Polemic Reading

       This reading was especially interesting to me because I feel like it encompasses the beliefs that Abbey held most importantly in his life.  From the readings and research, we have done, it seemed to me that Abbey made his life goal to prevent industrial tourism and the spreading of infrastructure into the wilderness.  This chapter sums up his strongest beliefs and biggest fears all into one.  

Like always Abbey filled his writing with ironic, borderline crazed thoughts, describing the man surveying for the road as “a pleasant-mannered, soft-spoken civil engineer with an unquestioning dedication to his work. A v*** dangerous man.”  I felt this quote depicted Abbeys beliefs precisely.  Despite how nice someone might be in the ways that regular society focuses on, Abbey does not care, and only views people based on how they plan to treat nature.  

Abbey brings up a great point when criticizing the devastating effect cars have on peoples experience in nature, explaining how, “A man on foot, on horseback or on a bicycle will see more, feel more, enjoy more in one mile than the motorized tourists can in a hundred miles.”  The point Abbey made here forced me to think about how in the current day, people go to National Parks with the intention of driving around and just seeing all the sights that are most well-known.  Most people are more concerned with taking a selfie at a well-known monument than enjoying the nature around them.   

Overall, I feel that the points Abbey makes and the proposition he proposes to ban cars inside the park is completely reasonable and would bring benefits to National Parks.  If those capable are too lazy to walk a mile or so to a National Park, then they probably are not the type of people who would treat the Park with respect anyway.