making. Sometimes, on
a case-by-case basis, this can work to the advantage of conservation,
where the urban electorate is conscious and well informed. But if
the electorate is DEADFROMTHENECKUP, as you yourself put it, smaller
communities - in this case, Castle Valley (and Elgin, Thompson, etc.)
- will be shut out of the political process by the "needs" and
demands of urban areas (e.g., water theft, tax base development,
road building, mining leases, and the general economic/corporate
exploitation of rural areas). If the only hope for democracy, as
you state, is with local communities, these communities must become "autonomous",
free to think and act bioregionally and creatively. Re-districting,
gerrymandering, and "at-large commission" forms of government
are hammers that have been used by the monied forces and screwheads
to dismantle democracy and remove conscious or effective office holders
all around the West. As far as your "acid test" for a conscious
electorate, I happen to remember the names of the county commissioners
from the 70's and '80's, and it gives me apoplexy. I was also a bit
dismayed that other than your last-minute recommendation on the initiatives
and your Vote Nihilism campaign, your October/November issue abdicated
a great opportunity for some pre-election agitprop, dialogue and
realpolitik anarchism-mongering. Get up, stand up, call for material
and print another issue, pronto! In the words of our mutual mentor,
gadfly and town Coyote, Abbey, "The best cure for the ills of
democracy is more democracy." To the same end, exercising the
full freedom of the press is the only cure for the growing repression
of civil liberties in the guise and lie of "homeland security." At
least there's always the possibility that if DFTNU voters know you're
supporting the initiatives, they'll instinctively vote against them!
Otherwise, as always, thanks for your voice in the wilderness, and
keep up the tree-shakin'; now, more than ever. Joy and courage, Shipmate.
Bob LippmanCastle Valley
EDITOR’S REPLY: It’s a moot point now, but the issue
may rise again in coming years, so I’d like to reply to Bob’s
comments. I was a strong proponent of the 1992 change of government
ballot initiative and was particularly excited about the idea of
district representation. I believed it would give citizens a stronger
voice in their government and easier access to its elected leaders.
After 11 years, I am extremely disappointed with the results. In
fact, it's an outright joke. That's why I supported the reduction
in the number of councilpersons to five and especially a return to
at-large voting, in which all citizens of Grand County have an opportunity
to vote for all its representatives.
Grand County has about 9,000 residents. In 2002, less than 50% of
all registered voters, or fewer than 3000, participated. In the five
district elections, councilpersons were elected with as few as 226
votes. These district representatives have the same power on the
council as at-large members, often cast votes that are completely
contrary to a majority of residents' views, and yet they are accountable
to only a fraction of the residents of Grand County.
Imagine this..at any given time, Grand County voters NEVER have
an opportunity to vote for a majority of the council...we can cast
votes for only three of the seven. And has district representation
increased voter interest? The number of registered voters participating
in general elections has steadily declined since 1992. And in at
least four district elections in the last six years, candidates have
run UNOPPOSED because there wasn't even enough interest to draw a
second contender. An election without a contest is hardly my idea
of increased democracy.
We are a small county. For the most part, with the exception perhaps
of Castle Valley, differences of opinion do not run along geographical
lines...it's not as if Hecla Subdivision always votes one way and
Mountain View Subdivision votes another. As for Castle Valley, its
residents should remember that their council district also includes
parts of Spanish Valley, which is not always assumed to be liberal
Green Democrat. And Castle Valley hasn't offered a candidate of its
own for district representation since 1993.
It seems to me a major concern with some is the fear that the current
governing body would have attempted to subvert the voice of the people
had the county chosen to approve the two initiatives. In other words,
voters who are already disgusted with the County Council were afraid
of crossing them...worried that the Council would take advantage
of the power they possess and abuse it even more by either ignoring
or twisting the election outcome to suit their own special needs.
I say...fine. I wish we’d given them the chance . This council
majority has already shown its utter contempt for county residents
and we still remain a mostly docile bunch. Perhaps it will require
extreme contempt by the council to awaken Grand County citizens.
We should all remember that we were only trying to change a small
portion of County Council structure. The 'recall' provision remains.
If the Council thinks it is above the will of the people, then we
shouldn't be afraid to use it.
Apathy has always been Grand County's worst enemy and it has allowed
the district representation concept to fall into the hands of special
interests who could care less about most of us. But now that the
district reps have survived this vote, I assume that all of you who
voted to retain it will get out there and do something in 2006......JS
SORREL RIVER RANCH...A SOFT PORN IN THE NECK?
Jim,
I would like to thank you for your thoughts in the November 2004
Zephyr entitled "When Worlds Collide--The Nouveau West Comes
to Sorrel River Ranch." I think you really put it into perspective,
and said just what needed to be said. I wonder if you would consider
being a guest editorial contributor to the Times Independent with
this piece. I don't know if they would want to print it, or not,
but it is excellent, and I would like to see it receive even wider
readership. While I find you easy to disagree with, in many cases,
you are right on with this piece.
You also hit the nail on the head with your additional piece on
politics, and I cannot believe that I agree with everything you said
in your column this month. This is an event for me. Thanks for being
there, Jim, and for saying what needs to be said in a manner erudite.
