Letter: Shovel brigade should be congratulated

Stopping human beings from their God given right to earn a living for the benefit of a fish is about as asinine as the wolf project in Montana's Yellowstone National Park.

A hearty congratulations to the shovel brigade. They labored, by hand, to reopen the washed-out South Canyon Road in the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. Their labor practices have left the environment squeaky clean.

An editorial writer for the Billings Outpost, Billings, Mont., however, has condemned them for their labor. Their crime? They had not obtained permission from government to peaceably assemble on public land. Therefore, they are labeled as anti-federal government and counter-cultured.

To be called anti-federal government is, in reality, a commendation. It indicates that the members of the shovel brigade are also members of "We, the people." They demonstrated that "the people" meant business about reopening "their" road. They reminded government bureaucracy that this is still America and that "the people" are still the directors of this great nation.

Being labeled counter-cultured is another story. It indicates that the entire membership of the shovel brigade are opposed to civilized life, are opposed to the refinements of a literate society and are opposed to knowledge, wisdom and education.

I know not how the members of the shovel brigade will react, but as for me, I would not take kindly to being called a person who is of sub-life, of lower intelligence and against the refinements of civilization.

GEORGE E. SEXTON

Shepherd, Mont.