I have always admired Wallace Stegner. His writing is a blend of poetry and realism that creeps into your soul and doesn’t let go until it becomes a part of you. Separating it will destroy your being leaving you never quite the same.
This letter, that Wallace Stegner wrote in 1960 in support of the Wilderness Act, was republished recently online. Reading it reminds me of the challenges the many proponents of the Act faced. Their challenges were not just in convincing Congress to support such a radical measure. But, they were more entrenched in the profound idea that Wilderness should exist at all. With the blessing of hindsight I am grateful these pioneers of idea were able to garner the courage and gather the support they needed to move this idea forward. Without it, I am sure I wouldn’t be the person I am today.
The last two lines of this piece are, in my opinion, the strongest argument and reflect my deepest values for preserving wild country.