Laundry List

Stop I-3

For those of you who are interested, a plan is in the early stages of development to bring an interstate highway from Savannah north through the east Georgia mountains. My understanding of the proposal as it stands is that there is a perceived need to alleviate metro Atlanta traffic through this corridor as well as provide a direct route between two nuclear power plants in Savannah and Tennessee. There are a couple of petitions and other information here. I am not certain that the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains need to be irreparably carved by a ribbon of asphalt and left open to increased traffic. I would propose that the money that would be spent on such a project might be better spent on a light-rail system running the lengths of each of the major Metro Atlanta corridors.

The ironic twist in the I-3 story is the proposed name of the planned highway (I-3). If I understand correctly, the number 3 was chosen to honour the veterans of the 3rd Infantry Division out of Fort Stewart and their recent involvement in Operation Iraqi Freedom. I was not with the 3rd ID in the early days of the invasion, but I was with the 4th ID right behind them. As a soldier, I rather take offence to the idea of naming the newest scar across the face of the Southern Appalachians in honour of any veteran. Why not create a 3rd ID Blue Ridge Wildlife Refuge/ State Park as a way of paying tribute to the soldiers who served and as a gift to posterity?

It is certainly a privilege to live in a nation where citizen involvement in the politics and policies of the governing body is protected. Thanks be to God.