Knuckleheads

To the editor:

At the meeting about gas drilling and the Delaware River held in Narrowsburg last Wednesday (see the front page of the June 3 River Reporter), there was behavior that we should all fear and reject. I did not attend, but I’ve been told by friends that on both sides, there was heckling, calling out to interrupt speakers. And in at least one instance a threat of physical violence was made. Marian Schweighofer, who leads the lessors of the Northern Wayne Property Owners Association, told me that a woman said, “I will shoot you with a 30-06.” Marian and I are on opposite sides of the issue, but she is someone I admire and value as a friend. We have a long way to go on this issue, and come what may, we have to live together. Let’s hope that the knuckleheads don’t lead us down into a social hell.

Civil discourse

To the editor:

I’ve never been so proud of our town; I’ve never been so embarrassed of our town.

Took the baby today to see Representative Maurice Hinchey speak in Narrowsburg about gas drilling along the Delaware River. Short version: whether you’re for drilling or against it, we have a right to know what’s in the chemicals that would be pumped into the ground where we live. Tell people the truth, and let them make their own decisions.

I was so proud to see a big crowd —I thought we would be the only people there. Trite but true: this is what

democracy looks like!

And I was so embarrassed that a couple people who disagreed with the speakers thought that the best way to express their opinion was to shout while others were talking: “That’s not true!” “You’re taking our land!”

Is this what passes for intelligent discussion these days? Ugh.

If you disagree with the people who organized the event, that’s okay. Hold your own rally. Write letters to the media. Vote for candidates you like.

Call your representative. Gather your friends and start a movement.

But shouting each other down? Didn’t their mamas teach them to be more polite than that? Embarassing.

We’re number one

To the editor:

We’re number one! That’s right. Our Delaware River is number one on the most endangered rivers list put out yearly by American Rivers.

“The Upper Delaware River provides drinking water for 17 million people across Pennsylvania and New York. However, this clean water source is threatened by natural gas extraction activities in the Marcellus Shale, where chemicals injected into the ground create untreatable toxic wastewater. Until a thorough study of these critical impacts is completed, the Delaware River Basin Commission must not issue permits that will allow gas drilling in this watershed. In addition, Congress must pass the Fracturing Responsibility and Awareness of Chemicals Act of 2009 to help protect all rivers within the Marcellus Shale region.”

Another dubious distinction was given recently to the fine State of Pennsylvania: number 8 on the most corrupt states in America, according to a list compiled by

The Daily Beast.

Gee, I wonder what these two facts have in common? Could it be that the gas companies can’t come to our area and knowingly pollute our water, air and land without the help of our state’s politicians? I guess we’ll soon find out—as the people of the Gulf are doing now.