January 18, 2007
One doesn't need to be a nature enthusiast to recognize ignorance when it raises its ugly head. Over the past week, whether you're reading Idaho's newspapers, surfing various online blogs, or applying for membership to a local Chamber of Commerce, ignorance has eclipsed the Idaho landscape. State government's representation of "the people" fell profoundly short when in one divisively sweeping remark, Idaho's highest official got in line to kill wolves.
In fact, if you haven't already read it, his exact words were "... I'm going to bid for the first ticket to shoot a wolf." If you can stomach it, read the entire article at
http://www.idahostatesman.com/102/story/67393.html.
I've always considered myself a conservative. I'm involved in my church, encourage generosity, and believe in the deliberate practice of serving others. When it comes to the environment, stewardship and value of life are core to my beliefs. While I take great pleasure in stringing a fish and have great memories of hunting chuckers and pheasant as a young adult, I cannot imagine being supportive of any ideology that promotes the ignorant and senseless ruination of a species, human or otherwise.
When I was a small child, I found great side-splitting pleasure in holding a 99 cent magnifier over an ant hill and watching the ants sizzle in the sun. I think boys are hard-wired to keep a magnifier in their back-pocket next to a rock and a slingshot, being the opportunists of destruction that we are. Along the way, however, I grew up and became a little horrified by even that small of an act. Nevertheless, when I see my young sons standing over the crack in our driveway with magnifier in hand in anticipation of their prey, I don't chastise them. They'll sizzle an ant or ten. Common sense tells me that their values will one day merge with adulthood. They'll probably look back with a guilty smile, their secret killing sprees being chalked up to a primitive rite of passage reserved for children, hopefully replaced by the values of men.
It's time for Idaho to grow up. It's time for all of us to take a look at our values and where we are going as a people. If our officials can't lead the way, then we need to lead them. Here are some helpful tips for you to get involved:
- Research the subject of Wolf Delisting. One productive way of doing this is to utilize Google Alerts and have articles sent to you daily, weekly, or however often you can stand in the middle of a crowded room and throw your arms up in despair at the ludicrous subject. Also, learn more about the myths and facts about wolves at www.idahowolves.org.
- Write your elected officials. Write to my elected officials. If you think that this subject is limited to Idaho--today it's wolves in Idaho, tomorrow, who knows? Do you know where your children are?
- Support organizations that promote an intelligent and respectful dialogue, and are committed to education so that future voters elect adults to office. These organizations need your support now more than ever as issues like this rob us of our resources as we defend our values.
We're in this for the long haul. The Wolf Education & Research Center continues to move into the spotlight to provide this type of understanding that is critical in the effort to defend life. I hope you'll join the fight.
Chris Anderson, President
Wolf Education & Research Center
Lewiston, Idaho
