I am currently reading two TR books. They are in one volume and are Hunting Trips of a Ranchman and The Wilderness Hunte (or some such) and I am amzed at both the farsightedness of his perspective, and his seeming accptance of many of the things we would consider conservationist (or is it conservational, whatever) "attrocities" now. His calue of "manliness" in all its forms is something that we should all take note of. Far to many yougerns now days have no idea of what it is to be a man, not just a sportsman. Holding the door for ladies, holding your liquor, holding your fire on a questionable shot- these are all big deals. The fact of the matter is many in our country have totally forsaken the pioneering and independent spirit of those who founded this country. That doesn't just apply to sporting folks either, I realize hunting and fishing isn't everyone's cup of joe- but there is far more to life than stimulus plans, gratuities, and video games. I have dificulty with the prevailing attitude that maybe it is ok to take the easy wrong ove the hard right. Sorry to ramble- my 5 year old just did a weekend backpacking trip with my old man, and I got the pictures in the email. Thank God someone cares enought to tend to his education and development in my absence.

I am a Centrist and I am a conservationist. Politics should have nothing to do with preservation, but it does. I believe the torch will be carried not only by the next generation, but by the current. It is our duty, as conservatives, centrist and liberals, to join in the attempt to find a working plan. I believe by joining clubs, associations and through education that we can and will end up protecting our resources. There are large corporations in the mining industry who disregard conservation for profit. There are hunters and fisherman who negate the work done feeling it is their 'right' to shoot, net or take whatever they want when ever they want. Any fisherman who takes more than allowed, fishes waters designated off limits or takes spawning fish are to blame, in part, for the demise of resources. Any hunter that leans out a window of his/her car and shoots game out of season or not is to blame. That attitude is the enemy: not the guns or the way we fish or the government.
Regulations are not their to promote larger government, but to 'regulate' so standards can be kept and game preserved. Often I am angry that I can't fish a favorite stream, but I understand the regulations. For me we all carry the torch and by doing so we should all educate and welcome new comers into our sport.

Bella has a good point.

TR would be run out of the Republican party if her we're alive today.

He's a RINO! gasp!

seriously, the man had the cahones to stand up and say that sometimes business has take one on the chin so that the environment can be preserved.

Opinions like that are flat out not allowed within the modern Republican party. When it comes down to business vs environment the official stance of the Republican party is that business must always win. (fyi, I'm a registered Republican and in case you can't tell this really chaps my a**)

For examples of this see recent changes to the implementation of the clean air and water act, mountain top removal coal mining, exemption of corporate farms from runoff regulations, and the notion that cap and trade should be opposed not because the problem doesn't exist, or because there are better ways to address the problem, but because it would make carbon based energy more expensive. (which is after all, the entire point of such a program)

I wish modern Republican's would all have TR's foresight. Given that this is a complete impossibility, I really hope that the party can at least acknowledge views like his as valid and not the sole domain of limp-wristed latte-sipping arugula eating big city liberals.

Far too many modern Republicans (aka Mr. Mccain) pay lip service to TR while rejecting many of his core beliefs.

Great article. The world would be a better place if more MEN took their responsibilities as seriously as their rights.

None of them will carry that torch, that would be too many lost votes and there isn't any money in it for them....Unless DU, TU, FFF, and the rest put up dirty money in their pockets(which might acctually benefit them).

Deeter- Thanks for reminding folks conservation isn't a political or partisan football, its an enlightened mindset...Hal is correct that we need more champions in Congress. My hope is that Sen. Mark Udall will be that champion, he's a sportsman and a man who comes from an unparalleled western conservation legacy...also, another fun fact, many of our crucial environmental laws (National Environmental Policy Act, Endangered Species Act, Clean Water Act) were signed into law by none other than Richard Milhous Nixon.

Read any of TR's books on hunting and the outdoors. He could really write. Tells a great story and his sentiments come through without preaching.

Our sons / daughters will carry the torch only because their fathers / mothers made them realize just how integral the "movement of wildlife and natural resources conservacy" will be for their children's children.

175rltw-

thanks for a great post.

Deeter, your lead line had me going! By the time I got to the bottom of the quote I could not find anything wrong with the statement...and I am not a liberal fan, in case nobody had not yet noticed... and as I was hitting the link, I too thought about TR right off the bat...it sounds too eloquent and sensible for whack-o to pen.
I had a class in my grad program on the politics and philosophy of outdoor recreation etc. We studied TR thoroughly. He is one of my heroes, hands down. The man had vision, and balls. We need to see more of that.
I guess when it comes down to it, the take home on this thought is that we each need to embody this conservationist philosophy in our own lives through our actions in the field, amongst our friends, and in public. We can, at minimum, do that. From there, some may go on to do greater things still, on a higher platform, which may continue the work started 100 years ago. If we do not start in our own back yards, it will be difficult for anyone to be a leader of many in this regard. An elephant is eaten one bite at a time. Get out your forks folks!

Done properly, conservation includes managed harvest. Just like wildfires....if you always put the little fires out, too much fuel builds up, and you get a huge inferno. Small managed prescribed burns make for healthy habitat, just like managed harvest of game animals makes for healthy populations. We are all often fighting the same fight, then politics goes and gets in the way.

buckhunter,nailed it!

We can't take the time to look for someone to carry the torch,as our days may be numbered. It is everyone's responsibility to not only carry the torch,and light the way for the next generation,but to light the torch or candle of our fellow men and women,with our own enthusiasm,experience,knowledge and wisdom.

We have the ability and the desire to partake, or forgo and withdraw from our duty, as lovers of the great outdoors,to spread the good news, that has been mined from the nuggets of truth through the ages, that have been born in the wilderness of this great country.

As a whole,we need to call forth that great pioneer spirit,that resides in most of us,and blaze new trails of creativity, that will not only initiate and invite,but enhance the effectiveness in the call of the wild to the indifferent,the novice and even to the unexperienced,and the naysayers of the unknowing members in todays politically correct, sterile and barren environment.

Unless we become more active and radical in our own pursuits of conservation,the political Pied Piepers,will continue to seek and change our culture as we know it,making us the minority,the exception rather than the rule,until we will no longer recognize this great country we call home.

Once they get a true taste of this great heritage,they will not continue to be an "armchair" explorer,but will get up, from whatever they are sitting on,and desire to pursue the call,through the experience and the encounter,that can only be grasped and understood clearly by the act of doing,and being affected by our introduction to a new paridigm of belief.

It doesn't cost the torch anything to share the fire,and to light anothers candle. I believe a lot of outdoor enthusiasts have either snuffed out their torch of desire,or fail to share it.

To "change" the current status quo and existing state of our smug satisfaction of complacency,we must first realize that the red light of "danger and warning" is on! To do nothing, would be a sin in our slothful ways,in spreading the revealation of conservation.

We need to begin to explore new ideas of committment,to transform and convert the uninitiated,and move from the cove of contentedness and set our course to the depths of our future,preserving and conserving our natural resources.

Wilderness Warriors ... mount up!

I think the only one who has shown an actualy effort to carry that torch and even have a good chance of success is Palin... yeh, she might be a little rough around the edges but she is one of the most pro-hunting person in politics today.