“This time I’ll let you do the talking.”
Fireside Talk “This time I’ll let you do the talking.”
J. William T. Youngs and His Students
October 18, 2012
I’ll let you do the talking for this “Fireside Talk.” Partly I want to let you see some examples, from each of you, of what I’m looking for in a really good post. Reading these will help you write better and better posts yourselves. And additionally, I really like these little “talks,”, and I could imagine enjoying them at a fireside!
Helicopter Tour of the Grand Canyon – Wow, it almost hurts to read Diana’s report here, but what a great piece of information for the class. This is a fine example of going into a park without honoring the natural setting. Diana could be describing a ride in Disneyland! What of the silence of the wilderness? What of the real Indian legacy?
Diana Jones, October 17, 2012
What comes to mind for me is the Grand Canyon, and how a relative of mine paid $600 to be taken on a helicopter tour of the Canyon. Not only do I fear this greatly disturbs the wildlife, but the tour ends inside the canyon where "real life native Americans" host a feast for the helicopter tourists. A deal had been worked out between the tourism company and the tribe so that they would play along in order to maintain harmony and get a portion of the proceeds. This reminds me of a scene in the National Parks documentary series, when a Native American man talks about men and women of tribes dancing or talking to entertain white Americans as they came to see the parks--he specifically used the example of saying "How" because that was what Americans wanted to hear. Based on the story my relative told, it is scary how little has changed in the way of native American tribes being used for entertainment to the more wealthy communities in America. I am torn between believing tourism is spreading awareness of the parks that is necessary for its success, or if tourism is very quickly destroying the natural world that is meant to be preserved.
Puget Sound National Park – Brooks does a find job here of digging deep into his own experience of the natural world, writing a fine description of one of his own favorite places, and then tying that into an important thought about national parks – why not this place?!
Brooks Guetlin, October 12, 2012
I grew up on Whidbey Island and I lived there for the first 18 years of my life. I had an unobstructed view of the Olympic Mountains From the front of our house and deck. Everyday, barring extreme rain and fog, I would catch a glimpse of the snow capped peaks all year long. I have never been to Olympic National Park but that view has always been something that reminds me of home. In the winter especially, watching the sunrise while I would eat my Captain Crunch at the kitchen table would be a sobering experience. On those clear crisp days the sun would hit the mountains and turn the snow every shade of pink and orange one could imagine.
It's not just the peninsula that is so special either. Almost every view from Whidbey has a breath taking view of the Puget Sound and surrounding mountains. Whether its Mt. Baker to the North, Mt. Rainier to the South or the Olympics. I have always felt that the entire Puget Sound area could be a National Park.
Stratton Porter and Thoreau – Kari has done a great job here of “engaging the sources,” really getting into our readings and seeing how one author can help us understand better the argument of another author and vice versa.
Kari Johnson, October 14, 2012
I must admit, the Gene Stratton-Porter essay was hard to read. As a lover of birds and someone who strives to keep even the most common and abundant house sparrows well-fed, it is with shame that I acknowledge that humans were responsible for the extinction of the passenger pigeon. It’s interesting how similar the Porter essay mirrored a journal entry of Henry David Thoreau’s from his time at Walden. Porter spoke of seeing an extremely rare passenger pigeon, desperately looking for a mate or another flock with which to join, but alas, finding no other of his kind. While Porter addressed the specific hunting of the pigeons themselves, Thoreau spoke of the destruction of the trees in which the birds nest. “When the fish hawk in the spring revisits the banks of the Musektaquid, he will circle in vain to find his accustomed perch. - & the henhawk will mourn for the pines lofty enough to protect her brood… The squirrel has leapt to another tree – the hawk has circled further off - & has now settled upon a new eyre but the woodman is preparing to lay his axe at the root of that also” (Thoreau from Journals, McKibben 7). So as we see, not only are birds or any wildlife endangered by direct hunting, but their lives are also threatened by destroying their very habitat.
Protecting the Quail – This, from Denise, is another wonderful example of engaging the sources, thinking about the connections between sources and the broader implications of their insights into conservation.
