‘The PTTS will never understand how we feel’

To the Editor:

The PTTS will never understand how we feel. The people who plunder for gain will never understand those who grew up loving it and striving to protect it. They will never understand what it feels like to be a little girl catching her first tarpon with her daddy, nor the joy that it brought to her daddy’s face. They will never understand the men who come from generations of fishermen who have captained these waters and provided for their families giving thousands of people the thrill of their lives, fighting the great silver king. They will never understand the quiet pride these men have for the Pass and for each other. They will never understand how considerate, protective or passionate these captains are, because they have done nothing but come into the area with a complete disregard for it’s history. They cannot understand the look in their father’s eyes when he realizes the truth of it’s deterioration. They will never understand being from a place where once you have left it, it lives in your heart forever. They will never understand the sense of community or family, nor our fierce desire to protect it. And so we keep fighting until we conserve and protect our heritage. Period.

Susanne Darna Dudley

Tallahassee (formerly of Boca Grande)