Chatterbox: Inkwell

I wrote this piece for speech, I am in the category Great Speeches. By writing this I need to convince my audience that this speech is great and important.

(Sorry for the length)

National parks affect Americans all over the country. The parks inspire, excite, occupy, and spark people’s interest. When they were new to America, parks also sparked the interest Theodore Roosevelt. When the president was on a National Tour he arrived in Yellowstone to enjoy the nature and give a speech to his people. He spoke at the laying of the cornerstone of the arch that welcomes people into Yellowstone to this day.

Let’s take a look at the past. Before the creation of this park, as President Roosevelt points out in his speech, “It is the preservation of the scenery, of the forests, of the wilderness life and the wilderness game for the people as a whole instead of leaving the enjoyment thereof to be confined to the very rich who can control private preserves.” Before the creation of national parks, the very rich were buying private preserves and keeping the land to themselves.

People didn’t want that to happen again, such as when in 1960 every overlook to Niagara Falls was owned by private owners often demanding a fee from tourists to view the falls. The people decided that national parks were important to keep the beauty of America accessible and safe for viewing and enjoyment by everyone.

During Manifest Destiny people threatened to use up the land for their own benefit, not caring what they destroyed in the process. People didn’t like that so they decided to do something about it; they decided to lay aside land to protect. They started with Yosemite Valley and passed a bill to let it become a park belonging to California, therefore a state park.

More and more land was being taken up and explored. Many people were hearing about a place called Colter's Hell after John Colter discovered what is now Yellowstone. The people didn’t believe the stories he told about his trip, but after others went there the U.S. sent professionals to explore.

Eventually Ulysses S. Grant signed a bill to create Yellowstone National Park. By making it a national park all people of America could take care of it and take pride in it.

On April 24th 1903 Theodore Roosevelt spoke at the laying of the laying of the cornerstone of the arch leading into Yellowstone. He spoke of the beauties of the park, and praised the park supervisors of their uptake of it. He also made it known that
he wished for more people who lived far off to appreciate it.

At that time the majority of people visiting the park were rich, because they were the only ones who could afford the train fare for the ride up there, and the expense of staying at a hotel in the park.

Now many people can enjoy national parks weather they are rich or not. Many Americans today still enjoy visiting national parks and take pride in them. Today there are many parks available to visit all over America. Much land has been laid aside to be protected from the modern trend of Americans; to use the land for their own benefits.

Theodore Roosevelt’s speech was important for the future of the parks because he inspired people. He inspired people to love and appreciate the fact that America has something that is unique in the world. If you have something that is rare, and only you have it you want to protect it. That was what it was like for the national parks. America has something that is rare in the world, so America should want to protect, cherish, and take pride in it.

While other countries have their grand buildings, palaces, and gardens America has its National Parks. By protecting creating parks we are creating memories for people who visit the parks, protection for the wilderness, and preserves for the wildlife.

Roosevelt said, “This Park is to be preserved as a beautiful natural playground,” and it is just that. In the national parks regular people can stand by the rich and enjoy the same thing. The parks create memories to be passed on from generation to generation. The parks also inspire national pride in people.

Theodore Inspired and pushed along the idea of national parks. Theodore loved nature and wanted to protect it, so he convinced those around him to do the same thing. In his speech he said, “ I cannot too often repeat that the essential features of the present management of the Yellowstone Park, as in all similar places, is its essential democracy--it is the preservation of the scenery, of the forests, of the wilderness life and the wilderness game for the people.”

Eventually even more land was set aside to be made into national parks; people enjoyed the land and took pride in what America could experience as a whole. The parks created unforgettable memories for people to pass on to other generations.

When the parks were created the people who struggled to preserve them, such as Theodore Roosevelt, influenced those who visited the parks.

When people visit parks they feel at home, they feel as if they were a part of what is being preserved. President Roosevelt said that we should leave what nature has done as it is and that we should not change it. The parks create unforgettable moments as they are, when visiting parks we have memories to enjoy, remember, and treasure forever.

“The Yellowstone Park is something absolutely unique in the world so far as I know,” said Roosevelt. The parks sparked national pride in the people of America. The people enjoyed viewing and experiencing the nature that belonged to America, and so essentially belonged to them.

By giving this speech Theodore Roosevelt convinced people that the parks were important to America, and that we should continue to preserve parts of America’s land. By creating parks America has preserved a legacy that can be passed on from generation to generation and can be enjoyed equally by all.

So, what do you think?

Comments?