" If you think those potheads are so nifty then why dont you Kaliforny weerdos let them take up permanent residence in your back yards. Or are you people all hat & no cattle . "

" Kathy, that is the second biggest bunch of garbage I have seen. The first was the mess left behind by the people who actually attended. If the area was cleaned within two months of the end of the event it was because the locals with the aid of the Boy Scouts cleaned it up. Try to confine yourself to something you know something about. "

" BULL, who said that the Rainbows were going to "take up permanent residence" here in Wyoming? Hey Sage, have you ever attended a Rainbow gathering? Perhaps you might like to read an article in today's CST by someone who lived in close proximity to the last gathering held here and has first hand knowledge about it so you can also "Try to confine yourself to something you know something about"! "

" Wyominggal , who asked you for your smart remarks ? I think you are stirring up **** again. Maybe you like those potheads ? "

" I think the issue is the boy scouts got a permit the Rainbow group didn't. "

" Bull, Wygal has no concept of what she says and writes or if it makes sense. Her only concern is hearing her own voice. "

" Yeah, that's why they had to set up a temporary Federal Court at the firehouse in Farson. "

" i believe wyominggal is on the verge of drug induced insanity and coma so perhaps one should excuse her remarks "

" Guaranteed for all Americans, the use of commonly held public lands is a right of all citizens regardless of race, creed, or any such index. Do citizens of each state thnk they own the National Forest in their area? Think again !! Witness uninhibited youthful folks actually enjoying themselves in ways with which you disagree!! I hope the hippies enjoy the Ute and Cheyenne lands, wait, who's land is this?? Oh that's right, we're borrowing it from the Great Spirit!! Silly ego of hateful Americans...... "

" freedom of the press to print what they want and ignore what they don't "

" Hey BULL, or should I say none, whipsaw, or whatever other non-de-plume you happen to be writing under on any given day (careful, your writing style gives you away), who asked you for YOUR smart remarks? You sure are a fine one to talk about someone else's remarks when that is ALL you have done recently on ANY article on the Rainbows. You've also shared your opinions on lots of other blogs as well, which, most times I DO agree with your opinions as a lot of mine are like-minded (wolves, environmentalists, big oil, and big government (especially in Park County), so I must surmise that you are only a fair-weather friend who is only happy and won't criticize me if I agree with you. And as for your inuendo that I might like potheads, let me assure you that I DON'T like drug users of any kind, including those who partake of alcohol (biggest LEGAL gateway drug invented). As far as Sagebrush is concerned, the sword swings BOTH ways. I asked you a question ("Have you ever been to a gathering?"), pointed out an article that lends credence to what I've written, and the best you can come up with is a put-down? But of course, that is typical of you. When you are questioned on something that you have written, or someone disagrees with your opinion all you can do is what you do best: evade the question and/or attack the writer. So just who is only concerned with hearing their own voice? What I find funny is that you attack ME when there is at least one other person, beside yourself, that just loves to opine an opinion on almost every blog and seems to think that theirs is the only opinion that is worth anything and God forbid if anyone disagrees with them, if they do, then they must be nuts. Oh, and BULL, you are right about one thing...I do like "stirring up ****", if only to prove how hypocritical some of you people can be. "

" What will happen to the beloved wolves if any of the dogs they haul in happen to have parvo and spread it around? That is wolf country. "

" Well , by golly git er done wyominggal. Just cut loose and do your thing , like the rest of the dandies in Park County. At least I actually EARNED my right to say something in the hot jungles of Vietnam. Yourself ? As I said , who asked you ? "

" I agree with WyomingGal, most of these comments are from hypocrites that are dead from the neck up. Maybe all the way from the neck down too. I don't agree with illegal drug use, but other than that, the rainbow folks are not harming anyone or anything. "

