This latest intrusion by the government (read "larger society" here) on our domain left me feeling disillusioned and angry — very angry. As was pointed out by Councilman Terry Knight of the Ute Mountain Ute tribe, we all know how the Indians felt 100 years ago.

After attending the meetings and participating to the fullest extent;

After writing letters and talking to parties from all sides of the issue;

After searching the Internet and procuring the referenced documents;

After all that, I am still angry with my government (again, read "larger society") for what is unquestionably an insult. They have offended me and every other citizen attending those meetings and offered their informed and passionate opinions on the management of the ACEC. The majority opinion was ignored or discounted as being of no worth. The local stewardship option was included, but as a minor part of the big, bold monument idea.

All of the above background is to let you know that I am not happy with the option being drafted by Sen. Campbell. However, and this is the big leap, I am prepared to support the bill. And I am urging all who read this to do the same. I don’t view this as capitulation nor do I feel unfaithful to my principles. We have won a major skirmish in a much larger war by our show of solidarity. In fact, it has bridged a major chasm in our region.

Prior to this controversy, we all were identified by profession or hobby, e.g.: archaeologists, ranchers, farmers, ATVers, four wheelers, hikers, mountain bikers and so on. These labels were symbols that served to identify and ultimately separate us from one another. Ranchers were afraid of archaeologists because they could interfere with their operations; hikers disliked the ranchers who could keep them from free access to the land; four wheelers were disliked by hikers and bikers just on general principles.

These prejudices worked well during the so-called discussion sessions serving to focus on what we disliked about each other rather than what we all stood to lose. I am not clever enough to know how the outcome would have changed if we had been more united, but I guarantee it would have been different.

Since those initial meetings, attitudes and expectations have changed. We have all learned that we can no longer expect the government (remember?) to act in our best interests. We now know that those who would change our lives are much more organized and much more politically savvy than the citizens of southwestern Colorado.

There will be more confrontations in the future: over land, over regulations, over water and over access to our public lands. We must learn to act as a community of common interests. We are a community — no matter how different our professions, hobbies or lifestyles. Our environment — the canyons, mesas and commonality — defines Cortez and the Four Corners region. It should also tell us that our neighbors, including those in favor of the monument, share fundamental attitudes about their world. The method of protection our corner of the world may vary, but we are in agreement about the end result.

So, what have we learned? And, where do we go from here?

For the next four points, I will speak in first person only. The conclusions I have reached are mine alone. I hope that the reader will have reached the same resolution.

Point One: I will use the heightened awareness developed during the ACEC controversy to talk with neighbors and strangers about community and personal goals.

Point Two: I will become involved with and work to make those goals a reality. I can no longer reap the benefits of others’ work.

Point Four: It is still my belief that the only actions needed are the protection of significant sites from cattle trampling and the utilization of a volunteer site stewardship program. Once these actions are taken, I will work to have the NCA designation abandoned. To this end, I will increase my current volunteer stewardship duties.

I know that some of my friends will disagree with my position. They will point out that initiating a senate bill is but a window dressing by Babbitt and that a Clinton executive order is just around the corner. They will argue for a determined, rocklike resistance to any status change. I will answer that the environmental coalition has been at work for 40 or so years. They have infiltrated every level of our government. They have been successful in changing the very meaning of words. This was done incrementally — small steps every time but a long journey completed.

When I was in sales, I was told to go find a successful salesman and learn how he did it. When I was in the Marine Corps as a grunt, we weren’t told to frontally assault a well-dug in machine gun. We flanked and knocked it out from the sides and the rear. In this case, we have derailed the monument train.

We can and should support our County Commissioners and Sen. Campbell. We can monitor the NCA’s activities and protect the landowners within its boundaries. We should use our energy and resources to build community and work with other groups nationwide to protect landowners rights.