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Belief inspires a passion for conservation

Letter to the Editor - From the October 31, 2005 issue of High Country News by Bill Cook
In "What’s at stake in the evolution debate," biologist Pepper Trail attempts to enlist conservationists in the culture wars (HCN, 10/3/05: What's at stake in the evolution debate). Trail insists that we must side with one warring camp or the other. According to Trail, the good guys are scientists who advance "reality," while the bad guys are knuckle-draggers who peddle "belief."

Time to gird for battle? Well, count me out. I’d rather spend my effort doing conservation instead. Scientific data didn’t convince Gandhi to resist British rule. Laboratory analysis didn’t inspire Martin Luther King Jr. to march on Washington. I’ll join Wendell Berry and other diehard conservationists whose passion in defense of wild Creation arises from belief.

Bill Cook
Lake Oswego, Oregon

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