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Show 112 "No reflection on you fellows (of the BLM staff]," said a man from a citizens' group to restore the Constitution. "You're just doing what Congress says. But dammit, Congress is wrong!" A young man vihose accent revealed his roots in the West remarked, "You said that the area, in order to qualify for a wilderness area, had to have outstanding potential for solitude and primitive recreation as compared to other areas in the vicinity. There are canyons from here to kingdom come in every direction. That Dirty Devil area is outstanding in and of itself, but it is not outstanding as compared to this area, including Canyonlands National Park, vihich will be there forever. So this thing doesn't even meet the wilderness criteria. It seems to me that you don't have any choice except to delete this area from further study." Many people argued that the wilderness study would deny economic opportunity to the local residents. A speaker vihose deep voice rose with pride declared, "We have at this time no welfare recipients in this county. None! We also have in this county not one draft dodger - nobody ran to Canada when we went to Vietnam. These people have worked hard here; they've had very little. If they have an opportunity to have something, be it in this area or anywhere else, they're entitled to that opportunity....These people are Americans; people who will give their all, and not rely on welfare or any other people to take care of them. What these people say, in Wayne County, I think should be Gospel, because to me, that is America." Loud cheers and applause echoed through the hall as the speaker took his seat. |