Dear HCN,
Myles
Traphagen, (HCN, 6/24/02:Cross lawsuit divisive, petty), commenting
on a May 13 article, “Does desert cross cross the line?”
characterizes as “frivolous” and “petty” the American Civil
Liberties Union’s lawsuit whose object is to have a six-foot metal
cross removed from its unlawful installation in California’s Mojave
National Preserve: “In an age where our public lands are being
assaulted by forces much more menacing …”
Mr.
Traphagen misconstrues the ACLU’s motivation; the cross threatens
no one. It is the refusal to enforce the Constitution which
endangers this nation’s minorities as well as our public lands.
Those who turn a blind eye toward such lawlessness should not
expect vigilance on the part of enforcement agencies faced with
vocal groups more concerned with their local economy than with the
long-term protection of snail darters or ancient creosote
shrubs.
Eliot KalmanAthens, Ohio
Eliot Kalman is president of the Southeast Chapter of the ACLU of Ohio.
This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline Cross lawsuit is not petty.
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