BLM Meeting in Mesquite Gets Ugly on Both Sides
by Shari Dovale
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) hosted a meeting in Mesquite, Nevada last night that drew hundreds of people with varying opinions.
The meeting was designed to discuss Gold Butte, which became a national monument by an Obama executive order last last year.
It was disheartening to hear that they could not have a civil discussion without outbursts and insults from people on both sides of the issue. At one point Jeanette Finicum, widow of rancher LaVoy Finicum, took to the microphone to chastise the people in the room.
“ I didn’t like when the side I was sitting over there was talking out of turn. I thought it was disrespectful. I thought it was disrespectful when I saw people doing it from this side. And then walking over and getting in the faces of the people over there. I think both sides have behaved badly, to some degree.” she told the crowd.
Jeanette had attempted to walk out of the room when she got too discouraged at both groups. However, before she could leave, someone apparently could not hold back their ugliness and referred to this lady as “Trash”.
“But how dare you call me a name as I’m walking out? How dare you insult me? And I must come back and say that. Calling somebody ‘trash’? And then, telling me that I’m trash…’You too, sister’? Because I have the politeness to walk out when my side was being rude? This is not OK!”
The Federal government has spent the past 8 years dividing this country. It has permeated every aspect of our lives. It does not matter if you are a Socialist or a Constitutionalist, or somewhere in between, you will hear people spouting hate towards you. There seems to be little chance of a civil discussion on any topic anymore.
This attitude cannot stand. We must respect everyone’s views, else we throw our own credibility out the window. The Federal government wants this division because they know that is the way they will win the battle. Don’t fall for it. Don’t get pulled into the division. It is not always easy to do the right thing, but it is essential.
We are fortunate there are a few accounts of the meeting, with video.
Sources include:
“This attitude cannot stand”…..”A house divided against itself cannot stand”..Elements of Greek Tragedy come into play, with people using the same words but speaking a different language. If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, so that my children may know peace.