To the editor:
On Aug. 11, an article came out in your newspaper titled "Owens links LDS beliefs, wilderness." That article carried accusations that I would like to take issue with.For Mr. Owens to say that our pioneer heritage teaches us to "subscribe to the concept that wilderness is something that must be tamed, subjugated and `used up or it will go to waste' " is simply not true. On the contrary, that heritage teaches us to respect and care for the land because it nurtures the quality of life we all love so deeply.
Eighty years ago, my husband's grandfather rode 90 miles on horseback to Marysville, Utah, where he boarded a train and traveled another 210 miles to Salt Lake City to meet with the Forest Service. Why? Because the mountain ranges around Escalante were being overgrazed.
After being made aware of the problem by that wise steward, that caring pioneer, they put in place a management plan with prescribed numbers and seasonal use. Does that sound like Owens' idea of "the egotistical need to conquer and subjugate?"
To say that here in Utah our pioneer heritage teaches us not to care for the land is attacking a generation of noble souls whose quest to open up the land for settlement filled the history books with their stories of sacrifices and struggles.
Rep. Owens stated that he finds strength and solitude and peace in the wilderness. Isn't everyone entitled to enjoy those same healing powers - the crippled, the old, the young? I wonder how the Savior would feel about denying them the right to access those lands and fulfill that need.
There are 52,507.44 square miles of federally administered land in Utah where one can experience nature and solitude. Locking up specific areas for the benefit of a few in the name of preservation when protection is already in place just doesn't make much sense.
There are presently over 100 state and federal statutes in Utah to protect the land. I'll match that number with any other state in the nation, and we'll see if our pioneer heritage has taught us not to care for the land.
After 150 years, the land in Utah still seems to be beautiful enough for Mr. Owens and his friends to suddenly want to save it.
Louise Liston
Escalante