Second Chance to Preserve Natural Beauty
As the 20th Century draws to a close, we find ourselves on the verge of an environmental and spiritual nightmare.
Our cities are becoming overcrowded, polluted, crime-filled netherworlds that breed a generation obsessed with an ego-based pursuit of materialism. But new houses, cars, TVs and CDs cannot satisfy the feeling of psychological and spiritual emptiness.
The San Fernando Valley was once a pristine, uncrowded place to live. The Santa Clarita Valley was once considered wilderness. But every day trees are cut and bulldozers level the countryside. Traffic jams are a fact of life, and the relentless march of urbanization threatens to exterminate what is left of unspoiled nature to build condos and shopping malls.
What if we were given a second chance? What if we had a time machine and could bring back a portion of unspoiled wilderness for the enjoyment of this and future generations? People--we have this chance!
The proposed Santa Clarita Woodlands Park offers us a chance to preserve a unique, precious ecosystem. Here, animals that have long since disappeared from most areas still thrive. Here is an oasis in the middle of two environmental deserts. A place where we can go to watch a hawk or eagle soar, a place to heal our troubled souls and commune with God in a true place of worship.
Yes, we have a second chance. If we choose to let it slip away, our children and grandchildren will never forgive us. The choice is ours.
GEORGE HUNT
Castaic
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