tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5748604.post7215621034789182403..comments2024-03-29T06:26:14.502-06:00Comments on THE WESTERNER: Smokey Bear lobby designed to stir young imaginations - Forest Service staff is proud of new entrance, gift shop and lobbyFrank DuBoishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04078935296275462544noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5748604.post-43589382972106023682017-02-18T11:09:13.424-07:002017-02-18T11:09:13.424-07:00Two wonderful comments...thanks for posting.Two wonderful comments...thanks for posting.Frank DuBoishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04078935296275462544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5748604.post-25201033534085259252017-02-17T21:20:16.850-07:002017-02-17T21:20:16.850-07:00Sad but true. When the eastern establishment tree-...Sad but true. When the eastern establishment tree-huggers took over the Forest Service the concept of the "greatest good for the greatest number" became 5 people around a picnic table, located on the edge of a stream, and accessed by a paved road.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5748604.post-85977969613931672722017-02-17T09:21:45.348-07:002017-02-17T09:21:45.348-07:00When I was a child in the second grade in the earl...When I was a child in the second grade in the early 1960s, we has a period called "social studies". One of the things we studied in how forest trees got turned into products like houses, furniture, etc. As part of the materials we did a module on preventing forest fires, forest lookout towers, what rangers did, with a lot of Smokey the Bear themed items including a tin "Junior Forest Ranger" badge, which today is among the few childhood artifacts that I have. I have to say it was inspirational (you never know what is going to get a kid's interest)and got me involved in learning the material. (I just wish they had an arithmetic spirit animal to similarly inspire me.) On a trip to Washington DC two years later to see the sites, I got to see Smokey at the Washington DC zoo (the highlight of the trip ranking just above the FBI tour). <br /><br />This article brought back memories of that. It is a shame that the symbol as been co-opted by self sanctimonious "resistance" opponents of the Administration. I guess that makes the rest of us collaborators in their eyes.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com