In the Spirit of Independence Day ~~ A Salute To Patrick Henry

As an 11th grade English teacher, it was always a challenge to make literature from the 1700's and 1800's relevant and meaningful to teenagers, but once-in-a-while it happened.  A couple of times my 11th grade classes were blessed to have former San Juan County Commissioner, Bill Redd, come to San Juan High and talk to students about Patrick Henry, the Bill of Rights, and then he shared Henry's famous speech.  Bill was a scholar of the Constitution and Bill of Rights, and even dressed up for the part! 

 Because of recent San Juan County land battles and the local push back from the heavy handedness of government bureaucracies, I think you'll find it interesting to compare the similarities.  This is a reenactment of a significant and important milestone in United States history and Patrick Henry was one of the firebrands who helped change the course of history.  There are many parallels with the situation we face in San Juan County, as we contemplate the disparity faced by Western States. I hope you'll take the time to watch this excellent performance.  

Patrick Henry's historic speech dramatized during the Golden Age of Hollywood. Taken from the 22 minute 1936 short film "Give Me Liberty" which starred John Litel as Patrick Henry (Published on Feb 15, 2010) 

Fast forward to Cassy Moon's Family reunion where her 98+ year-old aunt shared Patrick Henry's Speech .  She had much of the original speech memories and recited it.  Hope this will wake up your brain, and zest for patriotism. The ideas are sill very relevant in today's world. 

Independence Day Patriotic Speech in Blanding

Given by Wendy Black July 4, 2017 and Mayor's Breakfast. Centennial Park, Blanding, Utah                  

Good Morning and Happy Independence Day. 

In preparing to speak today, I found this saying: "You can't separate peace from independence because no one can be at peace unless he has his independence."

We as humans are in a constant state of always trying achieve our individual independence. We start when we are infants, trying to roll over, to crawl, to stand up, to walk and to talk, then we move on in this quest to dress ourselves, feed ourselves and bath ourselves, we learn to ride a bike and then to drive a car. 

Hopefully, soon afterwards, we are ready to move out on our own. Then as adults, we work to gain our financial independence, through going to school and building careers. We hopefully have learned to be good and responsible citizens in our process to gain our independence.  We finally feel that we have arrived at our total freedom as individuals. Right???

We on this North American Continent should never forget that the men and women who first crossed the Atlantic came here not to find soil for their plows but came here to find independence for their souls.  Our Independence from England is the reason for this holiday. Some of you may not know that in 1776 there were many in the Continental Congress, and throughout the colonies, who were not all that happy about breaking away from Britain. They were afraid of change, afraid to lose the financial backing of the crown. The radicals who were ready for a break from Britain needed to light a fire under those who were still reluctant to act. Thomas Paine wrote and published a pamphlet called, “Common Sense.”  It was the first work to openly ask for independence from Great Britain. This publication was bought and read by more people than watch the Superbowl today. It had the largest sale and circulation of any book published in American history. As of 2006, it remained the all-time best selling American title, and is still in print today. Because of the vision of great men like Thomas Paine the United States is an icon of independence to the world. 

[online-version of Common Sense]

We, in San Juan County, have had some experience in both resistance and fear of losing our independence through this fight against a National Monument.  We thought we were living in safety. We were hidden in our little corner of the world.  We had all of the bliss and comfort we needed. We felt we did not need to pay attention.  We assumed that we didn’t need to speak out, after all we are just a small community. How much noise could we ever really make? How much change could we really affect? Why should we need to fight for our freedom? That was being taken care of by government people doing their jobs.  Such as the BLM and the FOREST SERVICE. Not to say we don’t love our government employed neighbors; after all they are just doing their jobs. The heads of these departments on the other hand -- they may need some guidance and if we don’t give it to them, THEN who will?  The ENVIRONMENTALISTS will! THE GREEN MACHINES will, and THE OUTDOOR COMPANIES will. 

A year ago, we decided that we, as a county could no longer be reluctant to act. Modern day radicals knew that we had to light that fire, no matter how small we felt. We had to stand up tall and strong or we would lose our independence-- Our independence to love our land the way we have for generations; Our independence to choose our livelihood; Our independence to have our communities grow the way that 

WE choose; Our independence to enjoy our own backyard doing what we want like camping, fishing, hunting, gathering, sight seeing, hiking, and gathering for family reunions.

