OPINION: The Spirit of Freedom

Brad Jones

Time after time you've read that one of the best things about being a member of the Gold Prospectors Association of America or the Lost Dutchman's Mining Association is the people as much as the gold. And, while it has become a cliché, it rings true every time. We are good people. 

One of my uncles was a well-respected politician who held office for many, many years. He would often tell his children, nieces and nephews, "Remember who you are." Those simple words stuck with me over the years. They could mean many things to many people, but to me they meant one thing: Be true to yourself." That can cover a lot of ground — put your best foot forward, show some class, be on your best behavior, respect yourself and others and or live with dignity and integrity. Now, that may be tall order, considering most of us are not candidates for sainthood. But, those are the qualities of any great leader. The best leaders bring out the best in others. I have seen these qualities in my parents, teachers, Boy Scout leaders, friends, family, co-workers and bosses. The best leaders are humble, honest and, above all, fair. They listen and so they are heard. They command respect by showing respect to others. And, they earn trust by trusting others. They lead by example and build strength in those around them rather than knock others down. They pick you up when you fall, not kick you when you're down. 

Though I never met GPAA founder George Massie, I believe from the stories I've been told by people who knew him that he was a such a man — a great leader who was down to earth. Nothing he said seemed to be guarded or contrived. By all accounts, George Massie was an honest, humble, and hard-working family man — strong and determined. In many ways, he was the epitome of most working-class men of his day. He was lucky — and skilled — enough to find more than 800 ounces of gold in a canyon one summer. He used his mining know-how and good fortune to build a gold prospecting empire. Men like Massie believed in freedom; they believed in themselves, their families, their communities and their country. They weren't afraid to roll up their shirtsleeves and dig in to help the next guy. They were leaders, not followers — free and brave.

To this day, George Massie's grandson, GPAA/LDMA President Brandon Johnson, continues to lead the world's largest prospecting family, but America is not the same place as it was in 1993, when Massie passed away. Times have changed and the GPAA and LDMA have changed with them. Some members, including Yours Truly, have gotten so angry and so caught up in the politics to protect mining rights that we sometimes forget what we started fighting for — to be outdoors, dig for gold and exercise our freedom. There is a time and a place to fight, there's a time to practice what we preach and there's a time to reflect to remember who we are. We can all learn from Massie's words of wisdom and zest for life. As proud GPAA and LDMA members, we can all lead by his example and encourage others to experience the simple joy of gold prospecting that we all enjoy so much: "If you want to get out there and work hard, and do the right thing, you can make it in these United States," Massie said. "... This is part of our heritage and I want to leave that legacy for the kids coming behind us. You can find gold out there. You're not going to get rich at it; sometimes you won't find any, but I'll tell you what you will find — you'll find freedom ..."

Keep the faith, fiercely guard your freedom and always remember who you are ...

— Brad Jones, Managing Editor

Article as featured in the August/September 2014 Pick & Shovel Gazette