McCain Loves Teddy Roosevelt, but He Doesn't Act Like It Washington Independent Take a look at an interesting article we found.
Showdown Over Packing Heat in National Parks MSNBC Take a look at an interesting article we found.
Ban Grizzly Bear Hunting, Group Pleads Globe and Mail Take a look at an interesting article we found.
Irene Nemirovsky's extraordinary novel challenges us to think how we'd cope with being refugees.
August 07, 2008
"The conservation of our natural resources and their proper use constitute the fundamental problem which underlies almost every other problem of our national life."
That wasn't Al Gore. That was T.R, to his friends.
Also known as Teddy Roosevelt, speaking before Congress in 1907.
"A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself," Roosevelt said. "Forests are the lungs of our land, purifying the air and giving fresh strength to our people."
He was, I have no doubt, the first environmentalist of the Industrial Age. More importantly, he backed up his rhetoric with action.
In 1902, President Roosevelt established the first national park at Crater Lake, Oregon. Before leaving office in 1909, he created four more (Wind Cave National Park, SD; Sully's Hill, ND; Platt National Park, OK; and Mesa Verde National Park, CO); designated 51 wildlife refugees; passed the Antiquities Act, which led to the creation of 18 national monuments; and he created the National Park Service. All in all, Roosevelt protected some 230 million acres of national land. Not a bad record.
You wouldn't know it to look at him, but Roosevelt suffered from severe asthma as a child. In fact, it was so bad that he was tutored at home until he went to Harvard (who says home schooling can't work?). Taking his father's advice, he began lifting weights when he was 12, and continued to build up his strength by horseback riding, boxing, wrestling, and hunting.
His wife, Alice Lee, died in 1884 (the same day Roosevelt's mother died). Distraught over the loss of both ladies, he "threw" himself into farming the family ranch in the Dakota Territory Badlands. He didn't just sit on the porch and stare at the Black Hills. He lived in the saddle; driving cattle, hunting big game. Even captured an outlaw. Also got him in touch with the country he loved. Which helped him save large chunks of it.
Roosevelt cared passionately about the environment because he feared that the increasingly urban population, removed from wilderness, was losing those qualities that led to good citizenship. Chief among them, necessary for the continued health of America was "manliness."
Which he would elaborate when called upon:
"Every believer in manliness and therefore in manly sport...should strike hands with the farsighted men who wish to preserve our material resources, in the effort to keep our forest and game beasts," he said.
He also worried that urbanization was leading to the emasculation of the American male. That's because he believed that American democracy was sustained by self-reliant men willing to work hard to support themselves, their families, and American industry. But once emasculated, he thought men would lose their willingness and ability to work hard. The nation, he feared, would be overwhelmed by idleness.
And what, after all, did Roosevelt mean by "masculinity?"
Self-reliance. Hard work. Courage. (Hmm...might even apply to women.)
He said. "No nation can rise to greatness without them."
That was true at the dawn of the Industrial Age, and certainly true today. Don't you agree?
Share the Eye:
Mesa Verde nps.gov Take a look at an interesting article we found.
Wind Cave nps.gov Take a look at an interesting article we found.
Crater Lake nps.gov Take a look at an interesting article we found.
Teddy Roosevelt was (is?) my favorite President.
He was awarded the Nobel pe...
Aug. 07, 2008 10:25 AM
Who's your favorite rugged individualist?
37% 17% 0% 17% 0% 7% 23%
It's interesting that Roosevelt worried about urbanization, considering that he was the only president of the U.S. to be born in New York City. He served as police commissioner and helped Jacob Riis in his efforts to improve the lot of the impoverished and over-crowded residents of the Lower East Side.
Before he became a conservationist and founder of the NPS, Roosevelt collected specimens for the American Museum of Natural History. I once had a passenger on my tour bus point out that this meant Roosevelt would shoot whatever he wanted and then make it illegal for anyone else to do so.
As for today's poll, it can be little surprise to my old friends in this community that my favorite rugged individualist is Ayn Rand.
I like this quote:
"I never would have been President if it had not been for my experiences in North Dakota."