" I started my carrer as a photographers assistant for The Stars and Stripes Magazine. I was at Inchon Harbor With the Marines. I saw things which still give me nightmares and probably will till I die. I was on assignment in Cambodia while HI Chi Mihn was using that country for a springboard into Viet Nam. I have been on assignment on 6 of the 7 continents. I have been beaten, shot, robbed, stabbed, jailed, and had my equipment confiscated. I've had my back broken twice, my neck once, there are only 11 bones in mybody that are not scarred with healed wounds. Everywhere I went there were people just like Wy.Gal. who were convinced they were the only ones with intelligence. They were called Rebel Leaders, Dictators, or Despots. Your "question" about attending a "bow" gathering was not a legitimate question, only an attempt to impress someone with your superior intelligence. It fell misrrably short. FYI- I have attended 2 "bow" gatherings, visited the Commune in Taos, and a couple in California. They (like Korea) could all be identified by the ODOR from a distance of 25 miles. Where sanitation faccilities were available there was still a "squat where you stand" attitude @ large and their idea of clean-up is" get the hell out before someone finds out the mess we left". You castigate Bull for his style of writing yet your own offerings have no style at all. in 44 years of traveling the globe, there are very few things I am not qualified to offer an opinion on. If I offer an opinion on something you can pretty well bet that I have " been there, done that, Bought the T-shirt. In short "sweet cheeks" there is nothing typical about me. You however are the typical "Chihuahua" first to yap and first to scream when the Pitt Bull takes a bite out of your BUTT. If you have nothing better than sarcasm to offer stay out of the pen where the big dogs play. "

" How dare you think you 'Earned" any more right than any American, Bull!! I doubt you earned anything! You certainly never learned anything about the rights of Every American! Just another wannabe, is what I see. Bragging about your serving, and in the same breath negating everything America stands for. Garbage is the kindest word I can think of for you! "

" I served in the Navy for a few years, and you know what? I LOVE hippies AND the Rainbow Gathering, went to one in 84 in Nor Cal, it was great, nice people, no shootings either. Your state sounds like Germany under Hitler to me. I hope they sue the peewollen out of those feds who point guns at little kids.
No honor there.
God Bless the Rainbow Family. TRUE Americans. "

" BULL, I was too young to serve in Vietnam and too old for Iraq (tried to sign up but missed my window of opportunity by having a few too many birthdays). However, with that being said, I have had family serve in the military. My cousin swore an oath, just like YOU did, to support and defend the Constitution of the United States. He also fought in those same 'hot jungles' that YOU fought in. He doesn't brag it up or feel a need to do so, or thinks that, simply because he's a veteran, his is the only opinion out there that counts, but rather that ALL americans are able to voice their opinions because he DID fight for them and their rights as American citizens. My daughter, who also took that same oath, is also an honorably discharged veteran, by the way, and she feels the same. As far as me being counted among the 'dandies in Park County', you are far off the mark since I don't socialize with that particular 'set' of people ( I guess you missed the part where I stated that I AGREED with you on Park County's govt. B.S., as well as other issues that you've spouted your opinion on such as wolves, enviros, etc.). As to your question of "Who asked me?", the last time I checked, this was still a free country and, thanks to veterans such as yourself and those in MY family, I can write my opinions down regardless if they differ from others. No where is it written (or unwritten for that matter) that just because a person is past, or present military, their opinion is the only one that lends credence to any issue simply because they've 'been there, seen that' (that last part was aimed at Sagebrush). As an American citizen, my opinion is just as valuable as yours, we just happen to have a difference of those on this issue. "