So we, Navajos, Utes, Anglos, and Hispanics alike, took to our computers and wrote many, many letters and commented on many, many editorials. We were often texting, tweeting, and instagramming each other and others at 1 and 2 in the morning since that’s when we had time to write and comment. We stood behind our local leaders who were already fighting for rural Utah to be heard. We stood tall and proud at opposition rallies and our own celebrations. Because of the unity of the small communities of San Juan County, we have become an icon to the United States in our fight for our independence and control of our own public lands.  We have won many battles over the past year, but we are still in a huge war.

This Fourth of July, we might find ourselves barbecuing, congregating with loved ones and enjoying our precious free time. But it is also a time to step back, take stock and appreciate the freedoms we enjoy every day from living in this country. It is a time to appreciate just how we gained this independence and to remember those who have fought for and are still fighting to preserve it. Our brave men and women in uniform,  and those that fight for our independence that are not in uniform.  Such as our brave local leaders, PHIL LYMAN, BRUCE ADAMS, and REBECCA BENALLY and don’t forget our state leaders, Mike Noel, David Hinkins, Governor Herbert and Lt. Governor Spencer Cox, Mike Lee, Jason Chaffetz, Rob Bishop and Senator Hatch and many more.

  

The most patriotic men and women may be the ones who go in the direction that they think is right even when they see the world is against them. They are leaders who are willing to sacrifice themselves for the path of honor and duty. Do not blame others if they do not agree with you. Instead appreciate that we have the freedom to express ourselves and embrace our differences. Be happy that you have tried and succeeded in being patriotic.

I am so proud to be part of this community and the efforts that have been made to secure our independence. Give yourselves a huge applause. 

And finally,  I want to say: This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave.

Cemetery on the Navajo Reservation where Native Patriots are always remembered

Letter to Blanding City Council Relative to Bears Ears

Dear Mayor and City Council members,

      There are several things I neglected to say last night at City Council; primarily, thank you for allowing input from Blanding citizens in two open forums, and even an opportunity for an out-of-towner to speak last night.  Anna Tom from McCracken Mesa is a person we have worked very closely with, as well as her mother, Betty Jones.  They have been fire brands in the battle, as councilman Lyman sometimes alludes to.  I don’t know if you attended the arena theater meeting in June 2016, where state Representative Mike Noel spoke?  If you didn’t then, you probably don’t understand the passion that was generated that night.  When I entered the arena theater there were at least 30-40 Native Americans on the East side.  Anna was one of them and I wondered then, what their position was.  I even said to Dara Bayles (who is also Navajo), “What side do you think they are on?“

Well, as the meeting progressed, I learned that they knew a heck of a lot more about government regulations, and false promises that I did.  It was an eye opener, and a motivational event, which threw a lot of unlikely people together, and we’re still together a year later with a long list of parades, meetings, SLC trips, rallies, and hearings behind us. If you were there, then you would understand why we were so upset with the “cave in” suggestion regarding Bears Ears Tuesday night.

I share that, because some of you may think Bears Ears is just a Blanding issue. It is not. The overreach of the Antiquities Act has affected at least a dozen states.  We have allies throughout the nation, and especially in the west.  This is much more than just a battle over a monument. As a county we drew a line in the sand, that says we are against federal overreach via EPA, Environmental lawsuits, threats, rampant bureaucracy, government decisions based on global goals, not on local needs.  When states no longer have state's rights, and counties only have 8% private land, we are only a facade of freedom.  Constitutional illegalities affect multiple states, and those states also look hopefully for what may happen with Bears Ears following the Review Period.  I hope all of you wrote and shared your concerns and ideas.  If you haven't, you should.  This is NOT over yet.    

In my remarks, Tuesday, I referred to an article by Jim Stiles; in fact, he has written many well researched articles about Bears Ears.  There are a few by him that would “Bear” reading as they apply to our current and future situations.  Though an unlikely ally. Jim has gone out of his way to help Stewards of San Juan on several occasions and he is a journalist I actually trust to tell the truth. (Which is why his name has been in the Moab paper a lot). I hope you will read these, so you understand why this controversy, has larger ramifications than just Bears Ears and a possible promotion plan for Blanding.

