Some natives, apparently forgetting that we are a nation of immigrants, shun newcomers to the area. They are apparently seen as somehow different, if not because of the color of their skin, then simply because they are viewed as outsiders. Since the valley was settled, there have been disputes between neighbors. Change is often difficult to tolerate, and the issue has given rise to cruel fears, fed by ignorance. That is because one cause of hate is often fear.
People tend to despies that which they are afraid of.
I felt badly for the man, that he malice seething from him seemed to go so far beyond the relatively small issue of the park service. More important than the politics of any river, is that neighbors live together in tolerance and peace. Fortunately, there were others at the meeting who did come out to help, for which I was grateful. The real tragedy is that such an issue has generated sufficient animosity that a group of people chose not to assist someone in need. In my mind, there are few valid excuses for failing to help a neighbor, or for using politics as an excuse to make personal attacks on a fellow human.