[lit-ideas] Re: Bush and Domestic Land Issues
- From: JimKandJulieB@xxxxxxx
- To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Wed, 22 Feb 2006 06:04:47 EST
<<I've been to Arizona. I loved it and have been wanting to take a vacation
there and take my child (I was there for a conference--and some of my friends
who are in the area took me around--it was simply breath-taking--but they
drove and I just gazed [when we didn't hike] and keep a photo on my desk at
work 'cause it was so pretty)>>
Oh stop! Mercy! You're bringing back all the longings I have for that
place. Memories of the saguaros with arms raised to heaven and huge yellow
bursts of flowers at the hands, the smell of dry warm air, sand storms and
tumbleweed and bright colours worn that no-one can get by with in pallid
midwest,
dips in outdoor pools in the middle of the night to cool off.... and
Sedona....the Painted Desert.....my god in heaven nothing is so beautiful.....
Julie Krueger
still homesick for Phoenix after all these years
========Original Message======== Subj: [lit-ideas] Bush and Domestic
Land Issues Date: 2/22/06 1:21:08 A.M. Central Standard Time From:
_Eternitytime1@xxxxxxxx (mailto:Eternitytime1@xxxxxxx) To:
_lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
(mailto:lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx) Sent on:
Hi,
Speaking of Bush's Grand Plans on the Domestic Side, I'm sure you all are
aware that his administration asked the Bureau of Land Management to begin to
soften its language so that the preservation of various national forests and
parks might be opened up (eventually) for things like four-wheeling, etc.
Now, I have played with such toys with various friends
and find them grand fun. There are specific parks designated for this--and
though perhaps there are commercial reasons for opening up national parks to
this sort of activity--part of me really thinks it might spoil the
naturalness of the few remaining wilderness areas.
But, perhaps I am mistaken. I like to read poetry, essays, stories about the
wonder that people experience when they head into nature's wonder.
Maybe I'm just not as familiar with the poetry, essays, stories about the
wonder of only living in planned parks and gardens. (though I truly do enjoy
my
community parks, the Rose Gardens in the area, and even the amusement parks
such as the Disneyland and World.)
But, has anyone been here: The Grand Canyon-Parashant and Vermilion Cliffs
National Monument, as well as the north rim of the Grand Canyon?
These are being discussed right now by the Bureau of Land Management (the
last day for public comments is March 17. The Bureau of Land Management's plan
is on their website at _http://www.blm.gov/az/LUP/strip/reports.htm_
(http://www.blm.gov/az/LUP/strip/reports.htm) .
I would greatly appreciate it if we could analyze this plan--theoretically,
it opens the door for off-road vehicles etc. Right now it seems that the
plan allows for 1700 miles in the two monuments and an additional 1000 miles
for
the Arizona Strip area outside them. Theoretically, these routes are not
very safe and lead nowhere--disrupting the region's wildlife and natural area.
(I'm guessing it's a lot of miles--maybe up and down? Make it hard to hike in
solitude?) Theoretically, when they did a poll of Americans in 2002, they
found that
89% asked for more protection the area's natural and archaeological
sites--and to limit even the existing off-road vehicle trails...and the plan
did not
concern itself with its own poll (well, they have to please the boss--who
apparently does not have to please the people who elected him?)
Has anyone been to these places? Is it worth the trouble to write a letter?
(there are still three public hearings to be held, but they are in Arizona
and that's too far away to go) I mean--I realize that the Bush Admin just
eliminated the wildlife and environmental protections put in place by Reagan's
Administration regarding the Alaskan by selling the leases for the oil
production to begin in the North Slope (rather than the central area of the
Alaskan
petroleum reserve--even though three former Secretary of Interiors, Congress
(and general public) asked him to hold off on the North Shore bit or at
least to not include Teshekpuk Lake ... and to please focus on the central
artic
around someplace called Prudhoe Bay.
I mean--I may never make it to the our country's North Slope--our only artic
ecosystem--but we have Canadian friends and maybe they have an artic
ecosystem that we can go visit if we want to someday? Or that we can move our
wilderness's important aspects to?
But--I've been to Arizona. I loved it and have been wanting to take a
vacation there and take my child (I was there for a conference--and some of my
friends who are in the area took me around--it was simply breath-taking--but
they
drove and I just gazed [when we didn't hike] and keep a photo on my desk at
work 'cause it was so pretty) So, this troubles me a bit more, maybe, than
Alaska ... after all, I know and hear that Bush is a Great Leader and knows
what he is doing--but I still <sigh> would like to think that my son's kids
would get to be in the middle of an 'unplanned' area and feel the wonder of
Nature...
I'm trying to trust Bush's philosophy on land management, Lawrence, but it
sometimes is awfully hard when you grew up on a farm and loved to walk and sit
by water--have gotten to see the mountains...and not just on the edge or
surrounded by gobs of people looking at Pike's Peak (thought that was fun,
too--but nothing like the wonder in the mountains when you feel all alone in
the
world...)
Anyway, Bush on Domestic Issues--particularly the land ones tonight - well,
I'm just not sure that he has the long-term thinking that I wish a great
leader had. (and letting you know that it does not seem to be working--so
need
some assistance here! IS Disneyworld's theme park the best that my son's
kids/grandkids will be able to hope for?)
I know Bush and Cheney have their own ranches so perhaps they don't see the
same need that those of us in the suburbs do and have. (not to mention you
citified folk-- or kids)
I just think they lack perspective on so many issues--and this happens to be
the one that I'm dreaming about tonight--and worried about...
Or, maybe it is just that I wish I could go for a walk in the wilderness ...
and don't know if it will be noisy and full of ORV when I get there...
Best,
Marlena
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