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Reader Participation Day: Has Arizona's Approach To Controlling Illegal Immigrants Led You To Cancel a Grand Canyon Trip?

Apr 29th - 21:55pm | Kath

It is not racist to want the laws on immigration to be followed and obeyed by everyone no matter which country they come from, whether it's Mexico or Ireland. Nor is following the law fascist. There is absolutely nothing in Arizona's new law that is not in the federal law that has been in effect for years, much of it written during the Clinton administration.

Apr 29th - 20:44pm | Rick B.

NPSFan...

Apr 29th - 16:16pm | Kurt Repanshek

I'm certainly sorry you feel you can't continue to contribute, NPSfan, for we've long taken the stance here at the Traveler that only through civil discourse, discourse that offers a wide range of views, can folks come to perhaps understand an opposing point of view.

Apr 29th - 15:53pm | NPSfan

Shame on all of you. This should be eye-opening for you, Kurt, these comments show the true colors of the majority of your readers. When I serve them as an NPS employee, I keep my mouth shut about their racism and entitled approach to life, because I would lose my job if I didn't.

Apr 29th - 15:35pm | Random Walker

[quote=Kath]One-third of all inmates in California prisons are illegals.

Apr 29th - 13:06pm | Kath

As a supporter of the National Parks, I want citizens to feel safe when they travel in the parks. As it is now, Organ Pipe is a no go area for me. Too dangerous. I would be hesitant to do any tent camping in many of the national parks or monuments near the border.

Apr 29th - 11:16am | Wyldfyre63

Not me. I applaud the Arizona governor for taking the first step. The illegal immigration issue has ben ignored by both parties for too long.

Apr 29th - 08:49am | Anonymous

Some just don't get it. Citizens have long been hauled in by police for vagrancy if they had no money in their pocket or an I.D. This is overlooked by those who cry foul on this immigration enforcement. Yes you do have to have a license to be behind the wheel of a car. If you don't, you should be hauled in. Maybe the next time you would think before you got behind the wheel.

Apr 28th - 19:12pm | y_p_w

Again - a US citizen under this law is not required to carry any form of ID for walking down the street or being a passenger in a vehicle. No federal or state law makes IDs mandatory.

Apr 28th - 16:57pm | Kurt Repanshek

Just for the record, there's no "Ken" in this thread. If you're referring to me, the moderator, I just raised the question for discussion purposes. I haven't stated a position on it.

Apr 28th - 16:42pm | Concerned Taxpayer

Ken, I don't understand why you have a problem. I assume you fly...if so, you have show ID and even get searched. If you travel to Canada you have to show passport to enter. If you go to a bank and cash a check you have to show proof that you are who you say you are.

Apr 28th - 16:23pm | y_p_w

Kurt Repanshek: Beyond that, due to the anonymous nature of most commentors, we couldn't tell you if those expressing what you term "xenophobic paranoia" are regular readers, or passers by latching onto a controversial topic.

Fans of Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore Being Asked to Contribute Ideas to Lakeshore's Future

Apr 29th - 20:24pm | Anonymous

In follow up to my previous post advocating an official clothing optional section - I think with the increased use it is sure to cause there will be a corresponding increase in business development (i.e. restaurants, resorts, art galleries, etc.) the previous poster was hoping would occur. Creative incentives would be great too, but not if there are no customers.

Apr 29th - 15:34pm | Anonymous

I am glad to see someone read my post, and cared enough to ask the question. In my opinion, officially permitted nude sunbathing would be a huge benefit to the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore because nudists/naturists, in my experience, are very respectful of nature, the outdoors, and most importantly, other people.

Glacier National Park Taking Comments On Bear Management Plan Revisions

Apr 29th - 17:36pm | tomp

Kurt & Tony-- I suggest that you make formal comments during the comment process. That's what the public comment process is for.

Apr 29th - 14:22pm | Tony Bynum

After some discussion about this issue with the NPS, they understand my concerns and will make the appropriate modification to the language so that it more clearly describes their intent. . . The way it was written more than suggested something they did not intend . . . We'll wait now to see the final draft, but I have their word that it will be fixed.

