Conservation Is Patriotic

by Timothy Hermach, founder and president Native Forest Council

September 11, 2001. Each of us will remember it in our own way. But all of us will share memories of the initial disbelief, giving way to anger and fear, then sadness for those we lost.

I was at the office early that morning when I first heard that terrorists had attacked the World Trade Center. As the rest of our staff began to arrive for the day, we watched the tragedy unfold on television: Shock. Confusion. Then the conflicting news reports. Another attack on the Pentagon and a plane crash in Pennsylvania. And phone calls to make sure friends and loved ones were fine.

Then I sent everyone home. To process. To grieve. To be with loved ones. And to ponder a world forever changed by one morning. Our thoughts and prayers continue to go out to the victims of this crime, and we continue to reach out to Native Forest Council members who have been touched by these events.

The strength of the Council comes from the diversity of its members: We are republicans and democrats. Hikers and hunters. Retired loggers and working professionals. Fiscal conservatives and social liberals. And we are all united for one clear purpose: saving America's public lands.

And each of us has opinions about September 11, 2001, and what we can and should do now. I've been moved, frustrated, surprised and inspired by the emails and phone calls I've received over the days and weeks following this terrible day in our nation's history: insight and opinions about terrorism, national security, foreign policy and civil liberties. Discussions about what we've done in the past and what to do now. It goes without saying that these are the issues at the forefront of our nation's consciousness. At times, it seems as if nothing else matters, which is appropriate. Everyone has something to say about why this happened, what will happen now and how we can prevent such tragedies from ever happening again.

How does conservation fit in the context of today's political climate? Does it fit at all? First, I'd like to propose the (unfortunately unconventional) notion that conservation is patriotic. A U.S. flag is not a common symbol of environmentalism. I think that's a mistake. I see no contradiction between having pride in America and preserving our nation's mountains, forests, rivers and streams.

Liberty, justice and democracy (though these words have been misused and abused by corporate power brokers) are principles that conservationists must embrace, use correctly and, if necessary, reclaim from the dishonest politicians, bureaucrats and their corporate masters who would sacrifice our nation's natural treasures to make a quick buck. The health of America's environment, our source of clean air, water and soil, is most certainly an issue of liberty and national security.

Second, we must remain vigilant. It's been a troubling month, and it doesn't look as if the critical issues we face today will be gone anytime soon. We face new challenges, from the minor inconveniences of flying to the prospect of a long and protracted war, from daily anxieties about security to the deep wounds of loved ones lost. Appropriately, the nation is focused on this national crisis. But this focused attention also means there's little room for conservation in the political arena.

Our issue is in the dark, and the timber, oil and mining giants are more than willing to fill the political vacuum. As I write this, industry's friends in Congress are taking advantage of the darkness, tacking unrelated anti-environmental riders onto defense spending bills. Riders that will sacrifice America's most treasured natural places. Riders that others dare not question, because slowing down defense spending during this time in our history is, for obvious reasons, highly impolitic. Partisan bribery is not democracy and our leaders should not use this national tragedy for political leverage.

Third, we must remember the America we are fighting to save: a democracy with free speech, open exchange of ideas and a diversity of opinions. After the attacks, leaders of several mainstream environmental groups told their members to pull ads, remove articles and refrain from saying anything that questioned current policies or the administration. Certainly, I expect the nation to unite together, focus on these critical issues and take time to grieve, reflect and heal from this attack on our homeland. I'd be worried if we didn't rally after such an attack on our own civilians. But censorship (self-imposed or otherwise) is un-American. The foundation of democracy is a diversity of opinions, and we are strengthened, not weakened, when we unite for our country but freely criticize federal policies that we know to be fundamentally flawed. In fact, it is our duty to do everything we legally can to fight them.

While I welcome the increase in airline security, I question the wisdom of giving officials carte blanche to rescind the civil liberties we enjoy in a free society. Let's not let fear or obscure our judgment. We owe it to one another, to our Constitution and to future generations to save the liberties we have fought-and continue to fight-so hard to preserve.

Finally, I invite you to do what you need to do to heal. We're all trying to put these events into some context for our daily lives. Like a snapshot, September 11 will someday have a veneer of perspective. In time, we'll understand its historical relevance. Right now, though, the wounds are still fresh. The anger and sadness are still raw. And our future is uncertain. Take the time you need to reflect and heal in your own way.

As for me, I'm going to take my two boys out into the woods. As autumn settles here in Oregon, the leaves along the McKenzie Pass are transforming from lush green into a brilliant palette of yellow, red and orange. The scenery won't erase the horrific images from September 11. I won't forget the historic importance of what direction our nation takes. And I will still mourn for the victims of this horrific attack. But I will take some time to appreciate the mountains and the forests that make our country so great. And spend some time with two members of the next generation-the generation that compels me to keep fighting for the forests. With liberty and justice for all.

This article first appeared in Forest Voice, the publication of the Native Forest Council. Learn more about the organization at forestvoice.org.

From the November 2001 in the Chico Examiner.