Recent comments

The reason I asked the author of the article to specify what the NPS should be doing is that he raised that very question. (A question he never answered.) He says in paragaph 2, that the NPS is looking into ways to boost 'diversity' among park visitors.

Perhaps the NPS could host private parties inviting the 'right' demographic. (She says sarcastically).

I'm always gut-punched when I read these kinds of stats. I'm unsure how Great Smoky Mountains survives hosting nine million people in the course of a year. Even with the majority being drive-throughs or tour buses, this is an unbelievable amount of footprints in that area. It would be staggering enough if we actually had funding in place to handle the pressure to the infrastructure and environment. But in these times when funding is ridiculously low...? How the hell is GSM still in one piece??

I wholeheartedly agree with Beamis' point that there are some questionable units of the national park system. Unfortunately, it seems more congressfolk want to have a park of any kind in their district than want to adequately fund the park system, which, really, is at the root of the problem.

As a result, we're stuck with the hand we're dealt. In that context, I would suggest that more scrutiny needs to be placed on the special-use permitting system if for no other reason than, as DO 53 points out, "superintendents should be aware that local decisions related to permitting special park uses may have service-wide implications, and set precedents that create difficulties for other superintendents."

I love this site. You are pulling off an unusual mix of welcoming controversial discussions over NPS mgmt and appreciating the beauty of parks at the same time.

Andy
www.hauntedhiker.com

Again I don't think so-called "racism" has anything to do with a discussion of market preferences, in this case the desire by certain groups to visit national parks.

Has anyone been to a blues festival lately? Has anyone voiced concern about the fact that the majority of musicians onstage are black and the majority of people in the audience are white? Is Buddy Guy worried about the lack of African-Americans buying tickets to his shows? The answer is NO. He's been asked and he could care less. Shouldn't the people who produce blues music be alarmed that there are not very many black faces at their shows? Not hardly. They have many satisfied customers whose ranks are growing, regardless of what color those customers may happen to be.

The same is true of the current rap and hip-hop stars who are draped in platinum and gold because they are selling millions of records to white-middle class suburban kids who now emulate the gangster/prison styles of low-rise pants and high-rise underwear. Should we be asking why? Isn't this a form of cultural imperialism on the part of rappers? It never fails to amuse me to see spoiled rich white kids in high-end parts of town walking around acting like inner-city hoodlums.

"This isn't simply about adding more of a certain kind of visitor or having more of a certain kind of employee; it's understanding how the realities of today are connected with the realities of yesterday." Well put Mr. Macdonald.

When all is said and done it's far more important for the NPS to be stewards of the lands that they have been assigned to administer and to not fret about what color or percentage of its visitors is of a certain racial or ethnic type. Their job is to please their customers (whoever they may be) and protect the site. Nothing more----nothing less.

I am disappointed that several people commenting here talk about this issue in terms of what the federal government response should be to the issue of racial diversity, as though that's the only relevant consideration. Don't we matter in this discussion? Isn't it more helpful to talk about what our role is in this reality both in terms of what it is and what should be done?

Racism had a part in creating the national parks; they have a part in the reality today. This isn't simply about adding more of a certain kind of visitor or having more of a certain kind of employee; it's understanding how the realities of today are connected with the realities of yesterday. It's understanding where each of us fit into that story and seeing whether we can be part of changing the dynamic. That calls far less for a federal response than it does for honest conversation and for recognizing ways racism is still evident. As I mentioned much earlier, you can look at just this site's VC and see that we miss out on diversity. That's hardly a judgment on the quality of the site; it's part of a reality, though, that we cannot deny that we play a role in. The parks, too, are part of that reality, and I think we are foolish to ignore it or scapegoat either so called "free markets" or governments. It's that and much more and is ultimately quite personal in nature. I am really thankful for all of you who have shared your own personal accounts on these things. Now, where does this go from here?

And, class, and other injustices...what is it all saying, and do we have the courage to accept the consequences of a lot of unsettling conclusions? I guess we'll see.

Jim Macdonald
The Magic of Yellowstone
Yellowstone Newspaper
Jim's Eclectic World

Great site packed with good info. Keep moving the site to greatness. I will become a advid reader.

Time to privatize...the parks need to be run more like businesses. The public will be amazed at how much better they will be managed!

I'll stick to H.L. Mencken's observation that "Every election is a sort of advance auction sale of stolen goods."

He also said "Democracy is a pathetic belief in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance." I couldn't agree more.

You are quite correct that I have very little respect for politicians of any kind, especially ones from a century that produced 200 million deaths by central governments. The bloodiest century in human history had no political heroes, whether elected or not, that I could possibly admire.

But hey I'd like to end on a lighter note. Mencken also said "Democracy is the art and science of running the circus from the monkey cage." Again I couldn't put it any better if I tried.

Good debate. See you at the circus.

It somewhat surprises me that Grand Teton is almost 500,000 visits behind Yellowstone. They're so close that you'd think someone making a long trek to Yellowstone would factor in time to visit its next-door neighbor.

And I'm not sure it's fair to include the George Washington Memorial Parkway, as I believe it receives a lot of commuting traffic.

The Zion number seems a tad high, too, as there's only one small, six-mile-long canyon that lures the lion's share of the traffic, and you need to ride a shuttle bus to do that, unless you're staying at Zion Lodge. Of course, visit in July or August and I'm sure you'll think the overall number is a bit low.

I guess 100 above ground nuclear tests blanketing the country in deadly radiation was a noble effort by a benign and caring government. One which has yet to admit publicly that it did so knowingly and with the knowledge that it would be not be held accountable for the preventable death, disease, birth defects and retardation of countless thousands. I won't even go into the other areas of death and destruction caused by unlawful war and the use of such wonderful substances like Agent Orange and the spent uranium being used today in the shells raining down on Iraq. A work in progress. Your love of Big Brother is truly astounding.

I'm glad you believe in an earthly saviour. I mayself have serious doubts.

"I am curious though about the reference to "illegally snatched". Is there any form of government that would meet your criteria?"

How about what is specifically articulated in the U.S. Constitution? Nothing more, nothing less.