Scotchman designation’s calm support

As the Idaho primary approaches, rhetoric regarding the Scotchman Peaks vote is getting hotter - particularly from opponents. I’m prejudiced about the issue. First, I’m on the Friends of Scotchman Peaks staff. Second, I’ve lived within view of Scotchman Peak for six decades. I want to see that wilderness become designated Wilderness.

Wilderness supporters aren’t all freshly arrived somewhere else. But some are. So are some opponents. We all came from somewhere.

There’s a difference between the opponents’ messaging and that of the supporters of the Wilderness bill Senator Risch introduced in November of 2016. Opponents engage in name-calling, accusation, inflammatory language and misinformation. Supporters, for the most part, present calm, logical, verifiable information about what Wilderness designation means, and what it doesn’t. Supporters don’t yell at opponents and none have charged across a room to threaten anyone. Proponents of the Scotchman proposal rely on civil discourse, polite conversation, cool heads and facts - imagine that - to support their cause.

Supporters can calmly face the opposition’s vitriol and confrontational flak because they know they’re right.

I urge you to get the facts are at www.voteforscotchmanpeaks.org and vote in favor of the Scotchman Peaks proposal May 15.

Sandy Compton

Heron, Montana