My efforts to understand the conflicts between tourism and some in the ranching industry has taken an interesting turn. When I called a rancher suggested by a board member, I got the third degree. I told her I wanted to understand the issues, so as we develop tourism in the area our local board of directors can do so responsibly and with sensitivity to local ranching concerns. "I have to decide if I'm going to talk to you," she said, "and I need more information about you and your organization." After three phone calls from her, the calls, and her questions--about me, who paid my salary, who donated to the organization, who was on my board--suddenly stopped.
Friday I learned our conversations were chronicled in a newsletter for "concerned private property owners."
My name and that of my organization were lumped together with the following, all of us called enemies of freedom:
The Nature Conservancy
World Wildlife Fund
Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute (a nature education center)
Sul Ross State University
Rio Grande Institute (a grant-seeking economic development organization for the border region)
National Park Service
And....get this....
UNESCO.
Guess we'll have to forge ahead, without understanding the intricacies of this woman's point of view.
And, I've had yet another lesson in cultural differences.
For the record, we never will enter anyone's land without permission or work with them without their invitation. That was the case before I contacted this woman, and it remains the same today and every day in the future.
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