1,  Take it or Leave it:  The New West’s Big Lie:  http://www.canyoncountryzephyr.com/2017/06/01/take-it-or-leave-it-the-new-wests-big-lie-by-jim-stiles/

2.  The Bears Ears Designation, Post Mortem: http://www.canyoncountryzephyr.com/2017/02/01/the-bears-ears-post-mortem-by-jim-stiles/

3. Public Lands History and Future: Good background info if you don’t know what’s happened in the past. http://www.canyoncountryzephyr.com/2016/12/05/bears-ears-chronicles-a-public-lands-history-the-future-by-jim-stiles/

4.   MOAB IS ASSIMILATED. BIKE BORG MOVES SOUTH. Is Resistance Futile in San Juan County?http://www.canyoncountryzephyr.com/2014/02/03/moab-is-assimilated-bike-borg-moves-south-is-resistance-futile-in-san-juan-county-by-jim-stiles/

5.  With the help of Jim I wrote this expose of Environmental NGOS last year and where their money comes from. https://beyondthebears.blogspot.com/2017/03/oh-what-tangled-web-we-weave-when-first.html

Each week I read anywhere from 15-25 articles related to some facet of Bears Ears, Government agencies, Public Lands, or Environment.  Some of you have received a weekly Bear Essentials newsletter from me, which focuses on things we need to do, plus a dozen or so of the most relevant articles: broken down into Good News Bears and Bad News. Of course, you have to push the link, and then read the article to be informed.  I’m sorry you may not have gotten them. I should have sought out all city council members early on, but went with e-mails of people who signed up at the Mike Noel meeting last June and the Senate Hearing in July.  I often hear from Mr. Ogle and Mr. Lyman.  I have counted on family members to share information, as I'm limited to 500 emails.  I also maintain and keep current a Bears Ears Blog, https://beyondthebears.blogspot.com/. So there are plenty of ways to stay informed on this issue, if a person cares.  On the Save the Bears Ears secret FB page there are over 2500 members, who have kept this issue alive, and have had the passion to write, read, speak, and do.  These are not people who enjoyed fighting, but who care deeply about this country and San Juan County. I am so thankful for their efforts.  Were it not for technology, combined with a just cause, this issue would have been dead in the desert long ago, and we’d be looking at those brochures you want to design, wondering what happened to Blanding.

Sincerely,

Janet Wilcox

Can a Debt-ridden Country Afford to Manage More Monuments?

OP-ed by Janet Wilcox.  Written in response to Antiquities Act Anniversary Charleston Gazette. Published in San Juan Record 7/4/2017

More Million Acre Monuments in the West Cause More Disparity between East and West

Dear editor,

   

    For those living in the east, where most land is privately owned, and where parks and historic monuments are confined to reasonable sizes, [as specifically proscribed in the Antiquities Act] it may seem strange that Utah has been vigorously fighting the Bears Ears Monument. But San Juan County where this 1.3 Million acre National Monument lies has some of the roughest, unfriendly land in the west. Early cowboy, Al Scorup emphasized, “It’s a hell of a place to lose a cow” (or a tourist, we might add.)  Well-funded environmental web sites (SUWA, FCM, Sierra Club, GCTF) like to paint Bears Ears with with strokes of a romanticized West with its wide open spaces, rough hewn rocks, ancient dwellings, deserts, mountains and starry skies.  On the other hand, they may go for the fear factor, claiming rampant desecration of sacred sites, fear of oil pumps and hence the need for more protection of lands already multi-layered with existing BLM and Wilderness protections. Neither image accurately describes  Bears Ears territory.

 Though San Juan is the largest county in Utah (at 7,933 square miles, it’s bigger than many eastern states) only 8 % of the county is privately owned.  What if the county where you live only had 8% of its land available for business development, and jobs?  What if the land in your state was 64.9% controlled by the federal government? How would that impact state and county tax revenues as well as the funding of your schools, the upkeep of roads, and infrastructure, and funding for Search and Rescue teams?  The disparity between eastern vs. western states and their potential for self-governance and sovereignty is negatively affected when millions of acres of land become controlled by more federal bureaucracy in the form of a National Monument. This chart illustrates the great disparity in the West.