Apr 28th - 17:11pm | Emily

I can understand their concerns with having photographers taking pictures/video's of their bear management practices. First, a nearby photographer might be disttracting to the bear, and this might take away from the management of the bear's behavior.

Updated: Drilling Rig Disaster Could Send Oil Spill Into Gulf Islands National Seashore

Apr 29th - 16:50pm | Jeremy

I have something to say on this subject. For the one whom suggested the rigs be safer, they are. Exactly what you describe is what we have on these rigs. That's right, I work in the GoM and am proud of it. I am actually educated too for that one who things we need more education.

Apr 29th - 14:22pm | Bob Janiskee

Lars, I'm not unfamiliar with the central thrust of your argument. I taught a course on sustainable earth concepts and practices for many years, and when I could find the time for it, I wrote instructors manuals and student guides for environmental texts.

Apr 29th - 13:59pm | Lars

Bob, What's the source of the energy to convert those raw materials to bioplastics? Maybe oil?

Apr 29th - 12:32pm | Bob Janiskee

It's not quite that simple, Anon. Many thousands of tons of plastic are not made from petroleum at all, but rather from renewable biomass such as corn starch or vegetable oils. These materials are called bioplastics, and you are going to see more and more of them in the future.

Apr 29th - 11:38am | Anonymous

What part of plastic is made from oil don't you understand? If you use plastic,you use oil.

Apr 29th - 06:44am | Steve MacIwain

Is Obama Republican? No! I'm not blaming anyone but fox news for blowing this out of proportion. If Bill Oreilly hadn't jumped on this so fast the oil spill probably wouldn't be as big as it is now, who knows? I think the real enemy here is plastics. Once all the oils gone how are we going to charge anything with no credit cards?

Apr 28th - 20:01pm | Anonymous

I live right in the center of the target area this is so hard for everyone to see the impact on the enviroment. Sea Birds are nesting right now thousands of them and most of them will be lost. The local sea food industry will be devistated and will not recover for years if not decades.

Apr 28th - 17:54pm | Anonymous

One of the first things Saint Ronnie Reagan did upon assuming office was remove the solar panels from the W.H. and eliminate the programs that helped fund solar energy research as well as the subsidies for people to install solar panels. It is the Repubs who are joined at the hip to Exxon and have backed their campaign to deny the science behind global warming.

Wintry Conditions Make Travel In Yellowstone National Park Interesting

Apr 29th - 15:44pm | Anonymous

This spring storm highlights some of the operational problems with recent suggestions to just plow the road to Old Faithful in winter as a new winter use management scheme. Plowing advocates minimize the real-world difficulties associated with keeping roads open in severe winter conditions.

Voyageurs National Park To Have New Headquarters Complex In 2011

Apr 29th - 13:09pm | mcghiever

Do we know yet if this will be a visitor center with interpretive exhibits, or is it just a headquarters for administrative purposes?

More Controversy Tied to Religion and Wind Energy Likely To Surface Around the National Park System

Apr 29th - 12:57pm | Kath

The Cape Wind farm is not a done deal. The Wampanoag are going to sue just as tribes in the Mojave are going to sue if giant solar farms are put up blighting the glyphs in the desert and areas they use for tribal spiritual reasons. Wind farms are not 'green'. They chew up migratory birds. Solar farms are not 'green' if the impact is to destroy desert wildlife and wild areas.

Apr 28th - 22:26pm | JimB

Jess - Well said.

Apr 28th - 17:12pm | jessstryker

Its good to see the courts taking a more balanced view on the religious symbols issues. There are no doubt examples of inappropriate religious symbols that need to be removed, but the situation becomes much more complex and more tolerance needs to be exercised when the symbol is cultural or historical or both.

Apr 28th - 16:26pm | Kurt Repanshek

Just to be clear, the location is not physically in any unit of the National Park System.

Apr 28th - 16:24pm | Concerned Taxpayer

Here we go again. This is one time I hope the "greenies" get their way and stop the political insanity. Windmills are an eyesore in a pristine environment, and should not be permitted in any public park. They don't produce much energy per mill and cost a lot to build and maintain. This is all politics and has nothing to do with economics.

Report: ConocoPhillips Releases Oil And Gas Leases Near Glacier National Park

Apr 29th - 11:55am | Kurt Repanshek

Ahh, correct you are. Upon further review, the dark purple/blue signifies the watershed that was in the vicinity of the leases.

