Fairview Park is more than just a potential playground

I would like to thank Chuck Cassity for succinctly expressing the

short-sighted, selfish and destructive attitude of millions of my

fellow Americans toward our environment and the other creatures which

we share it with.

The idea that the “scarce little bird” has found a suitable

habitat in our area should be celebrated. The presence of charming,

beneficial burrowing owls in Fairview Park should be a matter of

civic pride.

But, since Cassity believes that “the welfare of the people should

be considered before others of God’s creations,” they are just

annoyances, only to be scorned and brushed aside.

This attitude is destroying the only place in the universe where

we can exist. Every living thing on Earth is an animate piece of this

very planet and deserves equal admiration and respect and protection.

The Bush administration obviously shares Cassity’s philosophy and

is conducting a ceaseless assault on the environment. From insisting

upon despoiling Alaska in order that clueless Americans can drive

12-mile-per-gallon sport utility vehicles to allowing even more

snowmobiles into Yellowstone to harass the wildlife, poison the air

and destroy the blessed quiet and tranquillity. And it goes on and on

... .

Now, Rep. Chris Cox promises to allow selfish, whiny boat owners

to destroy beds of vital eel grass so they can more cheaply

accommodated their selfish toys.

I have been puzzled since childhood by people who somehow believe

that the human race is not subject to the laws of nature. The laws

are so fundamental, so easily understood and so terrifyingly

enforced. Any species that upsets the balance through habitat

destruction, exhaustion of food or over population is doomed to

draconian counter measures and/or extinction.

Instead of fighting with this beautiful, bountiful, forgiving

planet of ours, we should literally worship it. But blind greed and

hubris are our built-in failsafe and will inevitably result in our

own destruction. The saddest thing is that life would be so much more

pleasant if we cooperated.

Sadder still is the certain knowledge that, in stubbornly pursuing

our own species’ demise, we will take thousands of innocent species

with us.

WALLACE WOOD

Costa Mesa

This letter is in response to the Oct. 20 article titled “Thinking

Allowed” by Lolita Harper. Harper tries to open the door to more

recreational activities at Fairview Park.

In doing so, she does not mention one crucial element regarding

that location. Fairview Park is a major part of an officially

designated archeological site, known as ORA 58. This site is a

significant legacy of our past.

Earlier excavations have provided evidence that a large number of

Native Americans lived there for a long period of time, perhaps as

many as 600 years. Shell debris, for example, can be found up to five

or six feet deep over a large portion of that acreage. Moreover, a

few skeletal remains from the cemetery have been excavated, notable

in 1935. To the best of my knowledge, no comprehensive dig has ever

been completed.

The presence of this Lukup society has been marked by a sign at

the entrance to Estancia Park.

Before we brush aside this rich part of our heritage, I suggest

the city of Costa Mesa determine the extend of the cemetery there. We

would never think of desecrating graves at Harbor Lawn or Pacific

View cemeteries. The extinction of the Lukup need not be followed by

disrespect of the loved ones they left behind.

HANK PANIAN

Costa Mesa