Public land has been managed in Utah by the BLM and US Forest Service for decades; they allow grazing rights, mineral leases, lumbering, etc. all of which helped to stabilize western economy. In addition, those agencies protect beautiful vistas, and ancient ruins.  However, when yet another layer of restrictions, via a Monument is added, the swamp of a self-serving bureaucracy reaches even deeper into the state of Utah.  Like our Navajo and Ute compatriots, we no longer trust the tangled web of promises made by a debt ridden federal government.  Many parts of this monument range from 6000 to 12,000 feet with long snowy winters. This is not your tourist friendly Concord Bridge, or Gettysburg. Many Ute, Navajo, Hispanic and Anglos who reply on wood for heating during 6 months of the year, must have access to fallen timber to make it through the winter, something that most monuments do not allow. 

On Oct. 5, 2016 the National Trust of Historic Preservation issued a press release stating, that “the Bears Ears region has been added to its 2016 list of 11 most endangered historical places.”  To the unwary mind, “historical preservation” seems like something we should all believe in.  But believe me, this is not a national organization you can “trust.”

Why did the federal government shift from preserving historic buildings and sites, to lassoing vast Utah landscapes like the Grand Staircase Escalante and Bears Ears?  The antiquities act of 1906 was designed to protect specific features under immediate threat, not to be used as a landscape management tool.  The Obama administration overused this executive ax, hacking away at state sovereignty throughout the nation.  The U.S.  is now dealing with a $20 Trillion debt.  For the past two years, National Parks and Monuments were under a two-year deferred maintenance totaling nearly $11.5 Billion. Utah alone was behind $278,094,606 in park maintenance.  There is no money to support EXISTING parks, much less new ones.

San Juan County is already home to six of those federal destinations:  Natural Bridges Nat’l Monument, Hovenweep Nat’l Monument,, Canyonlands National Park, Dark Canyon Wilderness area, Grand Gulch Wilderness area, and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.   We have learned from others’ mistakes, that tourist destinations have a heavy negative impact on public lands, especially when fragile ruins are part of that landscape.  Enough is enough.  

Photos from White Mesa Mill Hearing 2017

All photos were taken by Janet Wilcox  at the re-licensing hearing for White Mesa Mill June 15, 2017

~~ Bear Essentials ~ June 17, 2017 ~~

Rebecca Benally is adamantly opposed to the monument and said it's "insulting" that out-of-state tribes and special interests are politicizing Native American heritage to push a monument locals don't want. “My constituents are Utah Navajos who have historically been forgotten or bullied by both the federal government and their own tribe. Now so-called environmentalists and their corporate benefactors are adding their own chapter to this sad story, using a few members of our community who are desperate for a paycheck to advance the agenda of outside interests." 

~~~~~~~

Issues Impacting San Juan County Utah

n  Thank you all who attended the White Mesa Mill hearing this week, especially those who spoke and helped publicize it.  Public comment on the White Mesa Mill will be accepted through July 31.  Mail to dwmrcpublic@utah.gov

n  For the most part all comments pro and con were civilly presented and received.  There were a few exceptions.  This article on Commonsensorship has lots of good advice on how to disagree.

n  Chris Herrod gets GOP nod to replace Chaffetz in 3rd district 

n  US Withdrawal from Paris Accord Beneficial for Colorado  “Congress never authorized the $3 billion Obama committed to the “Green Climate Fund,” nor the regulatory scheme he considered as strong as a treaty, nor any other part of the Paris deal. Obama never even asked. He knew Congress would not sacrifice our economy for a political agenda, especially for no environmental gain. Researchers at MIT say if every nation met its Paris commitments, global temperature increases might drop 0.2 degrees by the end of the century.”

n NPR’s broadcast regarding Zinke’s Bears Ears Announcement

                         

Good News Bears

n  Rebecca Benally Interviewed by KSJD Regarding Recommendation

n  Deciphering the Layers of Protection in Bears Ears  Deseret News

n  Times in History when Monument Boundaries have been changed

n  Trump is Right to Challenge Antiquities Act

n  NPR Looks at Bears Ears Issues  Phil did great, but it was not a balanced program.  Listen and decide, yourself.

n  Monument Boundaries Need to Change   Deseret News

n  Environmentalists love Capitalism, they just won’t admit it 

n  KSL News: Zinke Says Monument Boundaries must change

n  Zinke orders Sage Grouse Plan that Protects Economy & Birds

n  Baxter Black’s Common Sense

                                                                               

Bad News Bears

n  White Mesa Mill Comes Under Attack Meeting June 15

n  Scott Clow, environmental programs director for the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe speaks to KSJD

n  Outside Recreation Magazine weighs in on Bears Ears

n  Bears Ears NM first Monument to be proposed by Tribes 

(I sent the author the file documenting the Oct. 2014 CLF meeting where it clearly shows that the Conservation Lands Foundation was manipulating Native tribes. On file at FB: Save the Bears Ears)

n  Democrats Remind Zinke that Congress will decide about Monuments

n  Nature Conservancy’s Response to Zinke’s Announcement

n  EPA’s role in the Gold King Mine Spill in Durango

n  Victims of Federal Forest Service negligence still not compensated in NM

