Columnist Ruthe Deskin: Changing times are evident

Ruthe Deskin

Thursday, Oct. 28, 1999 | 9:32 a.m.

Ruthe Deskin is assistant to the publisher. Her column appears Thursdays. Reach her at deskin@vegas.com.

Proof that things aren't always what they seem is in our ever-changing language.

Recently I attended a luncheon meeting of guys and gals who have been in the media business in Las Vegas for many years. It was a great reunion of photographers, reporters, editors, TV personalities and public relations people, or "flacks," as we once called them.

It was fitting that the event was held at Mike Gordon's fun bar and restaurant, Calico Jack's on West Charleston. Gordon was one of us a few years past -- a photographer for the Sun.

In exchanging tall tales, a 70-plus retired newsman at our table said, "those were the days when we were all young and gay."

A moment of silence ensued, then we all broke into laughter. The word "gay" has taken on a completely different meaning than when we were young. We recall those songs with lyrics about feeling so gay in a melancholy way, or the gay '90s when the word meant joyous, lighthearted and happy. Gay colors were bright and brilliant.

Today the word "gay" relates more to those who prefer the company of persons of their own sex. A gay blade, however, is still "wanton" and "licentious," according to the dictionary.

And we must be very careful these days to be politically correct in our use of words. I hope I have not offended anyone by relating this incident. If not I will gaily accept any punishment due for my lack of political correctness.

As a relative of an honest, hard-working young rancher and his family who have spent thousands of dollars defending themselves from an autocratic Bureau of Land Management and Fish and WildLife service, I can sympathize with the people of Jarbidge in Elko County.

Few Southern Nevadans have ever heard of Jarbidge, a tiny town in northeastern Nevada where the residents have declared war on the U.S. Forest Service and other government agencies. They represent a small but growing minority of Westerners who are resentful of harassment and intervention by the federal government.

A flood in 1995 destroyed an access road leading to the Jarbidge Wilderness area. Allegedly the U.S. Forest Service promised to repair the road, but the promise was never kept. Elko County officials, when informed that the Forest Service would not fix the road, decided to go ahead with the necessary repairs. The state moved in and told them they needed a permit to move heavy equipment into the area. Enter the Fish and Wildlife Service and a ruling that certain fish in the area would be endangered if the county went ahead with the plans for the road.

When private citizens decided to go ahead with rebuilding the road, a federal court judge signed a temporary restraining order and the citizens decided to back off for the time being and seek redress in the courts. This is a prime example of government harassment and lack of common sense in dealing with land use problems in the West.

No wonder cattlemen in Northern Nevada are sadly reminding government agencies about regulations set down against grazing the grasslands. After the fires that have devastated the northern ranges, government officials are now lamenting that the fires spread so rapidly due to under-grazing. Is it any wonder Western ranchers are reluctant to believe in the infallibility of government?

Further on the subject of changing times:

What a far cry from the 1940s when the U.S. pilots were shooting down German planes, to the boisterous welcome given the German pilots at Nellis for Red Flag combat training.

As one German pilot described it, "it's a special feeling to fly over your country."

All of which makes one realize the utter futility of war when yesterday's enemies are today's allies.

Whoever heard of discrimination against the rich? Well, how about this:

The Nevada Department of Agriculture has announced that responses to the presence of, or attacks by, killer bees will be made only to poor people who can't afford to hire a pest control company.

"We can't do it for free for everybody," department official Robert Gronowski announced. Guidelines are being set up to separate the haves from the have-nots.

Those darn bees better learn to discriminate and attack only the wealthy and save us poor taxpayers the expense of exterminating the deadly pests. Killer bees are becoming more aggressive and more populous, so, rich or poor, someone has to be responsible. Maybe a huge charity ball dedicated to raising anti-killer bee funds would be appropriate.

All I can tell you is bee (pun intended) careful.

A recent column about old restaurants in Las Vegas continues to bring comments. Helen Daseler asked me to remember Hilda and Bill Covey, who ran the Coffee Pot on Main Street. Another reader wondered how I could forget Corey's on Fremont, and Maria Walker remembers being a waitress at Foxy's, once located on the corner of Sahara and Las Vegas Boulevard.

"Things may come to those who wait, but only the things left by those who hustle."

-- Abraham Lincoln.