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A follower of Christ and MLK

April 4 represents the 50th anniversary of me fully claiming my identity as a “follower of Christ.” It is, of course, also the 50th anniversary of the assassination of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis. While the exact circumstances of who shot King still remain an American nightmare, it was clear to me that evening in Spokane upon receiving the news that King was dead that my family identity as Christian was real and genuine. No longer a faith of my parents it was now mine to own.

Like the short public ministry of Jesus of Nazareth, King’s Christian witness had a huge impact. I had followed him since his 1963 appearance at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. But it would be an earlier letter and not that speech that ultimately changed my life and faith. His “Letter from the Birmingham Jail” rocked my all-white, comfortable middle-class, Sunday-school faith and brought me to my knees knowing that I could no longer avoid the daily human injustice not only in America’s apartheid but in many other social and economic injustices domestically and worldwide.

As Easter just taught us, through death there is life. In losing Jesus and King I slowly found a life-giving faith that has emboldened me to serve war-torn villages in Central America, the homeless in Chicago and street gangs in Spokane over the past 40 years. I invite you to join me in walking the road less traveled in honor of the life and legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. —Patrick Malone, Kalispell

Patriots’ Day celebration is more timely than ever

I recently found out there will be a Patriots’ Day, pro-Second-Amendment, rally in the Flathead Valley. Patriots’ Day commemorates the opening battles of the American Revolutionary War — the battles of Lexington and Concord near Boston on April 19, 1775.

Some consider this the birth date of liberty, the day the shot was fired that was heard “round the world.” In some of the Eastern and Midwest states, it is observed as a public holiday. It is high time we do this commemoration in Montana as well. The battles were sparked by the British troops’ attempt to capture John Hancock and Samuel Adams and capture and destroy the colonials’ guns and ammunition.

It is so appropriate, in this day of the most serious threats to citizens’ Second Amendment gun rights in this nation’s history, that we celebrate Patriots’ Day with a pro-Second-Amendment rally. People need to turn out for this event 7 p.m. April 19 at the Expo building at the county fairgrounds. —Rob Campbell, Kalispell

Please don’t allow bikes in wilderness

I want to thank Rep. Greg Gianforte for reconsidering HR 1349. Amending the Wilderness Act of 1964 could forever change our local national treasure, The Bob Marshall Wilderness. There are many movements that seek to re-create lands for increased access for recreational purposes. This one monumental.

Many Montanans believe that to allow bikes on wilderness trails would be a risk to public health and safety. Trails are often narrow, ford rivers, and hang to scree fields. They can be steep and lack visibility. Traverse is not conducive to speed or sudden maneuvers. Traditional users have made craft out of training their stock to the terrain and learning to negotiate wildlife conflicts. This country is very different from Utah’s. Sudden surprise approach of a bike would easily spook a string of mules, sending them over the edge to the river below. Terrifying proposition.

The second reason for keeping the wilderness wild is conservation. Our desire to enjoy the land must be balanced with preservation as intended by the creators of the Act. Man changes the natural order of things, and this is necessary for beneficial use SOMETIMES. But so far, in America we have been blessed with enough real estate to set aside special places where we can still step quietly and experience creation in its primitive order.

The third reason would be economics: funding for trail building and maintenance. Bicycle and e-bike use is on the rise, and these require special trail construction. Infrastructure requires study and costs money. Volunteer organizations work with the Forest Service and conservation crews to keep trails cleared. The “Bob” offers wind, flood and fire each season to keep these folks thoroughly engaged. Use of stock and building of structures is a careful balance of need.

Most all our communities have many bike trail systems, both paved and mountain.

So please, Rep. Gianforte, let’s not make a change that could cost certain “untrammeled lands in their natural condition.” Future generations will thank you. —Margaret Ann Herron, Kalispell

Support Glacier Symphony during radiothon

Here in the Flathead, we enjoy many opportunities to experience the arts. Our valley is rich in cultural organizations of all types that we can take advantage of and enjoy.

One of the gems we have here in the Flathead Valley is the Glacier Symphony. The Glacier Symphony has been enriching our communities with great classical music for 36 years now. The orchestra and chorale perform throughout the year to provide us with a wide variety of music, from the ageless genius of Bach, Mozart and Beethoven to the fun and delight of film music by famous composers such as John Williams. A variety to suit just about everyone. The year-round versatility of performances includes a Pops concert at Rebecca Farm in July and Festival Amadeus in August, now in the 11th season. If you have not yet experienced great orchestra and choral music “live” in concert, make this the year you do so.

The Glacier Symphony is a non-profit organization that relies on the generosity of individual donors and business partners to continue to provide this great music. Ticket sales revenue accounts for only 25 to 30 percent of what they need to continue, the rest comes from the generosity of this great community we live in.

On the 26th and 27th of April, KGEZ will be hosting a “radiothon.” Please consider listening and most of all consider calling in with a pledge. The Glacier Symphony needs your support, and this will be a fun and easy way to help. Details of the Radiothon with be forthcoming, so stay tuned! —Jim Lehner, Kalispell