Denise Campitelli, October 14, 2012
One of the themes that struck me while reading the Gene Stratoon-Porter essay this week was her discussion of how diminishing one component of nature directly affects other areas and how important conservation becomes in the overall scheme of things. She was talking about how she and her brothers were told to not eat quail eggs any longer because it was noticed that the quail population was diminishing.. Their father made the connection that without the quail ranging freely, more insects were then able to eat more of his grain and he was experiencing lesser yield. He made the point of the delicate balance that is necessary and noticed how springs, creeks and lakes were drying up over time. Stratton-Porter then states "and from that time on our whole family began to practice and to preach conservation along every line." It put me in mind of the conservation efforts that Roosevelt and Grinnell were promoting with their efforts in the Boone and Crockett Club and Audubon Society. Stratton-Porter and her family were ahead of their time. They were putting forward the idea of conservation in the 1870s and realized the importance of this way of thinking for future generations.
Phony “Real Luaus” – This kind of sharing of information, from Shane, about what’s happening in the parks, and linking that into class themes, is tremendously useful. It’s one of the reasons I’m asking you (as in “requiring” you!) to include each other as sources in your papers.
Shane Nolt, October 17, 2012
As a recreation management major who has studied a little bit on the field of tourism, I feel like the example of Native Americans being used to entertain tourists is very similar to those who go to the "real luau's" In Hawaii. A girl that I had class with was a native of Hawaii and could attest that these "real luau's" were a mere show for tourists and did not posses symbolic and cultural meaning. As you said Diana, its hard to tell if tourism of the national parks is creating awareness or destroying nature more. I think a large part of it has to do with the tourists themselves and what their motives are and how well they are educated on culture and concepts such as Leave No Trace.
The Slaughter of the Passenger Pigeons – One of the things we want to do in these discussions, in addition to posting notes on our own thoughts and experiences, is to do honor to our sources. This, from Lea Anne, is a great example of pointing out the essence of a description in the reading and saying why it matters.
Lea Anne Scott, October 14, 2012
For me, the details of the method of slaughter was the most memorable. The method of sneaking up on sleeping flocks of birds to frighten them with flashlights and sticks then stuff them into bags hurt and alive is such a strong visual, but Gene Stratton Porter's description of birds being prepared the morning after is even more vivid and disturbing. She wrote, "I remember being at the home of one of our neighbors on an errand for mother one morning when the birds from a pigeon hunt were being dressed. I was shocked and horrified to see dozens of these beautiful birds, perhaps half of them still alive, struggling about with broken wings, backs and legs, waiting to be skinned, split down the back and dropped into the pot pie kettle" (197). Its pretty strong visual and for a girl who was so tuned into nature, and paid such careful attention to all the birds with their every little habit, this must have been especially disturbing.
To think that soon after this time thePassenger Pigeon was completely gone when they had been so numerous is almost unbelievable. As she describes in this essay how people felt that there were so many trees that you could cut them and cut them and they would never be gone, it does not seem possible that every single bird would be exterminated.
Her sighting of perhaps the last passenger pigeon, looking for a mate, and calling "see? see? see?" was another sad and memorable moment.
Remembering the National Parks – Our National Geographic book on the National Parks is an important part of the course. But sometimes it’s hard to figure out how to post on its information. Jake does a great job here describing how he just missed seeing one and focusing on some of the interesting features of another.
Jake Shelley, October 14, 2012
I’ve really enjoyed the readings in the National Geographic book. The Great Smokey Mountains National Park is one that I am particularly interested in visiting. About four years ago I was on a road trip back east and came within a hundred miles of the Great Smokey Mountains. I was on my way from Virginia to Georgia and passed up an opportunity to camp a night in the park. It would have been wonderful to stay at least one night in the heart of the Appalachians. Ever since then I have regretted this decision. I will definitely return to North Carolina someday and visit this park.
Another park that I am very intrigued by is that of Isle Royal National Park. Located in the middle of the Lake Superior and near the United States-Canadian border it is great that this island wilderness was saved from the rapid clear cutting that occurred in the 19th century. What I find extremely interesting is that large creatures such as wolves and moose live on this island. Typically most islands are devoid of such large animals unless located close to land. Isle Royal is quite far from the mainland Canada.