~~~~~~

http://beyondthebears.blogspot.com/

                                     Documenting Bears Ears “ No Monument” efforts since July 2016

Updated article June 14:  75,437 pro monument form letters sent in during Monument Review Period

Reviewing The Antiquities Act Review: Six Form Letters Account for at least 75,437 Comments

Both opponents to the Bears Ears National Monument and proponents were zealously busy between May 12-26 during the Review period, encouraging their friends to write: however, it continued to be the same David vs. Goliath Battle.  Unfortunately, the Green Machine with their well-paid staff had  been busy designing form letters to feed to hundreds of Environmental Groups Nationwide.  So if you're only looking for repetitive messages, The Rescind the Monument team was out-numbered. But it could also mean Greenies are more easily manipulated, or don't know enough to write their own letters?  

Thanks to the tech skills of Wasatch Front Volunteer, Devin Bayles Hancock we discovered some interesting facts May 26, when the deadline ended. By running a simple search engine on the collection site, we discovered six form letters that were used.  There could even be more.  That means that 75,437 of the 149,669 comments received were form letters submitted by various environmental proponents nationwide. That is 50% of the letters submitted. Here is the break down:

6)  Sixth place goes to the "50 Years Ago" form letters.  There were 2160 replicas of this copy-cat message which began: "Dear Secretary Ryan Zinke,
Bears Ears Monument should have been protected 50 years ago and deserves to be protected for future generations.  Please [dont] rescind or...." Note the typo which didn't even get fixed on most letters!

5)  Fifth place for most repetitive message goes to the "judicious use of the Antiquities Act" form letter with 3181 repeats.


4)  Jumping up to 4th place is the "ecologically rich and culturally valuable" form letter with 4,102 comments submitted.

3)  Third place for "Most Repetitive Message" goes to the Bird Watchers who can't watch without a Monument!!  15,333 results began:  Dear Secretary Ryan Zinke.  As a supporter of bird conservation and our public lands, I strongly urge you to protect . . .

2)   The runner up with a whopping 21,427 copies is this form letter beginning:  (Some people didn't even fill in the blank!)

1) And the #1 most repeated form letter as of June 9 begins:  "Dear Secretary Ryan Zinke, Our public lands are vital to our national legacy. [Theyre] economically beneficial to our local communities, and to our nation as a whole."    This form letter was used 29,234 times and most users did not correct the typo. 

Official Stewards of San Juan Response to Secretary Zinke's Review Process

San Juan County Citizens have always loved access to public lands.  We deem it of our greatest treasures!

"The Stewards of San Juan County express gratitude to Secretary Zinke and his time in reviewing and preparing a recommendation to President Trump regarding the Bears Ears National Monument. This is a day of conflicting feelings for many residents of San Juan County and Americans battling ongoing issues regarding constitutional freedoms associated with land rights. 

A massively redundant Bears Ears National Monument designated in the most obscene unilateral way without the input of local citizen stakeholders, was never the answer. The stance of the Stewards of San Juan remains a request for a rigorous review of the Antiquities Act in order to prevent such unilateral measures and further protect the rights of all people. However, we are well aware this current recommendation is a measurable victory for rural Americans and local voices. As Native Americans, locals, business owners, land owners, cattlemen, farmers, recreation enthusiasts, educators, and conservation advocates, we appreciate this administration’s efforts in providing us the voice we sorely needed in this matter. 

We move forward with a conviction to work with our elected officials, local tribes and San Juan County residents to foster a plan indicative of the hearts and minds of this community and love of this beautiful land. We recommit and restate our stance for our love and appreciation of public access to land, responsible multiple use of land, and respect for proper management of the land."

Jami Bayles, SOS president