THE NATIONAL PARKS
NPR September 25, 2009
Filmmaker Ken Burns' new PBS documentary series starts in 19th century America. The natural wonder of Niagara Falls was so commercialized and overdeveloped that the great French traveler and writer Alexis de Tocqueville urged his readers to come see it soon, before it was too late. The new series, The National Parks: America's Best Idea, which Burns made with writer Dayton Duncan, is about what rose up in opposition to that commercialization — the uniquely American idea of the national parks. Burns' six-part series spans 12 hours. The first episode premiers Sunday night on PBS.
The natural beauty of the wild and untamed is awesome. It refreshes the mind with its greater perspective. As Self-builders, we need this greater perspective to prevent the mind from being centered on its own nose. But how were the national parks preserved in the first instance? It required pioneers who struggled against narrow minded commercial exploitation. When it comes to developing a healthy mind, we have to take a similar tack. lnstead of trying to exploit the world around us to get 'whatever we want', let us make the world an arena for learning more about ourselves and our environment. Why not start with the Ken Burn's new series to make this positive change within us?
Filmmaker Ken Burns' new PBS documentary series starts in 19th century America. The natural wonder of Niagara Falls was so commercialized and overdeveloped that the great French traveler and writer Alexis de Tocqueville urged his readers to come see it soon, before it was too late. The new series, The National Parks: America's Best Idea, which Burns made with writer Dayton Duncan, is about what rose up in opposition to that commercialization — the uniquely American idea of the national parks. Burns' six-part series spans 12 hours. The first episode premiers Sunday night on PBS.
The natural beauty of the wild and untamed is awesome. It refreshes the mind with its greater perspective. As Self-builders, we need this greater perspective to prevent the mind from being centered on its own nose. But how were the national parks preserved in the first instance? It required pioneers who struggled against narrow minded commercial exploitation. When it comes to developing a healthy mind, we have to take a similar tack. lnstead of trying to exploit the world around us to get 'whatever we want', let us make the world an arena for learning more about ourselves and our environment. Why not start with the Ken Burn's new series to make this positive change within us?
Posted by Farooq Husayn at 9/27/2009 6:43 PM 
Categories: national parks, Self building
Tags: national Self help. parks
Categories: national parks, Self building
Tags: national Self help. parks
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