Letters
Our national parks — an endangered species

Yosemite. Yellowstone. Grand Canyon. Mount Rainier. Mount Rushmore. It’s impossible to imagine the United States without these parks.

The national parks carry a legacy of natural beauty and inspiration. These parks, preserves and monuments are enduring reminders of our nation’s values and natural history.

Unfortunately, some propose to squander this legacy. How we manage our parks requires balancing public use with the needs of the land and wildlife. For example, off-road vehicles are not usually allowed in pristine natural areas of our parks.

Since 1916, the National Parks Service (NPS) has been charged with preserving the parks “by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations.” Management plans lay out the rules for each park. Within each park plan, however, is a general management plan outlining the core values of the park system.

Park uses cannot negatively impact or impair the park’s resources. This principle has guided the NPS for almost 100 years.

But recently, a draft revision to the NPS management plan surfaced. The revision would sweep away the balance between public access and stewardship that has been so carefully crafted by opening the parks to uses that would degrade or destroy park resources.

The revision would turn park planning on its head by requiring the NPS to first prove that a use would cause permanent and irreversible impairment.

Under the guise of allowing greater public enjoyment of parks, many new activities would be allowed. The National Parks Conservation Association cites snowmobiling, off-road vehicle riding, grazing and corporate sponsorships as just a few examples.

NPS reviews park management documents every few years, most recently under Presidents Ronald Reagan (1988) and Bill Clinton (2000). NPS drives this process, solicits public comment, and builds consensus while staying true to its mission. As a result, the last two reviews reflect NPS’s continual commitment to protecting parks.

This new draft, however, was developed without public or even NPS agency input.

It appears a political process has been initiated that may fundamentally alter the purpose of the National Park system – trading a priceless long-term legacy for meager short-term commercial gains. To learn more about this process, please visit the U.S. Department of the Interior Web site at www.doi.gov/initiatives/npsmanagement.

Michele S. Byers

executive director

New Jersey Conservation Foundation

Far Hills

Simon Wiesenthal’s legacy one of tolerance

I read, with a great deal of sadness, on many front pages of the passing of the great Simon Wiesenthal.

While most articles and obituaries spoke of his surviving the Holocaust in concentration camps and his tenacious pursuit of Nazis throughout his long life, I have seen another aspect of this man’s legacy.

Although some articles have a link to the Simon Wiesenthal Center (SWC), there was little to indicate what awaits people if they pursue that link.

Has anyone heard of Wiesenthal’s other legacy, the Museum of Tolerance associated with the SWC? I would guess very few have.

It’s a wonderful, thrilling attempt to make children and all ages understand the roots of prejudice through interactive and thought-provoking displays.

It’s not just about anti-Semitism but all bias and intolerance in the world. It’s about tolerance.

While the Holocaust museums that I’ve visited all over the world are evocative and humbling, they might be ignored by many as a “Jewish thing.” What can’t be ignored is the role intolerance plays in everyone’s life today and how everyone suffers for it. That is the focus of the aptly named museum and its positive lessons.

The advent of hyphenated Americans makes it easier than ever in the U.S. to generalize and ascribe unfavorable characteristics for immigrants (we’re all immigrants in this nation) and people different than ourselves.

It’s the lazy thing to do. Instead of the U.S. being the melting pot in which I grew up, it’s becoming a centrifuge.

Without being didactic or strident, the Museum of Tolerance (MoT) illustrates where even the most banal generalization can lead. The MoT proactively allows students and guests to discover how opinions are created and how the lack of critical thinking allows those opinions to morph into monstrous actions, such as the genocides of Rwanda, Sudan and Armenia.

I travel extensively throughout the world. I am a member and go to the MoT every time I’m in town. I’ve brought colleagues and clients from India, Japan, Singapore and all over to the MoT. All were mightily impressed.

Unfortunately, the Museum of Tolerance is located all the way on Pico Boulevard in Los Angeles, not too far from the multi-cultured neighborhoods which it serves. It’s a short school bus ride from Beverly Hills, Watts, South Central, and large Hispanic neighborhoods, but only a few clicks away on the Web.

