[Paddlewise] Wilderness vs. feelings

Larry Mills wrote:

> Karl
> 
> I can buy the idea of not risking the rescuers but
> if I had to make the call based on damage to the
> pristine wilderness, I will personally light the fuse
> to blow up the rocks, if necessary.
> 
> The family knows the probable damage from submersion
> for that long.  They don't want to hug her.  They want to bury
> her.
> 

Larry (and paddlewisers. . .), I dont want to fan flames on a topic 
that might legitimately become more heated than the debate over 
feathered vs unfeathered paddles, but

The girl's family will eventually achieve closure with or without a 
body.  It may happen sooner with a body than without, but it will 
happen.  Once they achieve this closure it will no longer make any 
difference whether the body was recovered.

Dynamiting one of the few remaining wilderness rivers in this country 
is forever.

The girl's family cares passionately about recovering her body.  Many 
more people care passionately (admittedly, probably less so) about 
preserving the Chatooga.  Whether you personally assign value to 
preserving wilderness for wilderness' sake (I do, but  I recognize 
that not everyone must), you are elevating the passionate feelings of 
a few over the passionate feelings of many.

I disagree with that approach.  I do not believe in altering  a national 
treasure with great emotional value to thousands of people for the 
benefit of the emotional well being of one family.



Professor Karl S. Coplan
Pace Environmental Litigation Clinic, Inc.
78 North Broadway
White Plains, N.Y.  10603
kcoplan_at_genesis.law.pace.edu
(914) 422-4343
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