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Yosemite seeks a more diverse visitor base
Los Angeles Times / LATimes.com ^ | October 30, 2011 | By Louis Sahagun, Los Angeles Times

Posted on 10/30/2011 12:22:14 PM PDT by thecodont

Reporting from Yosemite National Park— Their Yosemite Valley tour was nearing its end, and the church ladies and gents from South Los Angeles had heard enough. Almost.

"He's been telling us stories he thinks we want to hear for two hours," said Ann Hale, 70, heaving a sigh of frustration from the back of the tram.

In fact, guide William Fontana had been regaling his listeners — most of them white — with stories about John Muir and Theodore Roosevelt, about fur trappers and rock climbers.

"We're still waiting for at least a few words about Yosemite's African American Buffalo Soldiers," Hale grumbled to a fellow passenger.

After filing off the tram, some women from Grace United Methodist Church surrounded Fontana on the sidewalk outside the Yosemite Lodge.

"Questions, ladies?" he asked.

"Yes," Hale said. "We want to know why you left out Yosemite's African American story."

Fontana seemed puzzled. "I don't have enough time to talk about Buffalo Soldiers in a two-hour tour," he explained.

Hale nodded politely and walked away.

For more than 60 years, the National Park Service has been trying to reach out to African Americans and Latinos. But its 395 parks, monuments, waterways, historic places and recreational areas remain largely the province of white Americans and tourists from around the world.

(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: California
KEYWORDS: buffalosoldiers; diversity; outdoors; yosemiteca
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To: thecodont

Pardon my ‘tude, but after all, my Mama DID name me Thomas.

I think the whole story is a CROCK, cooked up by this writer at the LA Slimes. The idea that the blue haired Bloody Mary crowd would give a rat’s patoot about the Buffalo Soldiers is pretty far-fetched!

The “Buffalo Soldiers” were Cavalry units of blacks which were originally created in Kansas. Several U.S. Cavalry units made up of Buffalo Soldiers participated in Indian Wars and battles up and down the Great Plains. But if any Buffalo Soldiers ever served in California there’s no RECORD of it!

IMHO - This libtard reporter, as usual, did what most of them do. He decided to cobble up a big lie with a politically correct slant, and assumed nobody would question it. Liar! Liar!


41 posted on 10/30/2011 1:44:04 PM PDT by Tucker39
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Some Things In Life Are A Surprise


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42 posted on 10/30/2011 1:44:30 PM PDT by DJ MacWoW (America! The wolves are here! What will you do?)
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To: ProtectOurFreedom

I had never heard the term buffalo soldiers either.
A quick internet search gave me a history lesson.
Gotta love the internet!


43 posted on 10/30/2011 1:44:43 PM PDT by a real Sheila (Cain is Able!)
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To: Tucker39
They were there with other military units, apparently. But served in an interim administrative roll.

Big deal. Not exactly compelling.

Its laughable to make this an issue of racism.

44 posted on 10/30/2011 1:53:23 PM PDT by skeeter
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To: Don Corleone
"I swear that the Rangers must be almost as brainwashed as the #OWS kooks. Just MHO."

Much of the National Park Service is staffed (infiltrated?) by leftist, anti-American, enviro-commie types. These people naturally gravitate to the Park Service. They think they're doing a service for Gaia. I've encountered many of them.

45 posted on 10/30/2011 1:53:54 PM PDT by StormEye
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To: StormEye

The worst must be serving in Haleakala State Park. I was present when one very white park ranger did everything but shake her plump fist at hoale tourists warning them to respect the local tradition holding that the mountain top is the place where the demigod Maui lassoed the sun.


46 posted on 10/30/2011 1:59:49 PM PDT by skeeter
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To: Krankor

Chinese,.... don’t forget about the Chinese /s


47 posted on 10/30/2011 2:01:11 PM PDT by wetgundog (" Extremism in the Defense of Liberty is no Vice")
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To: Jack Hydrazine
They have other subtle ways of creating quotas, like letting minorities and disenfranchised youth into the park for free. The rest can pay the 20 dollars a day to get in.
I have seen this over at the Monterrey aquarium and it just frosted me. I paid full price for my family and they let in a hoard of intercity youth. The youth run around misbehaved, blocking and pushing in front of the exhibits. So the people who paid and support the aquarium suffer at the expense of liberal mentality.
48 posted on 10/30/2011 2:03:07 PM PDT by pterional
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To: Pan_Yans Wife
“And I can’t not think of the other kids, just like me – in Detroit, Oakland, Watts, Anacostia – today. How do I get them here? How do I let them know about the buffalo soldier history, to let them know that we, too, have a place here?”-Shelton Johnson

I know I'd love to see the reports on the 1903-1904 expeditions, especially the Buffalo soldier ranging outside of the park's boundaries and the terrorism of the local 'Digger' populations. But I doubt it'll see the light of day in this PC culture, or worse, if it did come out into the official histories, it'll be blamed on some white man who 'used' those Buffalo soldiers to rape and murder California Indians who occupied land that bordered the park.

49 posted on 10/30/2011 2:05:33 PM PDT by kingu (Everything starts with slashing the size and scope of the federal government.)
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To: skeeter

I guess wading in the Seven Sacred Pools is out of the question now.

The helicopter tour of the Haleakala crater rim was spectacular back in the 70’s. Early morning low flight up the south side of the slope into the clouds and the a swift nose down with the full majesty of the crater suddenly visible. Oh, and the circular rainbows cast from the rotor. Beats the best roller coaster ride by miles.


50 posted on 10/30/2011 2:09:26 PM PDT by Covenantor ("Men are ruled...by liars who refuse them news, and by fools who cannot govern." Chesterton)
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To: thecodont

HEY!

