Copyright 2000 The Atlanta Constitution
The Atlanta
Journal and Constitution
May 15, 2000, Monday, Home Edition
SECTION: Editorial; Pg. 10A
LENGTH: 175 words
HEADLINE:
Reader responses: Preserve our forests
BYLINE: O.T.
FORD, For the Journal-Constitution
SOURCE: CONSTITUTION
BODY:
In response to "Forest proposal would limit
roads" (May 9): Undoubtedly, many conservationists will agree that there is
value, including economic value, in preserving the remaining roadless areas in
the national forests as wilderness. Hopefully, some will make
the point that the forests are national forests, that the
decision to log them concerns all of us, not just Westerners and their public
officials, and that retaining the authority to decide on these issues nationally
is a public prerogative ("Forest proposal would limit roads," May 9). But the
preservation of our wilderness areas is something we should do for its heritage
value alone, even if that means making some sacrifices. Ultimately, we need to
decide as a society whether we want to be responsible for destroying our
wilderness completely for our own short-term economic interest, as we are doing,
or to commit to the more difficult but more enlightened choice of leaving behind
that small part of our own inheritance that we have not already consumed.
O.T. FORD, Austell
LOAD-DATE: May 15, 2000