Susanne Mayberry
Moab
NOW HE KNOWS WHY I HOPELESSLY CLING...
Colonel, I did not really understand just how hopelessly your clinging
to the past since 1989 is, until the other day when a 35-year resident
of Gunnison, and outdoor enthusiast par excellence, told me this
story. He and his wife took a weekend to clamber around Canyonlands,
and on their way out they stopped in Moab just to check it out. It
had been several years since they'd been there and, of course, they
were, as you would expect, a tad surprised at the changes. But when
they visited a main drag gift shop, in which there were various books
of the usual Moab and surrounding area subjects, their surprise turned
to shock, then dismay. The owner (they supposed), a nice woman, was
there, and my friend, Mike, in passing said, "I wonder how much
a first edition Ed Abbey `Solitaire' would cost today?" Her
answer? "It would depend on if he's still alive or not." Say
what? Yep. About that, who could tell a lie?
Your old pal, Mike Ritchey
Gunnison, CO
MORE PRAISE FOR JENNIFER SPEERS
Hey Jim,
Just read the article in Utne regarding Ms. Speers!!! My husband
and I have been visiting Moab for over 10 years and are always saddened
by the "progress" that has taken place. When we saw the
Dewey Bridge subdivision we nearly wept. When /if you ever get the
chance to meet Ms. Speers, please give her and big hug and kiss from
Terri and Dennis Novak. Good Luck in the future,
Terri Collins-Novak
EDITOR’s NOTE: Utne Magazine recently re-printed my April/May
editorial on Jennifer Speers, who bought the Dewey Bridge subdivsion
and then tore down a $600,000 home to restore the site to its original
condition...JS
WANTS ABBEY MEMORIAL AT ARCHES
Jim.
I enjoyed your "Arches Stories" in the Oct/Nov issue.
Is there a display panel or other formal monument to Edward Abbey
at Arches? If not, there should be and if not, why not? (Can we consider
a conspiracy?) Who is currently superintendent at Arches? Abbey deserves
at least a full panel in the VC. While the original Abbey trailer
has been long since surveyed away, it should not be too difficult
to track down one of those plywood and aluminum fire traps, fill
it with Cactus Ed memorabilia and interpretation, place it on or
near the original site with a statue of cactus Ed in Bronze sitting
just outside the door, gesturing to you to take the chair beside
him and enjoy some conversation. I can see I am going to have to
work a bit on the current Arches administration. They may not realize
what a historical resource they have in Ed. Many thanks for the information
(including the heartwarming evidence that the NPSnot changed a whit!)
PJ Ryan
Editor, Thunderbear
NOTE: PJ Ryan is editor of the oldest alternative newsletter in
the federal government. You can find him at: www.workingnet.com/thunderbear...JS
THE VIEW FROM CANADA...
Jim:
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this issue of the Zephyr. Take it or
leave it left me good and weirded out...LA really has come to RT
128.
New West Blues. Well called there. Well reported. It takes more
than a bit of nerve to hold a mirror up to Big Bro and co.
Arches Stories....just plain hilarious...the Three Archqueteers
out there with their chisels every night making new holes to count.
:-)
My Fellow Americans. Again hilarious. From the Canadian perspective...many
of us feel that another 4 years of GB will entirely bankrupt the
USA, morally, spiritually, and otherwise, which would actually
be highly desirable.
Here's a photo I took over near Wupatki. This well-mannered fellow seems to
be helping his girlfriend up. It's very worn and faded so I increased the contrast.
I don't have a name for them. The "newlyweds" photo brought it to
mind.
Best,
Stuart Munro, Victoria BC
STILES’ BID FOR THE WHITE HOUSE...
Editor’s Note...Clearly I did not succeed in my Quixotic Quest
for the White House...Still Ned’s questions deserve answers.
And so we offer a glimpse into "what might have been..."
Stiles: Well, your bid for the White House is already creating waves
across the fruited plains. My cohort and comrade in crime, the Dangerous
Redhead, being indecisive regarding the upcoming presidential election,
has suddenly become animated about the whole affair, almost excited
in a weird hormonal way. She says you're a candidate she can vote
for without getting that deep sucking sound between the ears that
one obtains from casting a ballot for the other corporobots being
offered to us this political season.
I think the campaign promise to "give tax credits for vegetable
gardens" did the trick, my friend. Although the bit about birth
control in Third World countries didn't hurt either. (Does that mean
America will finally get free contraception? haha)
As an avid and loyal reader, I gotta ask a few well meaning questions
about this gambit to seize the White House -
1. Who's your running mate? YOU are Dude!
2. Got any Stiles 4 President t-shirts? No shirts...only tattoos.
3. Will you promise to wear flip flops in the Oval Office? Nothing
but...
4. Do you agree that Utah is about as close to Mars as we need to
get until the budget is back to flush? This IS Mars.
5. How about a tax on "reality TV"? What’s ‘reality?’
6. Can we have some of our radio frequencies back? Including Dan
Rather’s frequency?
7. Shouldn't medical marijuana be free to everybody in pain, even
those with generic ennui?
