I came to know something about Stewart Udall as a College student at Ohio University in the mid 70's. Interior Secretary under Kennedy and Johnson, Udall was a passionate collaborator with Republican and Democratic Congressman alike, brokering land preservationdeals totaling nearly 4 million acres. As he put it, there was a "big tent"atmosphere in D.C. in the 60's and 70's where all Americans, regardless ofPolitical Party affiliation recognized that for a vibrant economic America to exist, there also had to be a healthy American land ethic.............Where clean air, water,open space and biodiversity were essential elements to be expanded and constantly improved upon. In addition to Kenney and Johnson, Udall worked successfully with Presidents Nixon and Ford as well as Senator Orrin Hatch and Ed Kennedy on the Wilderness,Clean Air and Water Acts. "That was a wonderful time and it lasted for 20 years.""I don't remember a big fight between Republicans and Democrats...there was a consensus that the Country needed more conservation projects(not less) of the kind that we were proposing." "Republicans and Democrats, we all worked together." "Washington has now been overtaken by money.... with people seeking office fighting for contributions from business interests who view environmental protection as a detriment to profit at best."
Listen up Public leaders...................time to return to bi-partisan collaboration on an issue that should not be favored by any one side............We only have one home and we are the only species who thinks it is ok to spoil our own nest. As Tom Friedman writes in his recent best seller, "Hot flat and Crowded"........."everyone in the world now wants to live as a middle class American." Unless we find a sustainable way of accomplishing this, it will be impossible for 7 to 10 billion of us to live in peace and prosperity going forward.
A salute to Stewart Udall and what he stood for!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Here are some Stewart Udall quotes:
"Plans to protect air and water, wilderness and wildlife are in fact plans to protect man."
-Stewart Udall
"The most common trait of all primitive peoples is a reverence for the life-giving earth, and the Native American shared this elemental ethic: The land was alive to his loving touch, and he, its son, was brother to all creatures."
-Stewart Udall
"Over the long haul of life on this planet, it is the ecologists, and not the bookkeepers of business, who are the ultimate accountants."
-Stewart Udall
Well said...Health-care for the people and the health of the land on which we live should be bi-partisan.
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