The Curse and Blessing of Montana
Montana seems to be one of those states that most people either love or hate. It is so distinct from any other state that it is no wonder this is the case. Montana is in so many ways such a great state to live in, with a wide variety of recreation, hobbies, and other enjoyable pastimes; however, many problems plague the state, from its lack of modern conveniences to its poor job opportunities. What many people do not realize is how much these good and bad characteristics are related.
There are innumerable examples of Montana's good qualities, far too many to name all of them, but several of these examples are the recreation, history and beauty of Montana. Recreation in Montana includes sports like biking, skiing, hiking, and a many more outdoor recreational activities. The wide open areas create almost endless possibilities for outdoor recreation, and the relatively small population decreases the clutter along lakes, trails, streams, and other venues for recreation. Also, the small population and large open spaces have a preserving effect on Montana's historical buildings, monuments, and other objects of historical significance and interest. Montana is able to keep these historical sites safe because demand for these sites both for industrialization and by the general population is not too great. The small population and large open areas also allow for a broad range of wildlife habitation, which is excellent for both recreational activities like hunting and fishing and for wildlife viewing. Montana's beautiful and varied landscapes are also remarkable to view. The towering, craggy mountains; vast, spectacular forests; massive, grassy plains; and numerous lakes, rivers, and streams, many of which are very sparsely populated, are magnificent to behold. All these pleasurable aspects of Montana are direct results of its generally rural environment and would not be possible without this characteristic. It is evident that those who love Montana are most likely in love with its rural setting.
Most of the reasons people dislike Montana are also directly related to its ruralness. Some of these reasons include difficult access to conveniences taken for granted in many areas of the U.S., the complete absence of other conveniences, and limited job opportunities. Because Montana is rural, many businesses are only attracted to the larger cities within the state. Because of this, many Montanans not living in these places must drive longer distances than would normally be required in most states to reach these businesses.
In 20th century America, after the Second World War, the nation emerged as a dominant figure in the dynamics of the world. The American people began to develop a certain identity that became known to all around the world. People craved to experience the American identity and have a chance at reaching the American dream. The American dream embodied the American ideals of freedom, social mobility, and ability to succeed and live a happy life. Ultimately through Montana 1948, by Larry Watson, the American identity is explored through the many facets of the emerging 20th century American idea: an American dream.
Although West Virginia is mostly frowned upon, its positive side is key to many parts the nation, from people to places to things. One of the stand-out athletes that have come from West Virginia is the famous football player named Sam Huff. As you can see, modern celebrities and historical figures have both came from West Virginia. All the listed people are highly respected and honored nationwide and known around the world. To be respected, you have to have respect for other and while growing up in West Virginia, I have learned that when you come from a small town, you seem to have a different perspective on everyday life.
After the Civil War, Americans abandoned the sectional emphasis caused by slavery and developed a national focus. During the period from 1865-1890, Americans completed the settlement of the West. For the farmers and ranchers, the American West was a land of opportunity because land was cheap and the Homestead Act provided land to farmers, including immigrants and blacks, in order to grow crops, raise cattle and make a profit. The American West was also seen as a land of opportunity for miners due to the gold and silver rush in the far west which they believed would make them rich. However, both groups faced many challenges and few achieved great wealth.
A point has to be made about hunting and outdoor life in Illinois, which is a common interest throughout Illinois. Though it may not interest everyone, the livelihood and a portion of income is g...
The land the Illinois lived was not only beautiful but also abundant with resources. The resources in the area amazed the French missionaries and explorers. Father Claude Allois, a Jesuit missionary, describes an interesting spectacle on a journey south. “The next day, we saw a rock seven or eight feet out of the water and two or three brasses in circumference, named ‘the pitch rock.
Before we ponder in the exquisite Appalachian cultural practices and beliefs, let us know more about its geographic region. “Appalachia is a 205,000-square-mile region that follows the spine of the Appalachian Mountains from southern New York to northern Mississippi. It includes all of West Virginia and parts of 12 other states: Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia” (The Appalachian Region paragraph 1) . Appalachia is the name of a Spanish empire that was drilling for gold and plunders (Williams 19). It is considered the second largest mountains of North America (Brescia 40). The Appalachian towns that include the mines have its own fascinating history. Appalachia is a place that you can visit in all seasons and each season has its unique spirit and mood. So, if you are seeking spring break, it would be a brilliant idea to visit the holy Appalachian Mountains to enjoy some refreshing outdoor entertainment and relaxation activities such as, fishing or eve...
Montana today is place that is still very similar that of a hundred years ago. Ranching and farming out east, mining still goes on in Butte, fishing is big along the western rivers, and now there is a new boom, with oil and natural gas throughout the state. As John Steinbeck said, “I’m in love with Montana. For other states I have admiration, respect, recognition, even some affection. But with Montana it is love. And it’s difficult to analyze love when you’re in it.”
The more than four hundred locations that are currently recognized as national parks have been set aside because they are considered special places of beauty, character, or uniqueness. Whether visitors come from the natural state or the concrete jungle, the magnificent aesthetics of these sites can cause anyone to be astonished. As they ponder on the wonderful landscapes and the closeness to the wilderness, their souls are nourished. Some people acknowledge the planet or the creator, but all appreciate the splendor of biodiversity and gain a new understanding of it. According to Frye and Nuest, “watching other species and interacting with them helps [people] better understand and appreciate [their] place among them and [their] obligations to other living creatures and the same planetary environment that sustain both [their and the lives of other species]” (54). Furthermore, since these sites have been carefully preserved, they have undergone very little physical or geological change in centuries. The NPS claimed through its website that “by preserving biodiversity, [they] also ensure that future citizens, artists, and explorers of science experience [America’s] lands as the founders of the parks did long ago.” National parks allow visitors to relive scenes from the past and appreciate the nation’s history as expressed in these iconic sites. However,
Every year, over nine million hikers and adventure seekers travel to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park making it the most visited national park in the United States. There are abundant reasons for this, but many popular reasons include over 150 hiking trails extending over 850 miles, a large portion of the Appalachian Trail, sightseeing, fishing, horseback riding, and bicycling. The park houses roughly ten thousand species of plants and animals with an estimated 90,000 undocumented species likely possible to be present. It is clear why there was a pressing interest in making all this land into a national park. My research was started by asking the question; how did the transformation of tourism due to the establishment of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park affect surrounding cities such as Gatlinburg and Sevier County, and in return, its effect on the popularity of the park?
