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Stewardship project will have positive impact

The Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Project is a great example of Montana’s vision for collaborative conservation. This project is over a decade in the making and has the support of diverse groups including conservationists, snowmobilers, mountain bikers, timber companies and equestrians. The Blackfoot Clearwater Project would designate the Otatsy and Spread Mountain Recreation Management Areas for snowmobile and mountain biking access, respectively, in addition to over 75,000 acres of wilderness to the Bob Marshall, Scapegoat and Mission Mountain wilderness areas.

To me, this bill represents more than just acreage getting a new designation. This bill speaks to Montanans’ ability to come together, despite ideological differences, for something bigger than themselves. The project has strong bipartisan support and will ensure a healthy future for timber, recreation and conservation.

As an avid hiker, equestrian, fly-fisher, snowboarder and conservationist I am excited to see this wilderness be protected in perpetuity. While part of this is driven by a deep emotional connection to this area, I am also a strong proponent for the Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Project because it will be supporting over 130 jobs. This project will be beneficial for the economy and restoration efforts, particularly in noxious weed management.

I am so grateful for Sen. Tester’s backing of this project and his track record of protecting our public lands. I hope that Sen. Daines will lend his support as well for this Montana-made land management solution. —Emily Harkness, Whitefish

Don’t turn away from those who need mercy

Mercy is the supreme Judeo-Christian virtue. God Himself taught it to us by coming into the world as Jesus Christ to offer salvation to all nations. Not just certain nations, but all nations. And when Christ’s mercy was returned by hatred, he asked our Father to forgive his enemies.

When I see children buried alive in rubble, or washed up drowned on a beach, or starving in winter huddled against a fence, I am moved to mercy. I tremble when I remember the warning of Jesus at the wrath of the Father toward those who ask for mercy but will not give it.

Hatred can grow in any culture. The school massacres at Columbine and Sandy Hook were committed by our own children. They spoke perfect English and were not radicalized by the Koran.

I take the security of our country very seriously. I want everyone who comes here to be scrutinized carefully. But when I hear people say that everyone of a certain nationality or religion should be permanently excluded, it sounds like frontier talk that the only good Indian is a dead Indian. We have fought wars against France, England, Mexico, Spain, Italy, Germany and Japan. I know that enemies can become friends. It’s happened many times, and I look for it to happen again.

Jesus taught us to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. Some people seem to have gotten that backwards. They are full of poison and despise compassion. I hope that when they stand before the throne, they will not hear, “Depart from me. I never knew you.” —Michael Merchant, Kalispell

Which are wise?

I have a question. Which of the following are wise and which are foolish?

Teach a child to be exclusive and not talk to strangers or approach cars of strangers talking to them.

Be inclusive by taking a homeless stranger, holding a sign asking for work, home without finding out anything about him and put him to work on your house like Elizabeth Smart’s mother did (and whose daughter was later kidnapped by the man).

Be exclusive by not allowing your high schooler to run with gang and drug kids.

Be exclusive and build a gated community in an area where homes and neighborhood could be jeopardized by criminals and have a security guard to stop and verify all entering and turning away those who don’t have credentials necessary.

Be like Jesus who vetted the rich young ruler when he was seeking entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven, causing him to turn away when he refused to accept the terms given.

Be inclusive and allow all people into our country without regard for those who have a clear agenda to destroy our country and have repeatedly committed heinous acts of murder of innocent citizens.

Be exclusive by only kindly opening our doors to all who are willing and compliant to meet required standards consistent with loving and respecting our nation, our people, and our way of life including learning our language and rendering allegiance to our flag. —Synoia Olson, Kalispell

Two invasions?

I have read the articles of late in the newspaper regarding invasive mussels in our waterways and flu viruses in our sheep,.

Does it really make sense to protect Montana from illegal invasions of diseases and species that cause harm within the state, and on the other hand continue to allow illegal immigration of people from all over the world? We need thumbprint and photo ID, complete background checks for illegal activity, and we must stop anchor babies! Protect Montana and the USA from this “disease” as well!

Basicallyl, let’s require the same actions now done on wildlife and incorporate them into immigration policy! Simple but effective. After all, without control of weeds, animals and diseases from nature, it would be overrun just like our country. —Ron Albrecht, Kalispell

Compassionate America is inclusive

“Let it be the dream it used to be/ O, let America be America again/ The land that never has been yet.”

When the African-American poet Langston Hughes wrote those words, no one would have mistaken his vision for an America shaped by compassion with President Trump’s crusade to “Make America Great Again” through fear and prejudice. Nor would anyone have mistaken Hughes’ vision with Trump’s mantra “America First.” Hughes knew that compassion does not practice a triage of human worth. Compassion does not rank human value. It is inclusive, and it loves all regardless of their “otherness.” I also like to think that Hughes had a natural sympathy for the old wisdom teaching that “The last shall be first.”

If Langston Hughes were alive today, he would be saddened to learn that private character no longer matters in political leadership. Hughes knew that racism (and by extension today ... anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant sentiments) flourish in an atmosphere of vulgarity and fear-mongering. But Hughes was not naive. He knew that the dream would never be fully realized on earth. Yet he persevered. And he continued to write. As we too must push on in the tradition of honorable and nonviolent resistance. —Bob Muth Sr., Kalispell