I'd venture to say, DPR, that the fact he was born in NYC is exactly the reason he was concerned about urbanization. The poorer neighborhoods were such breeding grounds of disease & misery... the relatively empty upper middle west must have seemed extremely clean & wholesome in comparison; a true breath of fresh air that is now unforunately choked by the modern reality of GMO crops and pesticides...
TR wrote
"Black care rarely sits behind a rider whose pace is fast enough."
David McCullough's MORNINGS ON HORSEBACk is an excellent source. You will learn there that TR's mother was from Georgia.
DPR AND HEIRESS: MY FRIENDS DO YOU ALL EVER GO TO BED? I AM IMPRESSED THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO FOCUS AT SUCH AN HOUR.
Haven't we always had those among us who saw things clearly? And, haven't we always ignored them until it was almost too late? Hard work, self reliance, and courage: those principles seem like shining stars when compared to the goals I see being taught to many of our son's contemporaries.
Teddy Roosevelt was (is?) my favorite President.
He was awarded the Nobel peace Prize for negotiating the end of the Russian-Japanese War and the Congressional Medal of Honor for leading the Rough Riders in the Spanish-American War (the latter awarded after his death but apparently approved during his life).
He also explored the Amazon and was a big game hunter in East Africa. He not only boxed but was the first President to have a black belt in judo.
John McCain claims Teddy as his heroe and favorite President.......that is a good criteria to judge McCain by, I think. For better or worse, will McCain be another Teddy Roosevelt? Something to think about on election day......
Here's an interesting thought......at the turn of the 1800s, Jefferson had to send the Marines to Tripoli (North Africa) to fight the Barbary Pirates (who were Muslims). At the turn of the 1900s, Teddy had to send the Marines North Africa to fight the Muslim "Lion of Desert" whohad taken American's hostage. (Is this sounding vaguely, or earily familiar?). At the turn of the 2000s, Bush had to send the Marines to fight another Muslim group (Taliban and Al Queda) in the Afghanistan and then eventually Iraq.
I shudder as to the turn of the 2100s.
One wonders what the end game will be in the current series of wars if Iran comes into play. If McCain is President he will definitely be carrying a "bigger stick" than Roosevelt ever carried and the time for "talking softly" may have ended.
And the Sudan may need some "Big Stick" diplomacy.
Just a thought! Y'all have a nice day.......
more on the honor rollFriends,
If I may turn the subject a little bit, let me tell you how an exemplar of courage, hard work, and self reliance may benefit from your practical assistance.
Lancaster, SC ( pronounced LAN kuh ster, not like LAN CASS ter, PA) is a sleepy place. The entire county has just over 60,000 residents. The county was founded in 1785 and their red brick courthouse was designed by Robert Mills, who also designed the Washington Monument. Lancaster was the home of Col Elliott White Springs and Springs Mills was for a long time the dominant employer. I will leave for someone else the pleasant job of discussing Col. Springs, a colorful man who had much in common with President Roosevelt.
On monday, the historic courthouse was badly damaged by an arsonist's efforts. In South Carolina, the prosecutor is called a SOLICITOR and the Solicitor whose territory includes Lancaster is a fine fellow of just under 50 named Doug Barfield.
You would like Doug. He has a Harley Davidson, but he doesn't talk about it much. He is a graduate of Clemson and USC Law. His wife teaches foreign language at the local high school, where Doug's father was once the Ag (riculture) teacher. They have two sons. A couple of years ago, Doug had himself an intestinal disaster while visiting his inlaws near Charleston. He ended up with a colostomy bag for about 4 months and a fairly entertaining routine of stories and commentary about the experience. He had few complaints. He is a thorough and methodical trial lawyer, more given to persistence and details than to flash or histrionics. He doesn't try many cases, because defense lawyers know that he usually wins.
I am telling you about Doug because it seems pretty clear that someone burned the courthouse to stop him from trying some criminal case. Just now, which criminal case is unclear. In case there was any question, Doug announced on Monday that court would go on, in an alternative location. On tuesday, they began the process of cleaning up, while carrying on the usual business of criminal court in a small southern town. Early this morning, the same forces struck again, this time burning Doug's office across the street.