Passenger Pigeons and Modern Hunting – Matt provides a valuable example of the ways that his own modern training in hunting and fishing contrasts to the approach of those who slaughtered the passenger pigeons.
Matthew Volpe, October 16, 2012
I found this week in the reading of "The Last Passenger Pigeon: By Gene Stratton-Porter" Great sorrow and yet some comfort. I felt sorrow for the pigeons in the scene illustrating how hundreds of these birds were killed with clubs, or shot. Sometimes being left alive for hours suffering the needless pain, just to be skinned and turned into a pot-pie. Growing up a avid hunter and fisherman, I learned the importance of self-control, if we were not eating what we killed and using 90% of the animal, do not even site in your scope, or I learned to catch and release what fish we caught. This scene just kills me. Its a little comforting knowing there are people, and families such that of Gene Stratton-Porter.
Interaction on the Bible and Divination – And last but not least these discussions should have a conversational element. These last two examples show Shane making an interesting point and Lea Anne picking up on it and adding a thoughtful post to it.
Shane Nolt, October 17, 2012
I was quite interested to read that Gene Stratton-Porter's father preached conservation and connected it with religious ties. She mentions that "every line of the Bible concerning these birds, many of them exquisitely poetical was on his tongue's tip" (American Earth, p. 196). The preaching of conservation helped not only his own family, but others around, be more aware of the effect they were having on the natural world around them. If there had been more families like this at the time period, could it be possible that the passenger pigeon would still be a common species or would the number of greedy hunters eventually killed the species anyways? Any thoughts?
Lea Anne Scott, October 17, 2012
I am thankful that you brought this idea into the discussion Shane. I had kind of forgotten that part of the essay, where she said that her father had biblical passages for the birds that they knew. I think it is extremely interesting as also birds were once used as a divination method. it was thought that birds would bring different kinds of messages to a person, depending on what kind of bird or how they chirped or where they were or how they were in formation, you know the saying "a little birdy told her." There are clearly linkages between these ancient methods of predicting the future and Stratton Porter's adage about the last passenger Pigeon saying "See? See? See?"(McKibben 204).
J. William T. Youngs and His Students
October 18, 2012
I’ll let you do the talking for this “Fireside Talk.” Partly I want to let you see some examples, from each of you, of what I’m looking for in a really good post. Reading these will help you write better and better posts yourselves. And additionally, I really like these little “talks,”, and I could imagine enjoying them at a fireside!
Helicopter Tour of the Grand Canyon – Wow, it almost hurts to read Diana’s report here, but what a great piece of information for the class. This is a fine example of going into a park without honoring the natural setting. Diana could be describing a ride in Disneyland! What of the silence of the wilderness? What of the real Indian legacy?
Diana Jones, October 17, 2012
What comes to mind for me is the Grand Canyon, and how a relative of mine paid $600 to be taken on a helicopter tour of the Canyon. Not only do I fear this greatly disturbs the wildlife, but the tour ends inside the canyon where "real life native Americans" host a feast for the helicopter tourists. A deal had been worked out between the tourism company and the tribe so that they would play along in order to maintain harmony and get a portion of the proceeds. This reminds me of a scene in the National Parks documentary series, when a Native American man talks about men and women of tribes dancing or talking to entertain white Americans as they came to see the parks--he specifically used the example of saying "How" because that was what Americans wanted to hear. Based on the story my relative told, it is scary how little has changed in the way of native American tribes being used for entertainment to the more wealthy communities in America. I am torn between believing tourism is spreading awareness of the parks that is necessary for its success, or if tourism is very quickly destroying the natural world that is meant to be preserved.
Puget Sound National Park – Brooks does a find job here of digging deep into his own experience of the natural world, writing a fine description of one of his own favorite places, and then tying that into an important thought about national parks – why not this place?!
Brooks Guetlin, October 12, 2012
I grew up on Whidbey Island and I lived there for the first 18 years of my life. I had an unobstructed view of the Olympic Mountains From the front of our house and deck. Everyday, barring extreme rain and fog, I would catch a glimpse of the snow capped peaks all year long. I have never been to Olympic National Park but that view has always been something that reminds me of home. In the winter especially, watching the sunrise while I would eat my Captain Crunch at the kitchen table would be a sobering experience. On those clear crisp days the sun would hit the mountains and turn the snow every shade of pink and orange one could imagine.