Regarding that article, where’s the “ace Card In Play” alert?

;-)


51 posted on 10/30/2011 2:27:41 PM PDT by GladesGuru (In a society predicated upon freedom, it is necessary to examine principles.)
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To: dangus

“But there’s certainly an argument for preserving the parks by not allowing over-development.”

How about:
But there’s certainly an argument for preserving the parks by not allowing ParcPersons to manage land.

;-)


52 posted on 10/30/2011 2:31:03 PM PDT by GladesGuru (In a society predicated upon freedom, it is necessary to examine principles.)
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To: thecodont

I didn’t know that ‘coloreds’ weren’t allowed in the park. That’s HORRIBLE!!!

Wait - they are allowed...and they’re treated just like everyone else.

Then what’s the issue? If they don’t want to go in large numbers, should we round them up and force them to go? Or pay them to go?

...or maybe give them the dignity of deciding for themselves what they want to do with their vacation time.


53 posted on 10/30/2011 2:31:57 PM PDT by BobL (A vote for Perry is a vote for Romney)
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To: Covenantor
I drove the entire length of that wretched road intending to dangle my feet in the Seven Sacred Pools. Alas the demigod musta just flushed his commode as I arrived - they were overflowing with roaring brown water - anyone getting too close risked being swept out into the ocean which, according to the sign posted beyond the last pool, was shark infested.

No more Hana hwy for me.

54 posted on 10/30/2011 2:40:49 PM PDT by skeeter
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To: kingu

I cannot find it anywhere online, but...

I caught a segment of a human interest piece on television a few years back. It could have been on FOXNews. It could have been in a documentary on NatGeo or some other channel.

The entire segment was about black Americans visiting Yellowstone and other parks. The tone of the piece was that “It was their America, too. And these parks belong to them, as well.”

Yeah. Sure. I agree. And if you think of all of the national and historical sites in America, I don’t believe that anyone bats an eyelash over thinking about black Americans going to Gettysburg, the Washington Monument or the Old Faithful Inn.

It’s only when someone PUSHES a provocative thought that hadn’t existed before that I find it really distasteful. When I went to the Old Faithful Inn, I saw people of many different races there. And I didn’t even think about it... until years later and I watched the stupid human interest piece.

It isn’t demographics that keep people away. It’s disposable income and whether or not people think it holds any value. Then people will determine if it is worth their time and effort to go see it.

Some things are just the way that they are... without it becoming an indictment against society as a whole.


55 posted on 10/30/2011 2:46:24 PM PDT by Pan_Yans Wife ("Real solidarity means coming together for the common good."-Sarah Palin)
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To: livius
Theodore Roosevelt...was the founder of national parks, not only for the US but ultimately for Europe and the entire civilized (i.e., non-Muslim) world.

Not to pick, but I get a couple of Canadian channels, and I heard a commercial within the past week or two bragging that some national park in Canada was the world's first. I had it on in background, so I can't give the specifics.

Any way, it only pricked my interest because it conflicted with what I had understood about TR and national parks.

56 posted on 10/30/2011 2:56:56 PM PDT by Calvin Locke
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To: pterional

That happened at a park in Winston Salem I used to go to walk on the trails. It was so peaceful and quiet and everyone was so respectful. There were bunnies hopping in the grass, you could hear the birds chirping. The last time I went, there were so many inner city youts running around, chasing anything that moved, screaming obscenities, littering and tearing anything up they could touch while their fat, loudmouth, welfare mamas just barreled down the middle of the trails, daring anyone to NOT move out of there way.

Never went back.


57 posted on 10/30/2011 3:10:40 PM PDT by Cowgirl of Justice
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To: ProtectOurFreedom
"some slight mention of their contribution during a two hour history talk."

Were the "Buffalo Soldiers" Americans?

If so, the current politically-correct term is not applicable (African-Americans), but rather the then-current proper terminology of "Negro Soldiers" could be used and be descriptive and proper for the time.

That said; if they were simply to talk about the first trails at Sequoia, Yosemite, etc., that were built by "The Buffalo Soldiers", then why must the DISTINCTION of being black even enter the discussion?

That's the problem of race today; you gotta OVER-STATE and PROVE you're not biased or racist, by making overt acts and statements on behalf of someone who happens to be not white....otherwise, they aren't distinguished enough or designated as somehow "overlooked", by simply being identified as Americans.

No wonder we had white-guilt-ridden voters penciling in an "X" for Obama; they can't deal with being "non-pc".

58 posted on 10/30/2011 3:12:09 PM PDT by traditional1 ("Don't gotsta worry 'bout no mo'gage, don't gotsta worry 'bout no gas; Obama gonna take care o' me!)
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To: skeeter

Amen to that!

We drove the Hana Ranch VW thing to the pools and back.

You know that Lowell Thomas and Charles Lindbergh had large tracts on Maui and their efforts to keep the a portion of Maui underdeveloped resulted in deliberate neglect of that road.

Talk about a narrow treacherous potholed third world track with blind curves lubricated by crushed wild guava. Once was enough.

PS The indigenous folk at Hana told us the legend of the “Seven Sacred Pools” was tourist bunkum.


59 posted on 10/30/2011 3:15:32 PM PDT by Covenantor ("Men are ruled...by liars who refuse them news, and by fools who cannot govern." Chesterton)
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To: Covenantor
I believe the indigenous folks are right... after my disappointment at the pools I couldn't muster the energy to drive a few more miles to pay my respects to old Chuck:)
60 posted on 10/30/2011 3:47:47 PM PDT by skeeter
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