We need to adopt a new way of thinking for the prairie land that sustains us. Our prairie isn’t a waste dump to place a huge, monetarily motivated, (supposedly) economically stimulating thing that defaces it of its natural beauty and hampers the land’s usefulness.
William Temple Hornaday explained in his book, “The Extermination of the American Bison,” printed in 1889, that bills to protect the bison were made into law in the 1870s. The vastness of the Plains made enforcement next to impossible to any real effect, so the laws did little good.
You must admire these old-time officials as you read about their foresight and efforts, even though their attempts failed to end the foolish destruction of the bison. These men must have cared a great deal for the prairie land they served.
Why do our public officials of today try to destroy our prairie? Do they even care for the land that feeds them, or are they more afraid of the dark?
Am I not to be allowed to see the stars for a mass of flashing red tower lights? I desire that all my difficulties might always be appropriately dwarfed by the unending horizon of stars that aspire a complete admiration for that of all creation through these our uncluttered Kansas skies.
Might I appeal to all fellow prairie landowners to look about this endless simple beauty and say, “You can’t pay me enough!” when approached to lease for a commercial wind farm.
KYLE BRANT, Lucas
15 March 2008
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2008/03/16/let-us-see-the-stars/