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I am writing in response to the May 3 column by Chris Sargent, “It was my secret fishing spot. Then a land trust bought the property and ruined it.”
His column overtly implies: Beware fishermen, the land trusts are after you and they must be stopped! The use of the word “my” in the headline denotes some inherent exclusive right of possession. Does he own the property? Does he have some Indigenous right to it as his and his only? I think not.
Does a small gravel parking lot and a few trail maps take away the area’s natural beauty, and wildlife habitat for new and into the future? I think not.
The author also cites trash, “discarded plastic worm containers,” left behind by, you guessed it, his beloved fellow fishermen. I personally have logged hundreds of miles on this area’s land trusts and preserves. The occasional can or wrapper I dutifully pick up and put in my pack.
He states there are now paths, possibly made available to children, wounded veterans, the elderly and disabled. Is this a bad thing? I think not.
This “me, my, mine” culture grows daily. We all see it.
Perhaps a safeguarded area of land, without secret caches and misplaced rights of ownership, is a good thing. A place where families can take a walk with nature, feel the quiet warmth of the sun, listen to the chorus of birds, and hear the whistle of wind through the pines. A place just to sit and breathe.
We are all better for it. Our community is better for it.
Cheryl Harry
Orono