What the world needs is for the Museum of Tolerance to become a franchise to help spread Simon Wiesenthal’s legacy.

Ed Dlugosz

Eatontown

Stop the ‘runaway eminent domain train’

Election 2005 promises to be quite unique in our state. Voters’ concerns about higher taxes, health insurance, Social Security, stem cell research and abortion will obviously resurface in all of the debates and political rhetoric by both Republicans and Democrats. The 2005 election is going to introduce a new issue concerning millions of homeowners in New Jersey and across the nation: the abuse of eminent domain in redevelopment by our local officials which allows for the taking of people’s personal homes simply for gain by other private citizens.

In June, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in the case of New London (Conn.) v. Kelo that the city had the right to take the property of residents of that community and give them to big business. However, in that decision, the Supreme Court clearly left it up to each state to pass its own legislation pertaining to this very controversial issue.

The residents in our country have been incensed by the audacity of the U.S. Supreme Court justices. That decision has awakened a sleeping giant — the people — and much to the surprise of many, it has also awakened many of our state legislators. Numerous bills have been introduced in New Jersey’s House and Senate putting restrictions on this runaway eminent domain train.

I would like to urge each and every voter in New Jersey to step up to the plate and do two things. First, call, write or e-mail your state legislators (www.njleg.state.nj.us) and urge them to pass the bills that will protect the residents of New Jersey from losing their homes. Second, let all of your state and local candidates know that you will not support anyone who condones the use of eminent domain for private gain in their communities or districts. We need your support.

The next house taken may be yours.

Richard G. Gober

Ventnor

Agency extends thanks to donors of school supplies

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Monmouth County sends our sincerest thanks to all who made the start of school happy for more than 100 children this year. Monmouth Mall collected and donated school supplies, and hosted our “I’m Committed to My Education” pizza party at which kids participated in an educational program and received a backpack filled with notebooks, pens, pencils and much more.

We would like to acknowledge Monmouth Mall and all of the individuals, organizations, and businesses who made this event possible, including the Colts Neck High School National Honor Society, Freehold Noontime Optimists, Illiano’s Italian Restaurant, Meridian Health, Mon-Oc Federal Credit Union, Monmouth County Division of Social Services, United Way of Monmouth County, and 106.3 WHTG, as well as all who donated supplies at the mall.

Thanks to so much support from the community, our children got off to school on the right foot. We thank you, and the children of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Monmouth County thank you.

Marybeth Bull

Kid’s Club coordinator

Big Brothers Big Sisters

of Monmouth County

Eatontown

Help available for fears, anxiety about safety

As we learn about the recent terrorist attack on London, it is to be expected that some of us will feel anxious about our own safety and that of our loved ones.

This type of anxiety is natural and even to be expected. Indeed, for some people, this tragedy can bring back powerful emotions associated with 9/11 and other traumatic events in our lives.

Most of us will be able to manage these feelings by using our natural support systems, and healthy stress reduction methods such as exercising and eating well.

Experts say that remaining engaged in our world, staying connected to family and friends and maintaining a routine helps us to successfully manage the challenges of our current world.

However, some people may experience particular difficulty managing their emotions during these trying times. It is not uncommon to experience feelings of disbelief, fear and anxiety about the future, irritability, sadness and powerlessness. Some people may also experience headaches or stomach problems, difficulty sleeping or excessive use of alcohol or drugs

If you are experiencing difficulties like these, it is important to remember that you are not alone. Staff at the N.J. Disaster Mental Health HelpLine is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at 877-294-HELP (4357) to help you cope.

The help line is provided through the Mental Health Disaster and Terrorism Branch, within the New Jersey Department of Human Services, Division of Mental Health Services, and is part of the package of services that will be expanded as a result of acting Gov. Codey’s comprehensive plan to improve mental health services statewide.

If you are unsure whether you or a loved one needs help please call. Trained staff is available to listen and help.

James M. Davy

commissioner

New Jersey Department

of Human Services