I cannot intelligibly comment on the fishing issue, as I don't know enough --
other than to repeat the comment that leaving one hole unplugged is not really
grounds for a plugged hole to complain much -- but as to the restaurant/gift
shop issue, of course birders are free to use that island too. And the point
there is that the gift shop and restaurant etc. are open to all in one spot, as
compared to birding which is a limited group and all over the CBBT. As I
understand it, one of the main points was to force birding in big groups, to
make life easier for the security forces who would do the monitoring.
Again, this is not to say that I necessarily agree that the level of security
for birders is appropriate, just that there is another side. I would hope that
we could work with the CBBT to achieve at least a significant loosening of the
rules to make access more feasible. I just think we are more likely to achieve
that goal by working in a cooperative spirit and recognizing the legitimacy of
their goals.
Eric Jeffrey
Falls Church, VA
-----Original Message-----
From: Paula Sullivan <paula.sullivan2@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: VA-Bird <va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>; ecj100@xxxxxxx
Sent: Wed, 04 Jan 2006 10:41:59 -0500
Subject: Re: [va-bird] Re: CBBT
Eric makes some good points about the difference between freedom and privilege.
And it is true that the function of the bridge is to move vehicular traffic, so
security and function need to be balanced. The bridge was not built to provide
a platform for birders, but neither was it built to provide a platform for
fishing, a restaurant, gift shop, and restrooms. These were all perks. As far
as I am aware, these privileges and amenities have not been restricted. Birders
have been singled out, it appears to me, and I see them as no more of a
security threat than fishermen(women), diners, or shoppers.
Paula Sullivan
Alexandria
On Jan 4, 2006, at 9:53 AM, ecj100@xxxxxxx wrote:
First, it is necessary to recognize that we are not really talking about
freedom, per se, but privilege. Our access to the CBBT was not a freedom
available to the general public, but rather a special privilege available only
to a relatively few letter holders.