Once he gets the mud cleared away, I am sure Doug will repeat his intention not to be stopped.
While the contemplative discussion of this community is a fine thing, I am asking each of you to see what you can do to assist Jeff Hammond, the affable and capable Clerk Of Court for Lancaster County, SC, and Doug Barfield, the Sixth Circuit Solicitor. Someone will eventually organize some kind of relief project. Eventually, Insurance companies will reimburse losses. But today, there is a need for clerical help and the most basic kind of grunt work. Your efforts to call attention to this situation will help.
Thanks
Willie Trask
Hey MackDaddy,
I don't know about DPR, but my hours aren't terribly impressive when you consider that I'm posting from France. :)
Willie Trask,
You're right. I do like Doug, already. Especially the fact that "he has a Harley Davidson, but he doesn't talk about it much."
Am on it.
Love this site.
I never really thought of Teddy Roosevelt as an Environmentalist but more of a Conservationist. My reasons are more than likely related to more of living in the eras of the last half of the 20th & the 1st part of the 21st Centuries rather than in his era. I guess I just have succumbed to the Liberal Idea of an Environmentalist. The ones using 1 square of toilet tissue, chaining themselves to trees, wearing hemp clothing, supports the ACLU as their "god" & living as a vegan.
I worked while in H.S. for the DNR up in Northern WI for one full summer. I worked in a fish hatchery, chopping down trees, planting trees, with logging companies & nursery's from all over the state. I learned about clear cutting, bogs, & the federal & state laws that are place to help protect the earth's resources but also allow us to utilize those same resources. Maybe it helped that I grew up in a family of sportsman who hunted & fished also. Because of this I tend find the differences between the ideas of being listed as an environmentalist versus a conservationist to be vast.
Teddy Roosevelt spent his life chasing adventure & left a legacy that allowed the people of this great country the opportunity to have the same adventures by establishing the National Parks System & the designation of the lands.
I read somewhere that whenever he finished a page of a book that he would rip it out. It was his own way of "Conquering" the book & the ideas within it. My heart could never so willingly ruin a book in that way, but sometimes when I am reading a particularly difficult book the thought tends to cross my mind for a moment.
Favorite rugged indvidualist. Sam Houston. Gave us the state of Texas.
Mr. Trask and ALL,
Have posted the Lancaster story on my blog. My readers will be feisty over this. Any other suggestions?
http://sandinmyswimsuit.blogspot.com/2008/08/call-for-justice.html
Hope this helps.
Very Teddy Roosevelt of you to do something about it.
Mackdaddy,
There is a reason why they call New York "the city that never sleeps." I usually go to bed between 1 and 2 am.
bamspeak08 said...
I just can't get over the fact that McCain thinks he is like Teddy Roosevelt.
Maybe he dreams of that, then wakes up and finds he is a Bush Republican.
He has changed many of his stances to suit the party. So I figure he won't go back to what He thought before they started telling him what to think.
Yes he could be pretending to think the right wing way, but that is too much of a risk for our nation to take.
I don't think Teddy Roosevelt was so perfect, but the idea is that inspite of his imperfections he did good works. Isn't that what it's all about? Despite Pres. Clinton's imperfections [yea he has 'em], he did good works. That is how we measure good men and women. But those who aren't even man enough to admit to their mistakes... and correct them or acknowledge them, or who think they are absolutely right in all they do without question or wisdom... they just scare me to death.
I want us to get back on the high road again. To start evolving as a species not continue to devolve.
"Self-reliance. Hard work. Courage. (Hmm...might even apply to women.)"
Yes it does apply to women, without question.
If we admire these characteristics that qualify one as a rugged individualist, should we not try our best to emulate them until they described us? What a grand culture we would be if it could be defined in these terms.
molto graze , MISSIVE.
Any and all links, references, appeals are welcomed.
Willie T
Not meaning to detract from that wonderful story about Doug, the prosecutor, I must point out that the town in Pennsylvania is also pronounced Lan kuh ster. I recently had some clients from there and they were very adamant about it.