ESPECIALLY for those with ennui!
8. Don't you think corporations should be banned from having anything
to do with music?
Banning corporations is music to my ears..
9. If elected, will you make Ed Abbey's "Theory of Anarchy" required
reading in America's schools? Nothing can be mandatory with an anarchist...
10. Can the bears have Montana back? In a New York minute...
11. Why do the other two candidates appear to have plastic hair?
I thought it was fiber glass.
12. As a follow up question, will you pledge not to get $500 haircuts
once elected? Only Fay Carpenter can touch my hairs!
13. Will Ken Sleight agree to serve as Secretary of the Interior?
I thought "Interior Czar" sounded a bit more appropriate...that
should scare everybody in Blanding...
14. As President, would you tell the "developers" in my
area to leave me alone? Not just in your area...I promise to return
all of America to the 13th Century!!!
Good luck, amigo. I truly hope you prevail. Remember, it's about
POWER. You will be assaulted with sleaze, vice, corruption, filth,
slime and other garden variety inbred political urgings from every
direction. This is normal and you must be resolute, as your opponents
(the other 294,565,173 fellow Americans) will stop at nothing to
derail your efforts to save America from itself.
Stand firm! Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you
can do to monkey wrench the corporate scalawags intent on converting
this great nation into a cataclysmic Wal-Mart parking lot.
Salut!
Mudd in Birmingham, Alabama
"TRYING TO LIVE IN LOVE AND PEACE"
Dear Editor,
What happened, Utah? Where was your unconditional love and tolerance
on Tuesday during the elections? I am truly disheartened by the ignorance
of many Utah citizens. I have always loved living here, because of
the wonderful surroundings, and the great people and all of their
diversity and differences that create strength in our communities.
But on Tuesday, there was a constitutional amendment passed in Utah
that showed how little that diversity actually matters to many people.
The value gained from different perspectives seems not to matter
anymore. The alternate perspective I speak of now is that of your
close friends and family who are gay. You may have a religious belief
that homosexuality is ""wrong,"" but what you
aren’’t seeing is that not all of us are of the same
religious organization. And if our government is going to be truly
successful in assisting the citizens of Utah to succeed in building
a safe, loving community, elected officials get to realize that not
all of us are the same.
Amendment 3 passed, and that is truly a problem. However, I have
good news! I am not asking heterosexual couples to engage in homosexual
activities. In fact, many ""heteros"" have told
me they don’’t care what I do in the bedroom; just don’’t
get them involved. I’’m not asking for their involvement!
If marriage is a religious institution, then the government has
no place in giving rights to couples based on religious preferences.
If marriage is to be granted only to a specific group, that is blatant
discrimination, no matter what your religious preference.
The key to same-sex marriage being allowed (here comes the good
news!) is for religious bodies to realize that by the government
granting gay couples access to the same federal rights of marriage
as heterosexual couples get, these marriages need not be condoned
by your churches! You need not be involved in my marriage in the
least!
I deserve to live a life of service, a life of gratitude, a life
of love. I deserve to build my family, however that might look, even
if it does not look like yours. I have a challenge for you. Get to
know one of your gay friends, and see if once you know them well
you still feel that they are not as worthy as you are to have a lifetime
partner, sealed to them through the great institution of marriage.
But until you get to know at least one gay person, and find out
that they are tender, loving spirits just like you, you won’’t
get what I’m saying, nor do you have any right to dictate how
they live. Take the challenge. Give it a shot. Let’s see what
happens just by living in love and peace.
Jake Strait
Salt Lake City, UT
If this letter doesn’t make bigots in this state hang their
heads in shame, nothing will..JS
NOT IMPRESSED BY "THE RICH & FAMOUS"
Hey Jim,
We picked up a copy of the Oct/Nov Zephyr while eating lunch at
Cafe Trang in Salt Lake last week. It provided great in-flight reading,
and we're so glad to have your wit and wisdom back. This issue is
as good as I've seen since before we moved to Moab in the mid 1990's.
Back then we were reading the Zephyr from Vernal - a place that desperately
needs your humor
Count two somebodies who love the Zephyr! I'm so glad somone is
willing to call RobbieLevin on his load of S _ _ t. He gets away
with so much because he's "rich and famous.
I just got back from the Folk Fest, which was great. We stayed at
Red Cliffs Lodge. This was the first time we had been there and Colin
Fryer has done a terrific job. It made me think about the differences
(many) between Colin and Robbie. Colin always supports local events
and is involved in the community without being pushy and without
asking for special favors. He has made Moab and Grand County his
HOME, and I see that as very much contrary to Robbie. Anyway, enough
gushing. If we didn't live in Arizona, you'd have our votes for Pres.
Thanks,
Sue Husch
Grand Canyon, AZ
SIXTY MINUTES?
Dear Jim,
I got a real laugh from your editorial about "Hotel Erotica" and
Sorrel River Ranch. I always wanted to stay there but could never
afford it. Now I see that an option might be available in the near
future. It seems like renting by the hour might be just the thing
out there!
Even I could afford sixty minutes at Sorrel River, and it could
be a lot of fun.
Ted Terry
Portland, OR