It's not just the peninsula that is so special either. Almost every view from Whidbey has a breath taking view of the Puget Sound and surrounding mountains. Whether its Mt. Baker to the North, Mt. Rainier to the South or the Olympics. I have always felt that the entire Puget Sound area could be a National Park.
Stratton Porter and Thoreau – Kari has done a great job here of “engaging the sources,” really getting into our readings and seeing how one author can help us understand better the argument of another author and vice versa.
Kari Johnson, October 14, 2012
I must admit, the Gene Stratton-Porter essay was hard to read. As a lover of birds and someone who strives to keep even the most common and abundant house sparrows well-fed, it is with shame that I acknowledge that humans were responsible for the extinction of the passenger pigeon. It’s interesting how similar the Porter essay mirrored a journal entry of Henry David Thoreau’s from his time at Walden. Porter spoke of seeing an extremely rare passenger pigeon, desperately looking for a mate or another flock with which to join, but alas, finding no other of his kind. While Porter addressed the specific hunting of the pigeons themselves, Thoreau spoke of the destruction of the trees in which the birds nest. “When the fish hawk in the spring revisits the banks of the Musektaquid, he will circle in vain to find his accustomed perch. - & the henhawk will mourn for the pines lofty enough to protect her brood… The squirrel has leapt to another tree – the hawk has circled further off - & has now settled upon a new eyre but the woodman is preparing to lay his axe at the root of that also” (Thoreau from Journals, McKibben 7). So as we see, not only are birds or any wildlife endangered by direct hunting, but their lives are also threatened by destroying their very habitat.
Protecting the Quail – This, from Denise, is another wonderful example of engaging the sources, thinking about the connections between sources and the broader implications of their insights into conservation.
Denise Campitelli, October 14, 2012
One of the themes that struck me while reading the Gene Stratoon-Porter essay this week was her discussion of how diminishing one component of nature directly affects other areas and how important conservation becomes in the overall scheme of things. She was talking about how she and her brothers were told to not eat quail eggs any longer because it was noticed that the quail population was diminishing.. Their father made the connection that without the quail ranging freely, more insects were then able to eat more of his grain and he was experiencing lesser yield. He made the point of the delicate balance that is necessary and noticed how springs, creeks and lakes were drying up over time. Stratton-Porter then states "and from that time on our whole family began to practice and to preach conservation along every line." It put me in mind of the conservation efforts that Roosevelt and Grinnell were promoting with their efforts in the Boone and Crockett Club and Audubon Society. Stratton-Porter and her family were ahead of their time. They were putting forward the idea of conservation in the 1870s and realized the importance of this way of thinking for future generations.
Phony “Real Luaus” – This kind of sharing of information, from Shane, about what’s happening in the parks, and linking that into class themes, is tremendously useful. It’s one of the reasons I’m asking you (as in “requiring” you!) to include each other as sources in your papers.
Shane Nolt, October 17, 2012
As a recreation management major who has studied a little bit on the field of tourism, I feel like the example of Native Americans being used to entertain tourists is very similar to those who go to the "real luau's" In Hawaii. A girl that I had class with was a native of Hawaii and could attest that these "real luau's" were a mere show for tourists and did not posses symbolic and cultural meaning. As you said Diana, its hard to tell if tourism of the national parks is creating awareness or destroying nature more. I think a large part of it has to do with the tourists themselves and what their motives are and how well they are educated on culture and concepts such as Leave No Trace.
The Slaughter of the Passenger Pigeons – One of the things we want to do in these discussions, in addition to posting notes on our own thoughts and experiences, is to do honor to our sources. This, from Lea Anne, is a great example of pointing out the essence of a description in the reading and saying why it matters.