Apr 29th - 11:10am | Anonymous

Actually, only the west half of the dark purple on the map is where leases were held. The right half is in Glacier NP.

Fatal Fall from Angels Landing in Zion National Park

Apr 29th - 11:32am | JHN

@Dave - The trail up to Angels Landing is 100% man made, which I would argue is "official interferance [sic]" at its highest - heck, there are chains to hold on to! Everything in Zion Canyon is "dictated to by some goverment [sic] official"!! I would bet that it's partly that feeling of false security which leads people into risky situations in the first place.

Apr 28th - 21:56pm | MDD

I just returned from my first visit to Zion. It was a free admission weekend in the park and the trails were very busy. 100's of people were on the last .5 mile part, including young children and even parents carrying young babies.

Grand Teton National Park Foundation Provides $2.4 Million For Auditorium at Craig Thomas Discovery Center

Apr 29th - 11:24am | Rich Deline

Wasn't aware of this VC, very impressive. Was planning a trip to the area next summer and will make sure it is on our route....very impressive concept for the theater, can't wait to see it. Thanks for the heads up.

Legislation Calls For Casa Grande Ruins National Monument to Grow by 415 Acres

Apr 29th - 10:10am | Anonymous

An expansion of Casa Grande has been studied for several years now. Here's hoping Congress gets around to passing legislation this session.

National Park Mystery Photo 22 Revealed: Apostle Islands National Lakeshore

Apr 29th - 09:48am | Kurt Repanshek

Bob, I almost used a shot of the caves in winter for the Mystery Photo, but figured it'd be too easy. I've got APIS on my to-do list....sounds like a great escape!

Apr 29th - 09:37am | Bob Mackreth

Thanks for posting this picture. As a former district ranger at Apostle Islands, I have fond memories of the sea caves.

Hiker Falls to Her Death In Zion National Park

Apr 29th - 08:48am | RangerLady

Zion really hasn't had that many fatalities compared to other large parks. This makes only the 7th or 8th death from Angel's landing (or near it) in 101 years. When it comes to NPS units, the parkways usually lead in the number of deaths due to all the vehicle accidents. In National Parks I'm pretty sure Grand Canyon leads the pack with Yosemite not that far behind.

Apr 29th - 05:15am | Volpe

Don't know if statistics are kept on the park with the most visitor deaths but Zion has to be up there.

Apr 28th - 21:22pm | Scaredy cat

Amazing. They're dropping like flies in that park these days...

Supreme Court Hears Arguments Over Cross at Mojave National Preserve

Apr 29th - 08:38am | Kurt Repanshek

Anonymous, if you consider court documents "editorial comment," then I guess I'm guilty. Here's the second sentence of the case syllabus filed with the U.S. Supreme Court:

Apr 28th - 20:58pm | Anonymous

"... in 2001 Mr. Buono filed a lawsuit, supported by the American Civil Liberties Union, to have the cross removed because it offended him. "

Sections of Pacific Crest Trail Poached by Mountain Bikers; Could Problems Arise in National Parks?

Apr 28th - 23:32pm | Get a life

Janet (7/30/09) In my opinion, the majority of the posts from the "mountainbike people" make a lot of sense and bring to light "your people's" ignorance. Your elitist statement of "go get your own trail" just makes me laugh. I would go on and on about how your post makes no "sense", but frankly you bore me.

National Park Mystery Photo 22: Where Do You Need To Travel For This Shot?

Apr 28th - 21:20pm | Zingly

I know the answer has been given already, but I'm going to guess "Big Bend National Park" in Texas. Hyuck, Hyuck, Hyuck...

Apr 28th - 19:40pm | Jonathan Parker

Cathedral in the Desert, Glen Canyon NRA.

Apr 28th - 19:00pm | Anonymous

Looks like Pictured Rocks National Lake Shore line a few miles east of Munising, Michigan. Hope I'm right because I'm a Yooper!

Fall near Buffalo National River Claims Life of Former Football Star

Apr 28th - 18:13pm | Dave Russell

Peace to all who knew him. What a sad story. My sympathy and love to all. dave

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