" Bull, thank you for your service. But you are selling it short. You didn't just earn the right to free speech for yourself, but for all Americans, even those you don't agree with. We over here in the hot desert are keeping that long line of service alive and are glad to see that Americans who don't agree with one another still have the opportunity to express those viewpoints.
Although, it does work better when we do it with thoughtfulness instead of name calling.
Sagebrush. Thank you also for your sacrifices for our country. But don't forget, all Americans who vote and participate in our amazing democracy, are true patriots. We who serve in the Armed Forces have our pride and brotherhood, but no special privileges over other patriots for whom we bleed and die. You Wyoming folk are clever writers I must say. I have enjoyed reading your postings as I did research on this Rainbow gathering that my college age son apparently attended. He loves the outdoors, is a qualified EMT and a great kid. I'm sure he had an eye-opening experience. I'd like to come to this area of Wyoming someday and camp there myself. Although I'm not too sure if I will still be crazy about camping when I get out of here! "

" Ummm ... didn't most of the guys who served in Viet Nam only do so because of the draft OR a judge somewhere gave them the choice between enlisting in the armed services or going to prison? Yes, I'm afraid that's very true. Ususally those offenses that had these guys facing prison were drug offenses, or worse. So maybe all the braggarts claiming superiority here for being Vets should back off a bit because we really know their service was quite probably forced and not voluntary. "

" I have to agree with Army LTC. Status as a veteran does not give us any more expertise or wisdom on anything more than small unit tactics, logistics, etc.. Our country sent us to do a job and we did it. That fact may give us some different perspective than a non-vet but they have perspectives that we don't. It hasn't made us any smarter, more logical, or our opinions of any greater weight. Just because we once wore a green or blue suit or toted an M-1, M-14, M-16, etc. doen't give us any super-citizenship. We just did the duty of a citizen._______ As has been pointed out above freedom of speech even if the speech expressed is foolish or offensive is what the freedom to say what we want is all about. If you disagree, attack what is said and why the statement is illogical or unwise, not that it is unworthy because a vet disagrees with it or make a personal attack on the speaker. That is as foolish a position as I've heard in a long time and is not what this vet thinks is what the Constitution protects.

George M.
LTC FA (ret)
Lately Platoon Leader, 1st Plt, C Co., 1st Bn, 12th Cav. Reg., 1st Cav. Div. (airmobile), Republic of Viet Nam, 1970-71

PS To Crandall: No, not all draftees were unwilling. Most were there when their country called them and answered the call without protest or complaint. The same was true in the Civil War, World War 1, World War 2, and Korea. As to the ones who were given a choice by a judge there weren't all that many. A few yes, but not more than, I'd say 5%. Some worked out well as soldiers, those who were truly duds washed out pretty quickly. If you think the fact that there was a draft detracts from the quality of the service you will have to include in that opinion the service of everyone in every 20th century war from 1917 - 1974 and everyone who served in the Union armies of the second half of the Civil War. "

" Bull, et al; The actions and activities of some Americans will always be in opposition to the value systems of others. Unless these actions and activities are illegal or damaging to the Republic, we must defend them even if in disagreement. Freedom means many things to many people and it is not easy to respect others when you cannot understand their values. Recall that when you served, you were sworn to support and defend the constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic. Your allegiance was to a document that embodies the concept of freedom itself. I will argue against flag burning in a civilized fashion until my last breath, but I will also defend those expressing themselves in that manner until that same last breath. Thank you for your service as a citizen patriot bearing arms for a greatful Nation. Semper Fi. "

" Let's see some stats on the number of Nam vets who enlisted versus the number who were drafted there George M. You'll admit they are decidedly one sided for the draft. Just like the current mess in Iraq, after the shine has worn off the lie, the government get's it's soldiers through lies (one tour and you're rotated out) or duress (the draft), or they promise big bucks as enlistment bonuses - but then make actually getting those bonuses almost impossible if you live long enough. Men volunteered for WWI and WWII because they were just wars against a real threat to our nation. Everything since has been for a political (read: monetary) gain benefiting a select few - none of whom are actually the "boots on the ground". "

" What myths? Some rainbows misbehaved and were detained. Other rainbows thought that the laws mean nothing and tried to take the law into their own hands against the highly out numbered police. They too were jailed. The rainbows have only themselves to blame for what befalls them. Case closed. "