PeterLake, I love your photo of Grand Central Terminal (often incorrectly referred to as "Grand Central Station" which is merely the name of the adjacent post office).
My grandmother and Teddy's daughter Alice were close friends, and she spent many a Summer at their home in Oyster Bay. Teddy himself was probably not what I'd call an environmentalist, as he took too much pleasure in shooting the animals he "studied".
sorry, I meant to say society, not culture.
BACK TO HEIRESS - OOPS! MY APOLOGIES... DPR: TOUCHE'
MY POINT IS I ADMIRE YOU AND ANYONE ELSE WHO CAN THINK CLEARLY AT SUCH AN HOUR. I HAVE TO HAVE MY 2 VENTI SKINNY LATTES IN THE AM BEFORE I CAN THINK AND THEN IT'S USUALLY 11:00 AM BEFORE I HIT MY PEAK THINKING. IT LASTS UNTIL ABOUT 2 THEN IT'S ALL DOWN HILL FROM THERE.
HI MISSIVE: GOT A NEW ONE FOR YOU. LOOK FOR MY EMAIL COMING SOON.
Thanks, DPR, I stand corrected. Being wrong is one of the few things I can do right.
I can think of several different places where a favorite sport is making sure that you pronounce the place name differently from the folks from away- regardless of how carefully they say it: Mount Desert Island comes to mind, also a small town called either Chuh raw or Shu raw ( spelled Cheraw).
I have noticed that what we were taught to call Call or Ah Doe more frequently is Call or Add Oh these days.
What is the story about the lady, who, having met someone from Iowa said "Here in Boston, we pronounce that 'OHIO' ."?
I believe Lancaster PA was the home of the Hamilton Watch co.
Another nominee for "rugged individualist " I think, was Kit Carson.
Lets nominate Teddy Roosevelt as one of our "Cowboys". Anyone second that motion?
To: Rings90,
I wish I'd known about TR's idea of ripping the pages out a book when he finished reading the page....I could have used that for all my algebra textbooks with great gusto. I usually tear up the newspaper after I read it but it's more out of frustration than a sense of conquest.
First, to Willie Trask. OMG, I hope we see more of you on this site.
Second, to MackDaddy. Need your email address one more time. HAVE to reply to the note you left on my site. You are incredible!!! And in France?!!! Am so coming over some wine. Soon. Did get your clue. Loved it!
ExPat,
When President McKinley was shot, one of the cabinet secretaries was heard to say "Oh my god! That means that damned cowboy is president!" So yes, TR definitely gets the nomination.
Willie Trask,
My favorite pronunciation war is over a street here in New York called Houston Street, which separates Greenwich Village from Soho. Any New Yorker knows it's pronounced HOW ston, rather than HUE ston. But try telling that to an out-of-towner. It's named after William Houston of Georgia, who pronounced it according to the 18th century Georgian style, not the far more famous Sam Houston of Texas, already mentioned in today's topic.
EXPAT, I like the way you think Bubba ....... if it hasn't already been done, I will gladly Second that Motion for Teddy ....... Roosevelt, that is ....... Not the freestyle-swimmer from Chappaquiddick .......
To: DreadPirateRoberts,
I think someone said that about our current President..."that damn cowboy is president" or were they talking about Ronald Reagan?
To: jalopkin,
I like to swim and I've never considered that other "Teddy" much of an inspiration...but then again I've never had the pleasure (or misfortune) of swimming in the same location as that "distinguished" gold medalist from Chappaquiddick. "Distinguished"? Perhaps I was searching for another word like "disgusting".
In my youth I had the life changing experience of working in Glacier National Park for one summer. Having rarely been outside of L.A. I can tell you that it was an experience that deeply changed my perceptions about a myriad of things, but very much so my value of Mother Nature, her beauty, and her divine mysteries. I will be forever in Teddy Roosevelt's debt for establishing our system of national parks. Otherwise I might never have known it.
In this age, where it is becoming more and more difficult to find true solitude, it disturbs me to know that the majority of Americans (if the polls are to be believed) are in favor of defiling our pristine Alaskan wilderness in our never ending quest for oil.
I'm sure Teddy is rolling over in his grave because of it.