In the letter, "Reasoning with irrational" (Aug. 21, page A10), the author has obviously mistaken me for someone who thinks of himself as an "elitist."
The dictionary tells us that "elitist" means "a person of the highest class." I am confused as to how that would be something undesirable, or how coupling that word with "environmentalist" somehow vilifies me.
I would venture to say that the label "elitist" would more fittingly apply to the likes of Walter Coles Sr. and his secret uranium investors, the wealthy few who aspire to become even more high class by gambling with the health, safety and livelihoods of every person who lives within 50 miles (and further) of Coles Hill, the site of the uranium deposit they desire to mine in the near future.
Coles was able to appear before the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors in 2008 and request that they give him their blessing for his mining venture, and they caved in without a single question or word of dissent. Only the highest class of citizens is accorded that degree of accommodation from the Board of Supervisors.
None of the "environmental elitists" who have appeared before that board have been treated in any way but with disdain and derision. "Elitist" would apply much more logically to the attitude Coles and his cronies put forth, the assumption that higher classes know what is best for the majority of we, the "common" citizens of Virginia.
"Elitist" is VUI unleashing its multi-million dollar lobbying campaign on the legislators for the past couple of years. "Elitist" is VUI paying for them to fly to France for a whirlwind tour of Paris and an afternoon picnic at a "uranium mine" that has been closed up since the 1990s.
"Elitist" is not me, but those privileged few who seek to become even more privileged as they wager on an idea that has no plan and no regard for anything but potential profit.
The letter’s author also labeled me an "environmentalist." In this case, she is correct. Once again the dictionary clarifies the meaning of this word, and shows us that an environmentalist is someone who works to protect the quality of the air we all breathe, the water we all drink and the land upon which we all dwell on this Earth.
Why is that wrong? Do not most people desire to breathe clean air, drink clean water, and live their lives free from having to worry that the radioactive dust and other toxic wastes from a uranium mine are covering their homes, tainting their air and insinuating themselves into their water supplies?
Does that make them "elitists"? No, it does not. But it does make the "environmentalists."
If the letter’s author does not consider herself an environmentalist, I can only say that she would be wise to go back and take another look at uranium mining and milling, both past and present.
If she chooses to see only the uranium industry’s perspective, then she would be more aptly labeled "elitist" than those of us all over the commonwealth who are working to maintain our basic quality of life in light of the threat of uranium mining and milling.
Calling us names will not stop us from working to prevent the lifting of the moratorium on uranium mining in Virginia. We take this threat very seriously, as should every citizen of our great state.
JESSE PRYANT ANDREWS
Halifax
Read more:
http://www2.godanriver.com/news/2011/sep/10/sticks-and-stones-elites-ar-1298348/