First, one must understand the concept of a nation park and wilderness. Yellowstone became the first national park. President Ulysses S. Grant designated Yellowstone, as a national park in 1872. The law establishing Yellowstone as the first National Park declared the area would be preserved "for the benefit and enjoyment of the people." All "timber, mineral deposits, natural curiosities, or wonders" would be kept "in their natural condition" (McNamara, 2014). The natural state of the park is a wilderness area. Although wilderness is often taken to mean a wild or untamed area people have held various perspectives of wilderness throughout history. Some of these historical perspectives of wilderness in the United States are: 1."The Puritan model encouraged an aggressive and even antagonistic attitude toward wilderness. The wilderness must be tamed” (Dejardins, page 154). Wilderness was, as an area to be feared but yet an area where one could escape from oppression. 2. “The Lockean model sees the wilderness as real estate, a commodity to be owned and used” (DesJardins, page 154). 3. “The romantic model views the wilderness as a symbol of innocence and purity” (DesJardins, page 155).
It is early in the morning; the majestic Elk bugles in the distance. The sun is kissing the tops of the peaks with the most beautiful gold, and painting the clouds rose red. The men and women who enjoy the outdoors whether it is hunting or just hiking help make these types of moments possible. Hunting and the ecosystem is tied closely to conservation of land and animals. The articles of “Hunting and the ecosystem” written by the South Dakota Game Fish and Parks Department (SDGFP), and “Facts and statistics on wildlife conservation” written by Roger Holmes, director of the Fish and Wildlife, touch on how hunting is important in the environment to keep a good balance in the ecosystem. They also point out how hunters do more than any other organization for wildlife and environment. Our country was created by outdoors men who hunted and they passed their knowledge of the outdoors to their kids. Hunting has worked its way down from the generation and we should learn to “pass it on” Hunting is great for the environment and wildlife and should be preserved for the ages to come.
Montana needs safer drivers, on the roads that connect us to the places that we need to go. If a driver is not responsible, then all drivers are at risk. When a person is driving, their life and their passenger’s lives are in their hands. Families on both sides of a drunk driving accident experience consequences. This is why Montana needs stricter laws. On one side when the victim is a parent, children will have to grow up without that parent and family unit. On the other side, the drunk driver’s family is also victimized because he/she is incarcerated, costing them more than a loss of a vehicle. If the driver is the breadwinner of that family, then a paycheck is gone. Money is tighter now more than ever in these families. Stricter laws could prevent this. Insurance costs also go up for both the families. "You Drink & Drive. You Lose" and "Friends Don’t Let Friends Drive Drunk” ("Impaired Driving...” 1). These statements are factual and the words of these statements make people think more about their part in preventing drunk driving. The people drinking and driving are not only playing Russian roulette with their own lives; they are playing with other driver’s lives. Montana can fix these problems as a State if it works together to pass better laws for drunk
...erospace and transportation. Also important are high-technology researches and development, communications and service industries. Since the 1920s and 1930s the importance of the tourist industry began to grow and it is still one of the most important sources of income of Arizona. The mountains in the northern and central regions of the state have 1,286,900 hectares of commercial forests. These forests are owned by the U.S. government for 95% and are used for lumber and building-materials industries. The state forests and the national forests attract millions of tourists each year. Other famous tourist spots are the Grand Canyon, the Painted Desert, the Petrified Forest, meteor craters, ancient Native American ruins, the Spanish colonial ruins and the Navajo and Hopi reservations. Golf courses and other leisure facilities attract a large amount of tourists as well.
My favorite quote from Montana of 300 is, from his song Fighting Demons, Dropping Jewels when he says “The afterlife isn't promised, only death, we can't dodge it this life we live ain't forever, so make the most while you got it.” The first time I ever heard one of Montana of 300’s songs was when I heard Holy Ghost and his music just stuck with me that is the power of his music. Sometimes a role model is admired more for the things he does without publicity than for the things he does in the public eye. This is the case with rapper Montana of 300. What characteristic is more impressive to the human race than the willingness to make sacrifices for the greater good? Montana of 300 is from Chicago, Illinois-born in 1989. When he was younger, his mom was a crackhead and his dad was a killer. He is the reason why his mom stopped using crack. Montana of 300 is my role model because he resists the temptations to do drugs, his music is really inspirational, he stays positive and is always humble.
Leave No Trace is philosophy of seven concepts that help minimize human recreational impact on wild lands. As wilderness recreation has become more popular, and the National Wilderness Preservation System has increased its wilderness lands from 9.1 million acres in 54 wildernesses in 1964 to 104 million acres in 628 wildernesses in 19991, the need for guidelines to help reduce degradation of these lands has become increasingly important. In 1979 Jim Bradley wrote about the need for an educational approach for managing recreation impacts instead of regulations that antagonize the public rather than win their support2. Teaching good practices is more effective than imposing strict regulations because most harms done to the wilderness by recreational activities is due to lack of knowledge of a less impacting technique, and because it is very difficult to enforce regulations in large tracts of wild and remote lands.