I am writing in regard to your recent article concerning Forest Service attempts to prosecute me for protesting timber sales on our Shawnee National Forest (Activist alleges harassment by Forest Service Jan. 21). First let me thank The Daily Egyptian for doing follow-up coverage on this issue. Other news media dutifully covered the arrests of protesters at Bell Smith Springs with headline stories; but conveniently ignored the fact that the charges are being dropped because no crimes were committed in the first place. Your story helps expose the harassment which we citizens endure when we exercise our First Amendment rights regarding the shameful logging of the Bell Smith Springs National Natural Landmark.

I must take issue with one minor point, however. I was quoted twice in your article as saying Shawnee National Forest timber sales are felonious. They may be; but I believe I was misquoted. Felonious is simply not a word I have used in this context.

I love language and am very careful about which words I choose to use. Timber sales on the Shawnee have frequently been declared illegal when challenged in court. They are illicit, atrocious, harmful, shameful, pitiful, predatory, short-sighted, ignorant, inexcusable, unnecessary, indefensible, deleterious, injurious, malicious, malfeasant, negligent, noxious, odious, and outrageous.

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But to call the Shawnee timber sales program felonious. . . is an insult to felons.

Thanks again for your in-depth coverage of this issue, which is so important to so many people. You play an important part in educating the public on this matter. An educated populous will eventually bring an end to the pilfering of our public land. We are moving inexorably and undeniably in that direction.

Friends of Bell Smith Springs