In the lush forests and meadows of the Cabinet-Yaak wilderness in northwest Montana, a small population of 20 to 30 grizzly bears hovers on the brink of extinction. This isolated group of grizzlies is already threatened by increased development, habitat loss and high levels of grizzly mortality. Now, officials in the Kootenai National Forest are considering a proposal for a mine that would drill thousands of feet directly beneath the grizzlies’ habitat. The Mines Management Corporation wants to drill for 120 million tons of ore-bearing rock over the course of the next 16 years, even though environmental studies have shown that the project would displace grizzlies from their critical habitat, destroy at least five streams and increase road development as well as the potential for poaching. The approval of this mine would likely have devastating effects on the grizzly population.

» Tell forest officials to reject a mine proposal.

Let us never forget those who have given so much and those who gave all for our freedom!

This Memorial Day take time out from the BBQ’s and thank a Veteran or Enlisted  Service Man or Woman.

Written  by an Australian Dentist

You  probably missed this in the rush of news, but  there was actually a report that someone  in Pakistan had  published in a newspaper, an offer of a reward  to anyone who killed an American, any  American.

So an Australian dentist  wrote an editorial the following day to let everyone know what an American is .. So they  would know when they found one. (Good one, mate!!!!)

‘An  American is English, or French, or Italian,  Irish, German, Spanish, Polish, Russian or  Greek. An American may also be Canadian, Mexican, African, Indian, Chinese, Japanese,  Korean, Australian, Iranian, Asian, or Arab, or  Pakistani or Afghan.

An American may also be a Comanche, Cherokee,  Osage, Blackfoot, Navaho, Apache, Seminole or  one of the many other tribes known as native  Americans.

An  American is Christian, or he could be Jewish, or  Buddhist, or Muslim. In fact, there are more Muslims  in  America than  in Afghanistan. The only  difference is that  in America  they are  free to worship as each of them  chooses.

An  American is also free to believe in no religion.  For that he will answer only to God, not to the  government, or to armed  thugs claiming  to speak for the government and for God.

An American lives in the most prosperous land in  the history of the world.

The  root of that prosperity can be found in the  Declaration of Independence, which  recognizes the God given right of each person to the pursuit of  happiness.

An  American is generous. Americans have helped out  just about every other nation in the world in their time of need, never asking a thing in return.

When Afghanistan was  over-run by the Soviet  Army 20 years ago, Americans came with arms and supplies to enable  the people to win back their  country!

As  of the morning of September 11, Americans had  given more than any other nation to the poor  in Afghanistan.

Americans welcome the best of everything…the  best products, the best books, the best music,  the best food, the best services.  But they also welcome the  least.

The  national symbol of  America, The Statue of  Liberty, welcomes your  tired and your poor, the wretched refuse of your  teeming shores, the homeless, tempest tossed.  These in fact are the people who built America .

Some  of them were working in the Twin Towers the  morning of September 11,  2001 earning  a better life for their families. It’s been told  that  the   World Trade  Center victims were from at least 30 different countries, cultures, and first  languages, including those that aided and  abetted the terrorists.

So  you can try to kill an American if you  must.  Hitler did.  So did General  Tojo, and Stalin, and Mao Tse-Tung, and other  blood-thirsty tyrants in the world.  But,  in doing so you would just be killing yourself.  Because Americans are not a  particular people from a particular place. They are the embodiment of the human spirit of freedom.  Everyone who holds to that  spirit, everywhere, is an  American.