Lea Anne Scott, October 14, 2012
For me, the details of the method of slaughter was the most memorable. The method of sneaking up on sleeping flocks of birds to frighten them with flashlights and sticks then stuff them into bags hurt and alive is such a strong visual, but Gene Stratton Porter's description of birds being prepared the morning after is even more vivid and disturbing. She wrote, "I remember being at the home of one of our neighbors on an errand for mother one morning when the birds from a pigeon hunt were being dressed. I was shocked and horrified to see dozens of these beautiful birds, perhaps half of them still alive, struggling about with broken wings, backs and legs, waiting to be skinned, split down the back and dropped into the pot pie kettle" (197). Its pretty strong visual and for a girl who was so tuned into nature, and paid such careful attention to all the birds with their every little habit, this must have been especially disturbing.
To think that soon after this time thePassenger Pigeon was completely gone when they had been so numerous is almost unbelievable. As she describes in this essay how people felt that there were so many trees that you could cut them and cut them and they would never be gone, it does not seem possible that every single bird would be exterminated.
Her sighting of perhaps the last passenger pigeon, looking for a mate, and calling "see? see? see?" was another sad and memorable moment.
Remembering the National Parks – Our National Geographic book on the National Parks is an important part of the course. But sometimes it’s hard to figure out how to post on its information. Jake does a great job here describing how he just missed seeing one and focusing on some of the interesting features of another.
Jake Shelley, October 14, 2012
I’ve really enjoyed the readings in the National Geographic book. The Great Smokey Mountains National Park is one that I am particularly interested in visiting. About four years ago I was on a road trip back east and came within a hundred miles of the Great Smokey Mountains. I was on my way from Virginia to Georgia and passed up an opportunity to camp a night in the park. It would have been wonderful to stay at least one night in the heart of the Appalachians. Ever since then I have regretted this decision. I will definitely return to North Carolina someday and visit this park.
Another park that I am very intrigued by is that of Isle Royal National Park. Located in the middle of the Lake Superior and near the United States-Canadian border it is great that this island wilderness was saved from the rapid clear cutting that occurred in the 19th century. What I find extremely interesting is that large creatures such as wolves and moose live on this island. Typically most islands are devoid of such large animals unless located close to land. Isle Royal is quite far from the mainland Canada.
Passenger Pigeons and Modern Hunting – Matt provides a valuable example of the ways that his own modern training in hunting and fishing contrasts to the approach of those who slaughtered the passenger pigeons.
Matthew Volpe, October 16, 2012
I found this week in the reading of "The Last Passenger Pigeon: By Gene Stratton-Porter" Great sorrow and yet some comfort. I felt sorrow for the pigeons in the scene illustrating how hundreds of these birds were killed with clubs, or shot. Sometimes being left alive for hours suffering the needless pain, just to be skinned and turned into a pot-pie. Growing up a avid hunter and fisherman, I learned the importance of self-control, if we were not eating what we killed and using 90% of the animal, do not even site in your scope, or I learned to catch and release what fish we caught. This scene just kills me. Its a little comforting knowing there are people, and families such that of Gene Stratton-Porter.
Interaction on the Bible and Divination – And last but not least these discussions should have a conversational element. These last two examples show Shane making an interesting point and Lea Anne picking up on it and adding a thoughtful post to it.
Shane Nolt, October 17, 2012
I was quite interested to read that Gene Stratton-Porter's father preached conservation and connected it with religious ties. She mentions that "every line of the Bible concerning these birds, many of them exquisitely poetical was on his tongue's tip" (American Earth, p. 196). The preaching of conservation helped not only his own family, but others around, be more aware of the effect they were having on the natural world around them. If there had been more families like this at the time period, could it be possible that the passenger pigeon would still be a common species or would the number of greedy hunters eventually killed the species anyways? Any thoughts?
Lea Anne Scott, October 17, 2012
I am thankful that you brought this idea into the discussion Shane. I had kind of forgotten that part of the essay, where she said that her father had biblical passages for the birds that they knew. I think it is extremely interesting as also birds were once used as a divination method. it was thought that birds would bring different kinds of messages to a person, depending on what kind of bird or how they chirped or where they were or how they were in formation, you know the saying "a little birdy told her." There are clearly linkages between these ancient methods of predicting the future and Stratton Porter's adage about the last passenger Pigeon saying "See? See? See?"(McKibben 204).