Putting Institute in the Wilderness

This letter is in response to the letter “Nichols Institute Fills Vital Need” (May 31).

Actually, this should be a note expressing sympathy for the letter writer. This poor fellow states that he has had the privilege of viewing the wild lands along the Ortega Highway for 25 years and that he “noticed only coyotes, lizards, hawks, rabbits, mice, crickets, ants and spiders.” To such a person a Beethoven symphony is a collection of chords, sunrise is just a time of day, and the Mona Lisa is merely paint and canvas.

Somehow such people fail to see the splendor of the tapestry of life that nature and time have woven for us. The intricate interaction of nature’s most beautiful creations displayed against a backdrop called wilderness. We should not wonder that those who cannot, or will not, see the majesty are willing to tear the fabric and destroy the greatest of all works.

The writer says that the Nichols Institute, a commercial enterprise, will put a piece of this wilderness to a noble use. Far better for all concerned had the Nichols people ennobled property closer to the Orange County Airport. That way the helicopter flights over a wilderness park, the transport of sewage and toxic materials, the destruction of habitat and the tremendous increase in dangerous traffic would not be necessary.

DON THOMAS

Huntington Beach

Thomas is membership chairman of the Caspers Wilderness Park Volunteer Naturalists.