Steal our birthright?

By Corey Fisher

 

I didn’t grow up around public lands. Aside from a handful of municipal parks, southern Michigan isn’t much for public lands. Want to hunt? Better have permission or the means to buy access. Want to fish? Better not walk on the streambank.

 

Like many Americans, I didn’t know the difference between national forests and national parks, but I had some vague sense that out there somewhere existed lands where I could hunt and fish and wander to my heart’s content. Somewhere “up North,” or “out West,” perhaps.

 

Then I went off to college in northern Wisconsin and discovered the Chequamegon National Forest. It was a watershed moment for me to stand on top of St. Peter’s Dome (the tallest point in the Chequamegon), look out over miles of public land, and realize that I had a share in all of it. Today, I feel the same exhilarating sense of freedom and gratitude every time I pass an “Entering Public Lands” sign.

 

Our country’s forefathers had the vision to do many great things, but one of the most profound was to establish our system of public lands. These places are an enduring asset to be handed down, generation to generation. Something uniquely American to be respected, appreciated and held in trust for all citizens.

 

When I hear special interest groups or certain members of Congress advocating that we should dispose of America’s public lands, I can’t think of anything more unpatriotic – how could liquidating one of our country’s greatest assets be viewed as anything more than a selfish scam against our citizenry?

 

The 640 million acres of public lands in America belong to all 320 million Americans; that’s two acres per citizen that we all own. Any proposal to sell or transfer these lands amounts to stealing the birthright of hundreds of millions of people and would be one of the biggest heists ever perpetrated on the American public. Not just stealing our heritage, but literally stealing land from each and every one of us.

 

As long as there are lands that belong to all Americans, there will be those who desire and conspire to steal this wealth of the nation. It is up to all of us–hunters, anglers, OHV users, hikers, campers, woodcutters, picnickers, birdwatchers–to fight for what is ours.

 

These are America’s lands. Let’s keep it that way.