The issue of access on Cape Hatteras National Seashore is among the most contentious in the National Park System. The presence of species that are recognized as threatened by both the federal government as well as the state of North Carolina requires the National Park Service to manage the seashore in such a way that protects and benefits these species.
Unfortunately, that management approach has not been welcomed or supported by all. There have been reports of harassment of seashore personnel, vandalism on the seashore, economic hardship, and long-time beach-goers who are finding it more and more difficult to reach long-treasured spots on the cape.
Traveler's attempt on April Fool's Day to take a pause from the heated atmosphere that has swirled about the seashore fell flat with some readers, including those at the Park Service. Recognizing those concerns and objections, the story has been taken down.
While the intent was not to further aggravate the situation, it regrettably appears to have done just that in some corners.
Traveler has long served as an open forum for the exchange of information and opinions about this controversy, and will continue to do so.
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http://www.islandfreepress.org/2011Archives/03.29.2011-CapeHatterasWoundedWarriorsVacationProjectGetsUnderway.html
Please bring your brother here to Hatteras Island. I thank him for his service to my country. The people on Hatteras Island are very passionate about their National Park. It's a very caring community. This link is a prime example of what this Island represents.
Kim is right. Hatteras Island folks are a caring, close knit group. The Wounded Warriors program is just an example. I've volunteered any spare bedrooms in my cottage and my (questionable) experience as a fishing guide and my SUV (if they are still allowed on the beach) to any Wounded Warrior who wants to take advantage of the program.
It grieves me to see a special interest group running roughshod over the lives of these people.
A short video of the plight of the Island residents: http://vimeo.com/14696293
Crotalus,
I think Like-more-satire's posts were intended to be satirical.
Or a Poe?
This is not the first time that an April Fool involving a National Park resource resulted in a backfire. As described in Wikipedia:
"The Taco Liberty Bell was an April Fools Day joke played by fast food restaurant chain Taco Bell. On April 1, 1996, Taco Bell took out a full- page advertisement in seven leading U.S. newspapers announcing that they had purchased the Liberty Bell to "reduce the country's debt" and renamed it the 'Taco Liberty Bell'. Thousands of people protested before it was revealed at noon April 1 that the sale was a hoax. White House Press Secretary Mike McCurry responded that the federal government was also 'selling the Lincoln Memorial to Ford Motor Co. and renaming it the Lincoln-Mercury Memorial.'"
While the marketers thought it was a perfect ploy for visibility, others were outraged. The stunt resulted in indignant calls to both Taco Bell and the National Park Service. As a result, it also ended up with the Taco Bell pranksters donating $50,000 to the National Park Service to help preserve the real Liberty Bell. The donation took place after a series of heated phone calls by the Director of the NPS, and others, to the corporate pranksters. The marketers believed that the purchase of a full page ad was more than worth the price in the resulting buzz.
The LA Times noted on April 2, 1996:
"Whenever you do this sort of thing, there's always the danger that someone's going to be offended," said William A. Cohen, a marketing professor at Cal State L.A. "For those of us who live 3,000 miles away from the Liberty Bell, it might be just fine, but to someone whose ancestors fought at Bunker Hill, it might be perceived of in an entirely different fashion."
So the lesson is: Don't mess with Texas. But don't April Fool with the National Parks.
Fine satire tends to enrage people when it treads close to the truth.
"Humor is the good natured side of a truth."
"Humor must not professedly teach, and it must not professedly preach, but it must do both if it would live forever."
Samuel Clemens was a wise man indeed. He also has many other words describing some of the sour pusses above but I will refrain.
The thing with satire is that it's usually done by someone that's separated from the real life pain. That's the part that enrages. From the enforcers that are doing their jobs (they have jobs) directed by those detached from the grounding reality. All, except those being effected are secure in their positions and for the most part detached and can't relate. That is the roll the Gov't plays in so much of this. Anyone been aware of the discussion about "Big/ Small government and which is better?
From my perspective the
economic hardships created by the Consent Decree that was issued by a Federal
Judge that all the parties agreed to is overstated, visit the Food Lion on
Hatteras Island in the summer, it is packed with people.
I am not condoning the
consent decree. There are businesses that have been negatively affected by the
temporary bird closures that restrict access to Cape Point in the spring and
early summer that have valid issues. The real estate fiasco probably has a much
greater impact than the temporary resource closures on the overall local
economy.
It is curious that so
many people are concerned about economic hardships that have no economic interest
in the Outer Banks. I believe their real concern is ORV access in the National
Park and use economic issues as a way to further their personal agenda.
The NPS ORV policy of the
past “Free and Open Access” (which is code for no ORV restrictions or ORV
access fees) is not appropriate now and has not been appropriate for 30 or more
years in the National Seashore. A
modern ORV plan is long overdue for this park. Cape Hatteras National Seashore
might have recreational area attached to its official name but NPS considers it
as one of the NP’s ten National Seashore, not some hybrid national ORV recreation
area. That dog will not hunt.
CHNS is still a great
place to visit in the spring and summer. If you visit it will be crowded
but you will have wonderful beach adventures coupled with dramatic historical experiences
in the Seashore.