Bob,
I think that the article also referred to parks in other areas of the world.
In 1986, I visited Kenya and I was in a conservation area there where one of
the tribes, can't remember their name but they live a very basic existence,
was part of the scenery. Oh yes, the Masai! Anyway, a crowd of Massai women
was at the entrance to the park, vying with each other to sell tourists
their various handicrafts. It was a really terrible experience. I don't
know that anyone made them do that. It's just that once you set up these
national parks in order to lure tourists and you regulate which native
peoples may live within them under what conditions, all of the natural life
of the people ends and commercialization takes over. But I, too, was
shocked by the article, which is why I posted it. I never thought about the
fact that a natural environment was being commercialized when it was turned
into a national park. It never occurred to me that its inhabitants were
removed and that its natural processes were altered. I don't know what
anyone's motives were originally. However, if you've been reading about what
is being done to the Grand Canyon now, it's obvious that business interests
are taking precedence.
Miriam
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Bob Hachey
Sent: Thursday, August 27, 2015 5:18 PM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-democracy] Re: The Colonial Origins of Conservation: The
Disturbing History Behind US National Parks
Hi Miriam,
Well, I haven't been shocked by an article or email for a while but this one
did it.
Shame on PBS for making out John Muir to be a hero in the creation of the
National Parks system. A few years back, PBS did one of those long series on
the history of the national parks and you can bet none of what is presented
here was presented there. I did figure owners of hotels and similar folks
profited handsomely from national parks and the tourists who visit, but I
had no idea how Native Americans were screwed out of their lands and forced
to perform as zoo animals as depicted here. OF course, I am very familiar
with how badly we've treated Native Americans throughout our history, but I
had no idea that the creation of our national parks was yet another instance
of injustice against Native Americans.
But, what bothered me even more was the description of how the land of our
parks has not been well cared for. The PBS series made it look like we were
good stewards of what I consider sacred ground. I have learned more than
anything else from being on this list to keep an open mind and be skeptical.
Apparently, I was not skeptical enough when I believed everything that was
presented in that PBS series. Given recent goings on at PBS I don't trust
them as I once did. Perhaps I'm better off not trusting them one damned bit.
Bob Hachey
