To the Editor:

Since the occupation of the Malheur Wildlife Refuge occurred, the community began to become divided around many different issues (forest access, government overreach, the sheriff’s deputies’ natural resource plan, “stewardship,” the elections, the Canyon Creek Complex fire). This “us” vs. “them” mentality in this community came to a head last week for me with John D. George’s letter to the editor.

What kind of community do we want to have when all the smoke clears from all this division? Speaking only for myself, I want:

• a community that sticks together regardless of whether or not we disagree about policies or laws or even who we want for county commissioner or sheriff;

• a community that thrives economically, where our property values increase, as do our student numbers in schools; and

• decreased unemployment, more job creation in the private sector.

Unfortunately for some, that model includes the government, both state and federal. We can all agree there are things we would change if we made the rules, but guess what, we don’t. Our community is in a better position economically due to collaboration, the stewardship contract and increased forest restoration overall.

Is “coordination” good? Maybe, but one thing I know for sure is that we are making progress with “collaboration,” and for my family and I, we want to live in a community that picks each other up instead of tearing each other down, and that includes working with people that may not always agree.

Gordon Larson’s comments at the community meeting Jan. 26 keep ringing in my head about who is tearing us down and who is building us up. He was saying our community is made of both government workers and private workers, working together to better our county.

Whether government employee or private employee, what are you doing to make this a better community? As for John D. George and the other folks that have been attacking people like my dad, King Williams, Russ Young, Dave Hannibal and Mark Webb, you should choose your character battles more carefully.

Zach Williams

Canyon City